Hesston College is a private college in Hesston, Kansas, United States. It is associated with the Mennonite Church USA and has an enrollment of about 400 students who typically come from about 30 states and 15 other countries.
Opening in 1909 as Hesston Academy and Bible School, Heston College has offered collegiate level classes since 1915. Founded by T.M. Erb and A.L. Hess after approval by the Kansas-Nebraska Mennonite Conference and endorsement by the Mennonite Board of Education (MBE). Hesston College was affiliated with Mennonite Church and operated by MBE until 2002 when Mennonite Church merged with other denominations and Mennonite Church USA was formed. High school level classes were offered until 1963.
In 1981, the Dyck Arboretum of the Plains was founded at the college.
The main Hesston campus consists of 12 buildings, including two residential dormitories (Erb hall and Kaufman Court), an administration building, library, a number of academic buildings, and two gymnasiums. It also has a baseball diamond, a softball field, soccer field, a weight room, and four tennis courts.
The Dyck Arboretum of the Plains is a arboretum located 1 block south of the main campus.
The aviation program has facilities at the Newton City-County Airport east of Newton, Kansas.
The Nursing program, in addition to facilities on the main campus, has affiliations with local hospitals, including Newton Medical Center and Prairie View Mental Health Center in Newton, Schowalter Villa in Hesston, and Via Christi-St. Francis Campus, Via Christi-St. Joseph Campus, and Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.
The Hesston athletic teams are called the Larks. The college is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primary competing in the NAIA's Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) since the 2025âÂÂ26 academic year. The Larks previously were in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) starting in 2018âÂÂ19.
Hesston competes in 12 intercollegiate varsity teams. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, flag football, soccer, softball and track & field.
On April 7, 2025, Hesston announced that the school would join the NAIA and the NCCAA, effective 2025âÂÂ26.
as of January 2025