Fort Hays State University

What Fort Hays State University does

Fort Hays State University is a public, co-educational university founded in 1902 and located in Hays, Kansas, governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The institution delivers more than 200 degree and certificate programs through on-campus instruction at its 600 Park Street headquarters and through FHSU Online, one of the longer-running online learning operations in U.S. higher education. FHSU serves multiple student segments including first-time freshmen, transfer students from Fort Hays Tech institutions via the Gateway Program, military-connected students, advanced practice nurses pursuing the MSN-to-DNP pathway, and adult online learners nationwide. Its core technology is a learning management system supporting the 200+ online programs, supplemented by a pilot of AI Teaching Assistants built on Google Vertex AI and Gemini (launched February 2026) that handle routine student questions and provide formative assignment feedback.

FHSU's business model is tuition-driven and recurring per semester, with revenue streams including undergraduate and graduate tuition (differentiated by in-state vs. out-of-state residency), on-campus room and board, MSN-to-DNP program fees, and ancillary student services. Pricing is positioned as more than 50% below the national average for nearly every student, supported by a layered scholarship stack: automatic freshman merit scholarships up to $15,000, transfer scholarships of $500-$2,250, EmpowerED Dreams Income-Based Awards for Pell-eligible Kansas freshmen, Schmidt Foundation Scholars ($16,000), and special CA/FL out-of-state pricing. Go-to-market combines a sales-led admissions model with regionally-assigned counselors covering Kansas and ten adjacent states, channel partnerships through the Gateway Program and Garden City Transfer Center, and digital channels including a scholarship estimator tool and admissions Instagram accounts.

The university employs 501-1,000 staff, fields 16 NCAA Division II athletic programs with eight national championships, supports 120+ student organizations, and reports that more than 95% of graduates either enter employment or pursue further education. Recent strategic activity centers on geographic recruitment expansion (CA/FL pricing, multi-state counselors), product expansion (AI Teaching Assistant pilot with University of Michigan Ross and University of Pennsylvania), and pipeline development (Gateway Program, EmpowerED Dreams), while remaining structurally bound by state appropriations and Kansas Board of Regents governance.

Name

Fort Hays State University

Legal name

Fort Hays State University

Website

https://fhsu.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1902

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Fort Hays State University is a public Kansas Board of Regents university in Hays, Kansas, founded in 1902, offering 200+ on-campus and online degree programs to first-time freshmen, transfer students, military-connected students, and online learners at tuition 50%+ below the national average.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fully Online Universities (Online-First, Degree-Granting) (EDAHALAA)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Online degree programs
• Undergraduate education
• Graduate nursing programs
• Distance learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Hays

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Per-semester tuition and fees charged to students based on residency status and course load. In-state rates significantly lower than out-of-state. Additional fees for specific programs and services.
2. Room and Board: On-campus housing and dining services. Multiple residence hall and meal plan options. Mandatory meal plans for freshman and sophomore residents living on campus.
3. Graduate Nursing Programs: MSN-to-DNP pathway generating revenue from advanced practice nurse education. Online program delivery model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fort Hays State University delivers higher education services, awarding undergraduate and graduate degrees in more than 200 academic programs through its residential Hays campus and a large online distance-learning platform. It also provides applied student support services such as housing, dining, a campus ID system, an IT help desk, and a public-opinion survey operation, with select graduate offerings such as the MSN-to-DNP nursing pathway.

Product overview

Fort Hays State University (FHSU) is a public university offering a diverse portfolio of educational programs and student services. The university's product offerings include FHSU Online (over 200 online degree and certificate programs), the MSN-to-DNP nursing pathway for advanced practice nurses, the Gateway Program (a transfer pathway connecting Fort Hays Tech students to university resources), AI Teaching Assistants (a pilot AI-powered educational technology for student support), and the Kansas Speaks Survey (a public opinion research service from the Docking Institute). Supporting services include Tiger Tech HelpDesk for technical support, Tiger Card Center for student ID and access services, and TigerPrint enterprise printing system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FHSU Online Online delivery channel for more than 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, serving working adults, place-bound learners, and other non-residential students seeking a fully remote FHSU credential.
• MSN-to-DNP Pathway Doctor of Nursing Practice pathway for MSN-prepared registered nurses seeking doctoral credentialing, designed for working advanced-practice nurses.
• Gateway Program Structured transfer articulation pathway that allows students from partner community colleges to move into FHSU bachelor's degree programs with credit recognition.
• Residential Life Housing (Room and Board) On-campus housing assignment, residential programming, and resident advisor support for enrolled students living on the Hays campus.
• Tiger Card Center Campus ID card services providing student identification, dining plan access, and campus commerce functionality.
• Tiger Tech HelpDesk IT support service that assists students, faculty, and staff with technology troubleshooting, account access, and campus systems.
• Kansas Speaks Survey Public-opinion research service producing survey data and reports on issues affecting Kansas and the surrounding region.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 95% of graduates quickly land jobs or go on to further educational opportunities
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fort Hays Tech | North CentralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGateway Program partnership enabling Fort Hays Tech | North Central students to access FHSU events, programs and services while completing their technical education. Provides pathway to bachelor's degree completion with seamless credit transfer. Tutoring, counseling, library access, and fitness center access included.
• Fort Hays Tech | NorthwestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGateway Program partnership enabling Fort Hays Tech | Northwest students to access FHSU events, programs and services while completing their technical education. Provides pathway to bachelor's degree completion with seamless credit transfer.
• Teammates Mentoring ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFHSU partners with TeamMates offering four-year renewable scholarships to eligible TeamMates students. Recipients automatically join TeamMates+ program for continued mentorship during college.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Western Governors University: WGU is a nonprofit online university offering 200+ degree programs with competency-based pricing. It is directly comparable to FHSU Online given the scale of online program catalog, tuition value positioning, and adult learner target market.
• Southern New Hampshire University: SNHU is a nonprofit university with one of the largest online enrollments in the U.S., offering 200+ programs with aggressive tuition value positioning. It competes head-to-head with FHSU Online in the affordable online degree market.
• Emporia State University: Emporia State is a Kansas Board of Regents peer institution offering on-campus and online programs at a similar affordability tier. It is the most direct in-state peer sharing the same regulatory, demographic, and competitive environment as FHSU.
• Pittsburg State University: Pittsburg State is another Kansas Board of Regents regional university with comparable program breadth, affordability positioning, and online offerings. It competes for similar in-state and online students within the same governing system.
• University of Central Oklahoma: UCO is a regional public university with strong online program offerings, comparable affordability positioning, and similar demographic profile. It serves as a model peer for size, scope, and online strategy.
• Southeast Missouri State University: SEMO is a regional public university with extensive online programs and Division II athletics. Its size, mission, and online/affordability positioning closely mirror FHSU's profile.
• Eastern New Mexico University: ENMU is a small regional public university serving a rural high-plains demographic comparable to FHSU's territory. Both institutions emphasize affordability, online delivery, and regional access.
• Peru State College: Peru State is a small Nebraska public college with comparable affordability, online program scale, and rural Midwestern demographic. It is a relevant peer for size and value positioning.

Regional players

• Washburn University: Washburn is a regional public university in Topeka, Kansas with comparable tuition tier and program mix. It serves a similar in-state student demographic with overlapping program offerings.
• Wichita State University: Wichita State is the largest Kansas Board of Regents urban research university. While it has stronger research positioning, it competes with FHSU for Kansas residents and adult learners across program categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/jonfhsu
• Xx.com/fhsunews
• Facebookfacebook.com/forthays
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fort-hays-state-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fort Hays State University