15 Leading NAIA Schools in Kansas

If you were an athletic student in high school and want to keep up the passion when you get to college then you should consider applying to an NAIA school.  You can find some of the leading NAIA schools in Kansas to enroll in.

Kansas is a state in the Midwest of the United States and is home to a lot of schools and institutions. You can find military schools in Kansas that you can enroll in.

Many students want to keep playing their favorite sports while earning a degree which is a good decision as this gives them a multitude of numerous opportunities after college. Even while in school, they have the added benefits of a scholarship.

NAIA is an acronym for stands for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Established in 1940, it is a collegiate athletic association for colleges and universities in North America, that governs more than 77,000 student-athletes from over 250 colleges in the US and offers up to $800 million in scholarships annually. Their headquarters is in Kansas City Missouri, with a membership body of 252, under the leadership of their president Jim Carr.

Applying for an NAIA college allows such students to keep playing their favorite sports while studying for their degree program and this is for boys and girls. And that is not all, you can also get scholarships worth up to $7,000 or higher provided by the NAIA to support you

There are many sports to participate in which include Soccer, Basketball, Football, Baseball, Track & Field, Swimming, Bowling, Softball, Cross Country, Golf, Volleyball, and many others.

Ohio is another state in the Midwest of the United States with up to 7 NAIA schools, so if you are currently in Ohio, and wish to become a student-athlete, you can enroll into the ones situated there. Without further ado, let’s delve properly into the NAIA schools in Kansas.

NAIA Schools in Kansas

NAIA Schools in Kansas

There are 15 schools that are affiliated with NAIA in Kansas I will be listing and talking briefly about these schools. They are as follows;

  • University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth
  • Southwestern College, Winfield
  • Sterling College, Sterling
  •  Tabor College, Hillsboro
  •  Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina
  • McPherson College, McPherson
  •  MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU), Olathe
  •  Ottawa University, Ottawa
  •  Bethel College, North Newton
  •  Central Christian College, McPherson
  • Friends University, Wichita
  • Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU), Lawrence
  • Baker University, Baldwin City
  • Benedictine College, Atchison
  •  Bethany College, Lindsborg

1.      University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth

This is the first NAIA school in Kansas on the list. The University of Saint Mary (USM) was founded in 1923 by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth as Saint Mary College, it was initially intended for just women, but it is now a  co-educational school. It is one of the private athletic Catholic institutions. It is a top catholic college in Kansas.

 The University as of today  is an esteemed applied liberal arts Catholic university with more than 30 undergraduate programs, masters programs, and three doctoral programs

While they have an ever-growing specialization in health care education, USM has a wide variety of excellent programs leading to success in numerous career fields. Classes are held in Leavenworth, Overland Park, and online and in several formats: traditional and evening-accelerated.

Students benefit from small classes and one-on-one attention from expert instructors—taught by professors, not teaching assistants

The school’s athletic team The Spires are known for their trademark navy and gold colors and competes currently in 26 intercollegiate varsity sports for both men and women.

Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field, and wrestling.

Women’s sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, flag football, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and wrestling

2.      Southwestern College, Winfield

Southwestern College is a private Methodist college and one of the NAIA athletic colleges in Kansas. It was founded in 1885 and offers numerous undergraduate and graduate programs as well as online programs.

The school’s athletic team is called The Moundbuilders and they currently compete in 18 intercollegiate varsity sports for both men and women.

Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, and track & field.

Women’s sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading and dance.

3.      Sterling College, Sterling

Sterling College is one of the Christ-centered four-year colleges in Kansas, it is a private evangelical Christian college accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. They offer different Majors, Minors, and Online Programs.

The Sterling athletic team is called The Warriors and they are known for their navy, cardinal, and silver colors. They currently compete in 23 intercollegiate varsity sports for both men and women.

Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, powerlifting, soccer, swimming, tennis, and track & field (indoor and outdoor).

Women’s sports include basketball, cross country, golf, powerlifting, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor), and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading

4.       Tabor College, Hillsboro

Tabor College is the next on the list of NAIA schools in Kansas and is a Christian private college owned and operated by the Mennonite Brethren Church. They offer undergraduate, graduate, and online programs.

Their athletic team is called The Bluejays, and they currently compete in 20 intercollegiate varsity sports for both men and women.

Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, and track & field (indoor and outdoor).

Women’s sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor), and volleyball.

5.       Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina

Kansas Wesleyan University was founded in 1886, and it is one of the religious universities in Kansas, affiliated with the United Methodist Church. They offer different Dual Degree Programs, Pre-professional programs, Degrees and Programs, and Online Learning in various Academic Departments. They also offer an R.N. to B.S. Major in Nursing Online Program.

Their athletic team currently competes in 25 intercollegiate varsity sports for both men and women.

Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor), and volleyball.

Women’s sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, flag football, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor), and volleyball

6.      McPherson College, McPherson

Founded in 1887, McPherson College is a four-year liberal arts college related to the Church of the Brethren. The beautiful 27-acre campus is set in McPherson, a town of 13,000 that is one of the top 100 small towns in the U.S., with a strong diversified economic base, located in central Kansas 50 miles north of Wichita.

The college has a primarily residential student body of over 800 from 33 states and 26 countries providing a diverse and welcoming community.

McPherson College offers over 40 areas of study including pre-professional programs and the option to create a student-designed major allows students to combine select courses throughout the curriculum to meet their specific personal and professional goals.

McPherson College’s athletic team is called The Bulldogs, known for their red and white color, and currently competes in 18 intercollegiate varsity sports for both men and women.

Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, soccer, tennis, and track & field.

