Best Substance Abuse Counseling Schools Near Hays, KS (2026)

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 substance abuse counseling-related role is Social and Community Service Manager at a median $79,260 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Substance Abuse Counseling Schools to Hays

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer substance abuse counseling 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

Kansas State University

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

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Washburn University

Topeka, KS 194.8 miles from Hays
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
53.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,774
Avg net price $15,280/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 69%
  • Programs offered: 44

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Allen County Community College

Iola, KS 222.3 miles from Hays
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
51.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 36%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $40,059
Avg net price $8,642/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 15

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Ottawa University-Kansas City

Overland Park, KS 251.9 miles from Hays
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
61.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,552
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 23

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Ottawa University-Online

Overland Park, KS 251.9 miles from Hays
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • 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: 26

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Substance Abuse Counseling Wages Near Hays

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Kansas, statewide)
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor$59,470
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker$56,330
Social and Community Service Manager$79,260
Social and Human Service Assistant$42,570

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 Substance Abuse Counseling Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

What are the highest-paying substance abuse counseling roles in Kansas?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying substance abuse counseling-related roles in Kansas are: Social and Community Service Manager ($79,260), Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor ($59,470), Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker ($56,330). 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 substance abuse counseling 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 substance abuse counseling?

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 Substance Abuse Counseling Programs

Other Programs Available in Hays

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

Data verified: August 11, 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.