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Psychology at Fort Hays State University

Hays, KS · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $40,009/yr (26% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)

ROI 21.2x earnings multiple (7.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #10 of 926 Psychology, General programs Top 1%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Psychology graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$476K	$478K	$452K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	21.1x	21.2x	20.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.1x	7.1x	6.7x
Probability of Field Employment	51%	47%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	53	52	49

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$22,532

Out-of-state: $67,244 (7.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$53,972

-140% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,062

6.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$45,217

13% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $40,009 per year, Psychology graduates from Fort Hays State University significantly outpace the $31,705 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 21.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Psychology programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Psychology's typical career paths, with 49% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $20,062 represents roughly 6 months of the $40,009 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #10 of 926 Psychology programs nationally, Fort Hays State University sits in the top 1% — one of the strongest programs in the country by financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $45,217 are relatively flat compared to the $40,009 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Fort Hays State University

With 92% of applicants admitted, Fort Hays State University prioritizes broad access, serving 9,792 students in Hays, KS.

See all programs and financial aid at Fort Hays State University →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Psychologists, all other $117,580/yr

Industrial-organizational psychologists $109,840/yr

View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Psychology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Fort Hays State University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Psychology at Fort Hays State University?

A score of 52/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Psychology field.

Will AI replace Psychology careers?

With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $452,232 in decade earnings vs $476,365 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Fort Hays State University's Psychology program stand out?

Ranked #10 of 926 programs nationally, Fort Hays State University lands in the top 1%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →