Best Cybersecurity Schools Near Hays, KS (2026)

Updated September 6, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Hays, Kansas is home to about 21,078 residents. Median household income is $56,861 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 43.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Kansas, the top-earning cybersecurity-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $164,830 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Cybersecurity Schools to Hays

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer cybersecurity programs near Hays, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Hays city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Hays. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Friends University

Wichita, KS 134.7 miles from Hays
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
38.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 49%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,113
Avg net price $27,715/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 68%
  • Programs offered: 45

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Wichita State University

Wichita, KS 136.2 miles from Hays
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
51.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 53%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,532
Avg net price $13,194/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 68%
  • Programs offered: 149

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS 148.6 miles from Hays
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
67.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 66%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $57,262
Avg net price $19,406/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 86%
  • Programs offered: 163

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Butler Community College

El Dorado, KS 151.5 miles from Hays
  • 2 year
  • Offers a fully online program
44.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 27%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $41,206
Avg net price $15,724/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 62

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

Cowley County Community College

Arkansas City, KS 176.6 miles from Hays
  • 2 year
  • Offers a fully online program
52.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 39%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $37,723
Avg net price $7,175/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 24

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Ottawa University-Online

Overland Park, KS 251.9 miles from Hays
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
60.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,552
Tuition
In‑state$13,296
Out‑of‑state$13,296
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 100%
  • Programs offered: 32

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Kansas schools on the Kansas cybersecurity page.

Cybersecurity Wages Near Hays

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Kansas, statewide)
Information Security Analyst $100,620
Network and Computer Systems Administrator $83,340
Computer Network Architect $100,610
Computer Systems Analyst $100,770
Computer and Information Systems Manager $164,830
Computer Network Support Specialist $60,060
Computer User Support Specialist $56,150

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Hays at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 21,078 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $56,861 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 43.9% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Cybersecurity-related employment in Ellis County 48 workers, 22 establishments BLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Hays-Area Cities With Cybersecurity Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the highest-paying cybersecurity roles in Kansas?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying cybersecurity-related roles in Kansas are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($164,830), Computer Systems Analyst ($100,770), Information Security Analyst ($100,620). Wages for Hays workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Dodge City instead of Hays?

Dodge City, KS is 86.1 miles from Hays and has its own set of local cybersecurity programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Hays an affordable place to study cybersecurity?

Hays’s median household income of $56,861 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Hays while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Kansas public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Cybersecurity Programs

Other Programs Available in Hays

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Hays:

Data verified: September 6, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

Back to Best Cybersecurity Schools in Kansas: Online Programs (2026)