Best Online Kinesiology Programs in Hays, KS (2026)

Hays, Kansas has 5 accredited schools offering kinesiology 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 kinesiology-related role is Athletic Trainer at a median $59,140 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Kinesiology Schools to Hays

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer kinesiology 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

Central Christian College of Kansas

McPherson, KS 96.3 miles from Hays BOC Score 37.2
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 33%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $44,468
Avg net price $11,404/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 53%
  • Programs offered: 16

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

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

#6

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

#7

Bethel College-North Newton

North Newton, KS 120.6 miles from Hays BOC Score 25.7
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 55%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,898
Avg net price $32,917/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 61%
  • Programs offered: 8

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Friends University

Wichita, KS 134.7 miles from Hays BOC Score 38.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
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: 22

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Kinesiology Wages Near Hays

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Kansas, statewide)
Exercise Physiologist$59,090
Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor$35,900
Athletic Trainer$59,140
Coach and Scout$42,900

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 Kinesiology Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited kinesiology schools are near Hays, KS?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering kinesiology programs near Hays. The closest is Barton County Community College in Great Bend, KS (45.9 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Kansas Wesleyan University (92.2 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying kinesiology roles in Kansas?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying kinesiology-related roles in Kansas are: Athletic Trainer ($59,140), Exercise Physiologist ($59,090), Coach and Scout ($42,900). 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 kinesiology 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 kinesiology?

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 Kinesiology 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.