Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College charges a net price of $13,074/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $52,296. Median earnings ten years after entry are $38,616, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College does not clear its cost — it ranks #50 of 57 Kansas colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $13,074/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $52,296 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $38,616 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$9,744/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $12,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$247,176 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College's own numbers. Net price $13,074 × 4 years = $52,296 total. Median earnings $38,616 fall $9,744 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $52,296 bill in about 5.2 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College students graduate with?
A median $12,000 in federal loans among completers, or 31% of the $38,616 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College students graduate?
73% finish their degree. Spread the $52,296 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $71,638 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College expensive compared with other Kansas colleges?
Its $13,074 net price runs $2,206 below the $15,280 median across the 57 Kansas colleges we profile, and $8,824 less across the full degree.