Best Online Nursing Programs in Hays, KS (2026)

Hays, Kansas has 5 accredited schools offering nursing 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 nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $212,090 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Nursing Schools to Hays

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

Barton County Community College

Great Bend, KS 45.9 miles from Hays BOC Score 50.8
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 38%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $40,428
Avg net price $9,905/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 50

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Fort Hays Tech North Central

Beloit, KS 77.1 miles from Hays BOC Score 60.9
  • 2 year
Graduation rate 66%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,928
Avg net price $12,393/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 30

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Dodge City Community College

Dodge City, KS 85.6 miles from Hays BOC Score 55.2
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 32%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,427
Avg net price $4,068/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 47

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Pratt Community College

Pratt, KS 88.0 miles from Hays BOC Score 56.9
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 39%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,892
Avg net price $9,731/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 10

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Salina Area Technical College

Salina, KS 91.0 miles from Hays BOC Score 78.9
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 81%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,175
Avg net price $6,468/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 36

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Hutchinson Community College

Hutchinson, KS 94.4 miles from Hays BOC Score 57.3
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 37%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $43,470
Avg net price $6,727/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 65

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Colby Community College

Colby, KS 99.1 miles from Hays BOC Score 57.8
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $41,889
Avg net price $7,886/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 23

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Cloud County Community College

Concordia, KS 100.2 miles from Hays BOC Score 59.0
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $39,883
Avg net price $11,685/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 14

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Nursing Wages Near Hays

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Kansas, statewide)
Registered Nurse$79,320
Licensed Practical Nurse$61,760
Nurse Anesthetist$212,090
Nurse MidwifeN/A
Nurse Practitioner$126,650
Nursing Assistant$38,010

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 Nursing Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited nursing schools are near Hays, KS?

Accredited schools offering nursing programs near Hays are listed on this page, ranked by BOC Score and distance from the city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data on every site update, so it stays current as programs open and close.

What are the highest-paying nursing roles in Kansas?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles in Kansas are: Nurse Anesthetist ($212,090), Nurse Practitioner ($126,650), Registered Nurse ($79,320). 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 nursing 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 nursing?

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 Nursing Programs

Other Programs Available in Hays

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

Data verified: July 23, 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.