Head-to-head comparison
Fort Hays State University vs Pittsburg State University: 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 Pittsburg, KS
Pittsburg State University
- Net price / year
- $15,784
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,579
- Payback
- 28.5 yrs
Pittsburg State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $63,136 in 28.5 years versus 88.5 years at Fort Hays State University, on median earnings of $50,579 vs $48,928 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fort Hays State University | Pittsburg State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,569 | $15,784 |
| Total net cost | $50,276 | $63,136 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,928 | $50,579 |
| Median debt | $21,000 | $18,969 |
| Payback | 88.5 yrs | 28.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$38,916 | -$18,756 |
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 Pittsburg State University?
Fort Hays State University, at $12,569 a year after aid versus $15,784 — a gap of $3,215 a year, or $12,860 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 Pittsburg State University graduates earn more?
Pittsburg State University graduates report a median $50,579 ten years after entry, $1,651 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 Pittsburg State University?
Pittsburg State University: its completers carry a median $18,969 in federal loans versus $21,000 at Fort Hays State University, a difference of $2,031. 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?
57% of students finish at Pittsburg State University, against 48% at Fort Hays State University. 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.