Fort Hays State University (FHSU) vs Valley City State University (VCSU)

Fort Hays State University and Valley City State University, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to students seeking a transformative college journey. Fort Hays State, located in the vibrant city of Hays, Kansas, boasts a diverse student body and a wide range of academic programs, while Valley City State, nestled in the charming town of Valley City, North Dakota, prides itself on its small class sizes and personalized attention. With varying acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation outcomes, these universities cater to different aspirations and learning styles. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover which university aligns best with your academic goals and personal preferences, embarking on a path toward success and fulfillment.
Fort Hays State University logo

Fort Hays State University

Valley City State University logo

Valley City State University

Overview

Location Hays, Kansas Valley City, North Dakota
Campus setting Town: Remote Town: Remote
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 73.0% 61.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 90.3% 81.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $40
Undergraduate: $35

Graduate: $35
SAT range N/A 935 - 1190
ACT range N/A 17 - 23
Students submitting SAT score 7.0%
Students submitting ACT score 68.0%
Total number of applicants 1,997 442
Total number of admissions given out 1,804 360
Admitted students who chose to enroll 955 196
Yield rate 52.9% 54.4%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $19,364

Out of state: $29,804
In state: $20,016

Out of state: $24,790
Average net price $13,788 $13,243
Tuition
In state: $4,140

Out of state: $14,580
In state: $6,364

Out of state: $11,138
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,047

Meal plan: $4,326
Room/dormitory: $2,505

Meal plan: $4,414
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

91.0%
Average amount $5,027
99.0%
Average amount $5,907
Students receiving federal student loan 50.0%
Average amount $5,059
66.0%
Average amount $4,794
Students taking out private loans 3.0%
Average amount $9,055
17.0%
Average amount $6,743

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 11,402
Men 39.1% Women 60.9%
1,523
Men 41.8% Women 58.2%
Graduate students 2,700
Men 29.7% Women 70.3%
163
Men 32.5% Women 67.5%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students N/A 36.9%
International students 1.7% 1.3%
Campus local/setting Town: Remote Town: Remote
Dormitory capacity 1,731 462
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A North Dakota Minnesota Alaska Hawaii Colorado

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Liberal Arts
  • Social Sciences
  • Education
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Business
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Liberal Arts
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 50.5% 53.2%
Dropout rate 31.2% 17.9%
Transferred out 15.0% 28.9%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $85,036
  • Year 2: $82,440
  • Year 3: $99,232
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,228
  • Year 2: $55,286
  • Year 3: $67,227
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,873
  • Year 2: $57,461
  • Year 3: $61,895
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,104
  • Year 2: $57,995
  • Year 3: $60,659
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $48,849
  • Year 3: $59,909
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,167
  • Year 2: $51,392
  • Year 3: $57,191
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,360
  • Year 2: $55,512
  • Year 3: $53,880
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $51,829
  • Year 3: $52,488
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,081
  • Year 2: $47,846
  • Year 3: $49,888
Educational/Instructional Media Design (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,407
  • Year 2: $48,432
  • Year 3: $49,592
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,075
  • Year 2: $53,775
  • Year 3: $56,925
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,447
  • Year 2: $43,000
  • Year 3: $45,538
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,584
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $43,994
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,217
  • Year 2: $37,537
  • Year 3: $43,180
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,083
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $41,045
Human Services, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: N/A