10/2/24

By University Communications

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State University launched a historic affiliation partnership with North Central Kansas Technical College and Northwest Kansas Technical College in July of this year. This fall, 14,617 students, including 8,998 Kansans, are enrolled at one of the three Fort Hays institutions. Enrollment at Fort Hays Tech | North Central is up 3.1 percent, with 987 online and on-campus students in Hays and Beloit. This figure includes 966 Kansans. Enrollment at Fort Hays Tech | Northwest campus in Goodland is up 3.7 percent at 752 online and on-campus students, including 577 Kansans.

Fall 2024 enrollment at Fort Hays State University, Kansas’ largest comprehensive regional public university, is 12,878 students. This figure includes 1,000 first-time new undergraduate (non-transfer) students, an increase of more than 9 percent over last year, a 3 percent overall increase in total graduate students, and campus residence halls operating at 97 percent capacity. This fall, 7,455 students, or more than 78 percent of FHSU’s domestic (U.S.) student population, are Kansans. This reflects a two percent increase in Kansans served over Fall 2023.  

“Unmatched affordability, innovative and student-focused academic programs, and the ethic of care of the dedicated faculty and staff at our three institutions make a Fort Hays education the best value in education, anywhere,” said FHSU President Dr. Tisa Mason. “We have only just begun to create the academic programs and cultivate the essential community and business partnerships that will drive future enrollment growth and allow FHSU, Fort Hays Tech | North Central, and Fort Hays Tech | Northwest to realize our shared goal of becoming valued partners in expanding economic prosperity across the High Plains of rural Kansas.”

Fall 2024 FHSU enrollment at a glance

The total enrollment count at FHSU includes students on-campus in Hays, online worldwide, and at the university’s five international partner campuses in Africa, Asia, and South America.

FHSU fall 2024 enrollment

1. Overall – 12,878
2. On campus – 3,742
3. FHSU Online – 5,974
4. International Partner campuses– 3,162

Scholarships fuel enrollment increases in new first-year students

FHSU’s decades-long commitment to offering the most affordable public university education in Kansas drove enrollment growth among new first-year students. Annual tuition and fees at FHSU remain the lowest among Kansas’ seven public universities, more than $3,200 per year less than the average of the state’s public institutions and over $5,300 lower than the national average.

A key driver behind FHSU’s overall enrollment growth this fall is the unmatched value and variety of scholarship offerings, with several designed for new undergraduate students. FHSU offers a series of Tiger Freshmen Scholarships that range from $8,000 to $15,000 per year and several Tiger Transfer Scholarships that range from $500 to $2,500.

“The financial needs of college students are ever-changing, and we are constantly looking for ways to make a Fort Hays education more affordable,” said Dennis King, associate vice president for enrollment leadership. “This last year, we launched the EmpowerED Dream, a $1,500 income-based housing scholarship program for new, incoming, first-time, full-time Kansas freshmen and transfer students.”

Enrollment growth in critical-need academic programs

Enrollment in academic programs that prepare graduates for service in critical-need professions grew this fall. Undergraduate enrollment growth leaders in this category include Allied Health (Medical Diagnostic Imaging, Medical Imaging, and Radiologic Technology), Education, Nursing, Psychology, and Social Work.

Likewise, several of FHSU ’s graduate programs in critical-need fields remain in high demand, including Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Education Administration, Master of Business Administration (MBA), School Counseling, School Psychology, Special Education, Social Work, and Transition to Teaching.

Expanding early college opportunities for high school students

This fall, the number of high school students taking advantage of early college opportunities was another significant growth area. The Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science (KAMS/AMS), FHSU’s early college program, saw enrollment growth of 36 percent, and the number of area high school students enrolled in FHSU concurrent credit courses increased by 14 percent to 247 students.

Take a closer look at Fort Hays State University.

The best way for future students to preview the unmatched value of the Fort Hays experience is to sign up for the October 12 Tiger Day. Go to fhsu.edu/admissions/events/tiger-day to learn more. For more information on Scholarship opportunities, go to fhsu.edu/admissions and click “Scholarships.”

For more information, contact FHSU Chief Communications Officer Scott Cason at 785.628.4208 or sacason@fhsu.edu.