About Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College
Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Goodland, Kansas. It enrolls 315 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
71/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes85
Value41
Affordability30
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $13,074 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$13,074
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
24%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
33%
Borrowing to attend
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$11,447
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,702
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,812
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,340
Over $110,000
$17,840
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$12,000Medianpercentile
$12,00075%percentile
$16,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $8,592
↓ $3,408
No Pell $8,750
↓ $3,250
Dependent students $7,729
↓ $4,271
Independent students $9,625
↓ $2,375
Female students $8,750
↓ $3,250
Male students $8,750
↓ $3,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($12,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
52% of full-time students who enrolled at Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College graduate within six years, and 81% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
52%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
81%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College earn a median of $38,616 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$38,616
Earning > $25K
62%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$20,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$45,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $24,800, about 54% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
12.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 68% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College is home to 315 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 40% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
315
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
40%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 47.9%151
Hispanic 31.8%100
Black 7.6%24
Other 6.7%21
International 5.7%18
Asian 0.3%1
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteGoodland, Kansas
Housing
Strongly residential223 beds for 315 students
Adult Learners
13%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Differs by Programscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College offers
a varied set of programs:
28 distinct programs across
13 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$7,666
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$1.0M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$51,789
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
32 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
32
100%
$51,789
Pros & Cons of Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College.
Is Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College hard to get into?
Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College?
Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College cost?
The average net price after aid at Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College is $13,074 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,616 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,074 per year. That's roughly 3.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College known for?
Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College is best known for its programs in Electrical and Power Transmission Installers, Precision Metal Working, Vehicle Maintenance. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College are $38,616, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College accredited?
Yes. Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College?
Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College enrolls 315 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College?
Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College graduates 52% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College a public or private college?
Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College is a Public institution.
Where is Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College located?
Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College is located in Goodland, Kansas.
What programs does Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College offer?
Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College offers 28 distinct programs. The most popular include Electrical and Power Transmission Installers, Precision Metal Working, Vehicle Maintenance.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Kansas
Other colleges in Kansas share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Liberal Arts
Practical Nursing
Vehicle Maintenance
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