Social Work at Fort Hays State University

Fort Hays State's social work program posts first-year earnings of $42,413—well above both the national median ($37,296) and Kansas median ($39,160) for the field. In fact, it outperforms several larger state universities including KU and Wichita State, landing near the top of Kansas programs and in the 92nd percentile nationally. Graduates carry $27,000 in debt, slightly above state averages but manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64, meaning the typical graduate earns enough in their first year to cover their total debt about 1.5 times over.

The caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates reported data, which can make these numbers less reliable. That said, the pattern is clear: Fort Hays students enter the workforce earning more than their peers from most other Kansas schools, including flagship programs. Earnings grow modestly to $43,125 by year four, which is typical for social work where pay scales tend to plateau early in careers tied to nonprofit and government budgets.

For parents, this looks like solid preparation for a helping profession where earnings are inherently limited. Your child won't get rich in social work anywhere, but Fort Hays appears to open doors to better-paying positions than most programs in the state. The combination of reasonable debt and above-average starting pay makes this one of the stronger social work investments in Kansas—just remember the small sample means individual experiences may vary more than usual.