Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College vs Bellus Academy: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College comes closer — median earnings $38,616 against a $52,296 total, vs $25,223 at Bellus Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College | Bellus Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,074 | $26,631 |
| Total net cost | $52,296 | $106,524 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,616 | $25,223 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $7,917 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$247,176 | -$569,264 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College or Bellus Academy?
Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College, at $13,074 a year after aid versus $26,631 — a gap of $13,557 a year, or $54,228 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College or Bellus Academy graduates earn more?
Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College graduates report a median $38,616 ten years after entry, $13,393 more than the $25,223 at Bellus Academy. 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College or Bellus Academy?
Bellus Academy: its completers carry a median $7,917 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College, a difference of $4,083. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
74% of students finish at Bellus Academy, against 73% at Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical 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.