Women’s sports include basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, and volleyball; and co-ed sports include competitive cheer, competitive dance, and shotgun sports

7.       MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU), Olathe

MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) was founded in 1966 and is one of the privately owned religious universities in Olathe, affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene in the metropolitan area.

With more than 60 academic programs and an average class size of 16, you will get a personal and challenging education at MNU.. From lab experiences to student teaching to internships, students learn from highly qualified faculty in a very engaging setting. They offer undergraduate studies, graduate studies, and online programs.

As one of the top NAIA athletic schools in Kansas, the MNU’s athletic team, The Pioneers with their trademark scarlet, white, and navy blue colors and currently compete in 18 intercollegiate varsity sports for both men and women.

Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, and track & field (indoor and outdoor).

Women’s sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, track & field (indoor and outdoor), and volleyball.

8.       Ottawa University, Ottawa

Ottawa University (OU) was founded in 1865; it’s a private Baptist university that is affiliated with the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma and the American Baptist Churches USA. They offer various academic and degree programs such as nursing programs  in different schools namely; the School Of Education, Angell Snyder School Of Business, and School Of Arts And Sciences

As one of the NAIA Schools in Kansas, Ottawa University’s athletic team known as The Braves currently competes in 31 NAIA intercollegiate varsity athletic teams for both men and women.

Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, powerlifting, soccer, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and wrestling.

Women’s sports include basketball, beach volleyball, bowling, cross country, flag football, golf, lacrosse, powerlifting, soccer, softball, stunt, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and wrestling.

9.       Bethel College, North Newton

Bethel College is a top athletic private Christian college in North Newton, Kansas. As the first Mennonite college founded in North America, Bethel College celebrates a tradition of progressive Christian liberal arts education, diversity within the community, and lifelong learning. They offer different Majors and minors in 43+ different areas of study.

 The school’s athletic team is called The Threshers and their color is maroon and gray.

They currently participate in 17 intercollegiate varsity sports for both men and women.

Men’s sports include basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, and track, and field.

Women’s sports include basketball, cross country, flag football, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading and dance.

10.   Central Christian College, McPherson

Central Christian College of Kansas is one of the religious colleges in Kansas that is affiliated with the Free Methodist Church.  They offer different academic programs in different study areas as well as online programs too.

It is one of the Kansas NAIA Colleges with an amazing athletic team, The Tigers, and they currently compete in 16 intercollegiate varsity sports for both men and women.

Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, volleyball, and wrestling; while women’s sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, volleyball, and wrestling.

11.  Friends University, Wichita

Friends University was founded in 1898 and it is a private nondenominational Christian university in Wichita, Kansas. Friends University, a Christian University of Quaker heritage, equips students to honor God and serve others by integrating their intellectual, spiritual, and professional lives. They offer 60+ bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, as well as 60+ majors.

Their athletic teams are called The Falcons and they currently partake in 23 intercollegiate varsity sports for both men and women.

Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, powerlifting, soccer, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor), and wrestling.

Women’s sports include basketball, cross country, cheerleading, golf, powerlifting, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor), volleyball, and wrestling

12.  Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU), Lawrence

Haskell Indian Nations University is one of the NAIA universities in Kansas; it was founded in 1884 as a boarding school but has now developed into a university operated by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU) is the premiere tribal university in the United States, offering quality education to Native American students. Its student population averages about 1000 per semester, and all students are members of federally recognized tribes. Its faculty and staff are predominantly native, and its historic campus is centrally located in Lawrence, KS, offering Associate and Bachelor’s degrees

Haskell Indian Nations University’s athletic team is called The Fighting Indians, their team colors are purple, gold, and white, and they currently compete in 11 intercollegiate varsity sports for both men and women.

Men’s sports include basketball, cross country, golf, and track & field (indoor and outdoor).

Women’s sports include basketball, cross country, softball, track & field (indoor and outdoor), and volleyball.

13.  Baker University, Baldwin City

The next on the list of  NAIA colleges in Kansas is Baker University, it is a private university that was founded in 1858 in Baldwin City, Kansas, and is also the first four-year university in the state.

 It is one of the religious schools in Kansas affiliated with the United Methodist Church, and offers various academic programs in four distinct schools namely; the School of Education (SOE), The School of Professional and Graduate Studies (SPGS), The School of Nursing and The College of Arts and Sciences.

The school’s athletic teams are called The Wildcats, and they have only one official color, cadmium orange. They currently compete in 23 intercollegiate varsity sports for both men and women. Their Men, Women, and Co-ed  Sports include Football, Softball, and Dance respectively with other types of sports included.

14.  Benedictine College, Atchison

Benedictine is one of the very reputable NAIA colleges in Kansas; it is located in Atchison and was founded in 1971 as a private liberal arts college. The school offers Over 50 Majors, Pre-professional Programs, and Master’s Degrees in different academic departments.

Their athletic team is called The Ravens. This athletic team currently participates in 20 intercollegiate varsity sports for both men and women.

Their male, female, and co-ed sports are Lacrosse, cross country, and spirit squad respectively with a host of other sports

15.   Bethany College, Lindsborg

Bethany College was founded in 1881 as a private college in Lindsborg, it is one of the oldest colleges in Kansas, and held its first class in Bethany Lutheran Church in Lindsborg, serving as the Church in Mission in Higher Education ever since.

Their students study and live on a campus located in one of the Midwest’s most distinctive communities. They offer various degree paths (majors and minors) in different academic departments.

The school’s athletic team is called The Swedes (or Terrible Swedes) and they currently compete in 22 intercollegiate varsity sports for both men and women.

Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor), and wrestling.

Women’s sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor), and volleyball.

Conclusion

These NAIA schools in Kansas are all open to accepting student-athletes who wish to enroll in any of them and start up their career.

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