Head-to-head comparison
Fort Hays State University vs Bethany College: which has better ROI?
Option A Hays, KS
Fort Hays State University
- Net price / year
- $12,569
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,928
- Payback
- 88.5 yrs
Option B Lindsborg, KS
Bethany College
- Net price / year
- $27,686
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,694
- Payback
- 83 yrs
Bethany College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $110,744 in 83 years versus 88.5 years at Fort Hays State University, on median earnings of $49,694 vs $48,928 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fort Hays State University | Bethany College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,569 | $27,686 |
| Total net cost | $50,276 | $110,744 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,928 | $49,694 |
| Median debt | $21,000 | $23,250 |
| Payback | 88.5 yrs | 83 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$38,916 | -$84,064 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Fort Hays State University or Bethany College?
Fort Hays State University, at $12,569 a year after aid versus $27,686 — a gap of $15,117 a year, or $60,468 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Fort Hays State University or Bethany College graduates earn more?
Bethany College graduates report a median $49,694 ten years after entry, $766 more than the $48,928 at Fort Hays State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Fort Hays State University or Bethany College?
Fort Hays State University: its completers carry a median $21,000 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Bethany College, a difference of $2,250. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
48% of students finish at Fort Hays State University, against 36% at Bethany College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.