Best Online Graphic Design Programs in Hays, KS (2026)

Hays, Kansas has 5 accredited schools offering graphic design programs. Hays has a population of about 21,078. 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 graphic design-related role is Web and Digital Interface Designer at a median $70,620 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Graphic Design Schools to Hays

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer graphic design 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.

#1

Sterling College

Sterling, KS 75.5 miles from Hays BOC Score 31.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 41%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,846
Avg net price $22,371/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 55%
  • Programs offered: 21

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Bethany College

Lindsborg, KS 91.3 miles from Hays BOC Score 18.7
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 37%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,694
Avg net price $27,686/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 46%
  • Programs offered: 20

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Kansas Wesleyan University

Salina, KS 92.2 miles from Hays BOC Score 36.1
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,152
Avg net price $22,671/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 60%
  • Programs offered: 22

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

McPherson College

McPherson, KS 97.1 miles from Hays BOC Score 30.4
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 54%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,084
Avg net price $26,441/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 65%
  • Programs offered: 16

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Tabor College

Hillsboro, KS 120.3 miles from Hays BOC Score 45.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 53%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,058
Avg net price $20,205/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 60%
  • Programs offered: 17

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Wichita State University

Wichita, KS 135.5 miles from Hays BOC Score 51.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
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: 72

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS 148.4 miles from Hays BOC Score 67.7
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
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: 62

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Rasmussen University-Kansas

Topeka, KS 194.5 miles from Hays BOC Score 49.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 40%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $39,080
Avg net price $23,980/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 34

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Graphic Design Wages Near Hays

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Kansas, statewide)
Graphic Designer$53,630
Art Director$60,460
Web and Digital Interface Designer$70,620
Special Effects Artist and Animator$62,720

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

MetricValueSource
Population21,078Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$56,861Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+43.9%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Hays-Area Cities With Graphic Design Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited graphic design schools are near Hays, KS?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering graphic design programs near Hays. The closest is Fort Hays State University in Hays, KS (1.4 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Bethany College (91.3 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying graphic design roles in Kansas?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying graphic design-related roles in Kansas are: Web and Digital Interface Designer ($70,620), Special Effects Artist and Animator ($62,720), Art Director ($60,460). 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 graphic design 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 graphic design?

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 Graphic Design Programs

Other Programs Available in Hays

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

Data verified: July 30, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.