Campus & online schools
Nursing Schools in Ohio: Campus & Online Programs (2026)
24 nursing schools have campuses in Ohio, plus accredited online programs open to residents. Compare programs accepting applications below.
- Campus schools
- 24
- Located in Ohio
- Online schools
- 43
- Enroll residents
- Average RN salary
- $86,110
- BLS
Programs accepting applications
Ohio programs accepting applications
Programs currently enrolling Ohio residents. Our own ranking of Ohio schools follows below.
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Ohio has 24 campus-based nursing schools plus 43 accredited online programs open to residents (2026). University of Cincinnati leads the in-state list with a 88% first-time NCLEX pass rate. Registered nurses in Ohio earn about $86,110/year (BLS). Verify each program's ACEN or CCNE accreditation before enrolling.
Key takeaways — nursing schools in Ohio
- Ohio has 24 campus-based nursing schools and 43 accredited online programs available to residents.
- University of Cincinnati leads the in-state list, with a 88% first-time NCLEX pass rate.
- Registered nurses in Ohio earn an average of $86,110 per year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
- Verify each program's ACEN or CCNE accreditation before enrolling — it is the baseline for federal financial aid, NCLEX eligibility, and graduate nursing study.
- Online pre-licensure programs must hold Ohio Board of Nursing approval and arrange in-state clinical placements — verify both before enrolling.
Campus-Based Nursing Schools in Ohio
Nursing schools with a campus in Ohio, ranked by NCLEX pass rate, accreditation, and program quality.
| Rank | School | NCLEX Pass Rate | Acceptance Rate | Accreditation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Cincinnati | 88% | — | CCNE | View School |
| #2 | Case Western Reserve University | 85% | 33% | CCNE | View School |
| #3 | Arizona College of Nursing – Cincinnati | N/A | — | CCNE (Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program, Arizona College of Nursing); ABHES (institutional, all campuses) | View School |
| #4 | Arizona College of Nursing – Cleveland | N/A | — | Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) — institutional, all campuses. BSN program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), reaccredited June 2022 for the maximum 10-year term. | View School |
| #5 | BELMONT COLLEGE | N/A | — | ACEN Accredited — associate (St. Clairesville, Ohio). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23. | View School |
| #6 | CENTRAL OHIO TECHNICAL COLLEGE | N/A | — | ACEN Accredited — associate (Newark, Ohio). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23. | View School |
| #7 | Cleveland State University – School of Nursing | N/A | — | CCNE | View School |
| #8 | Columbus State Community College | N/A | — | ACEN | View School |
| #9 | Cuyahoga Community College | N/A | — | ACEN | View School |
| #10 | Fortis College – Cincinnati | N/A | — | Ohio Board of Nursing — FULL approval (Associate Degree in Nursing). Programmatic nursing accreditation NOT verified: Fortis College Centerville, OH is ACEN-accredited; Cincinnati is not listed in the ACEN directory. | View School |
| #11 | Hocking College | N/A | — | ACEN | View School |
| #12 | Hondros College of Nursing | N/A | — | ABHES (institutional); NLN CNEA (Practical Nursing); CCNE (baccalaureate, Westerville main campus only); Ohio Board of Nursing — Practical Nursing diploma approved; Associate Degree in Nursing on PROVISIONAL approval since March 2017 | View School |
| #13 | JAMES A RHODES STATE COLLEGE | N/A | — | ACEN Accredited — associate, baccalaureate (Lima, Ohio). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23. | View School |
| #14 | Lakeland Community College | N/A | — | ACEN | View School |
| #15 | Lorain County Community College | N/A | 64% | ACEN | View School |
| #16 | MARION TECHNICAL COLLEGE | N/A | — | ACEN Accredited — associate, baccalaureate (Marion, Ohio). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23. | View School |
| #17 | Mount St. Joseph University – Department of Nursing | N/A | 59% | CCNE | View School |
| #18 | NORTH CENTRAL STATE COLLEGE | N/A | — | ACEN Accredited — associate (Mansfield, Ohio). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23. | View School |
| #19 | NORTHWEST STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE | N/A | — | ACEN Accredited — associate (Archbold, Ohio). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23. | View School |
| #20 | Ohio State University | N/A | — | CCNE | View School |
| #21 | Shawnee State University | N/A | — | ACEN | View School |
| #22 | Sinclair Community College | N/A | — | ACEN | View School |
| #23 | Washington State College of Ohio | N/A | — | ACEN | View School |
| #24 | Xavier University – College of Nursing | N/A | — | CCNE | View School |
Find Ohio nursing schools near you
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Online Nursing Programs Available to Ohio Residents
These accredited schools are based outside Ohio but enroll Ohio residents online. Confirm clinical-placement and Ohio Board of Nursing approval before enrolling in any pre-licensure RN program.
How We Evaluate Nursing Schools in Ohio
We separate schools with a physical campus in Ohio from accredited online programs that enroll Ohio residents, because the two answer different questions — one is about studying locally, the other about studying from Ohio. Within each group we weight NCLEX first-time pass rate most heavily; it is the strongest available predictor of how well a program prepares graduates for licensure.
Accreditation is non-negotiable: we only include schools accredited by ACEN or CCNE, or regionally accredited programs with state board approval. We also consider acceptance rate (program selectivity), program variety across degree levels (LPN through doctoral), and value relative to regional salary expectations. Where a school has not yet reported outcome data, we show it without inventing a number.
What to Look for in a Ohio Nursing School
The most important factor is NCLEX pass rate. The national first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for U.S.-educated candidates was 86.7% in 2025 (NCSBN), down from 91.2% in 2024. Programs consistently above 90% have demonstrated they effectively prepare students for licensure. Ask schools for their three-year average pass rate — a single good year can be an anomaly.
Accreditation matters for several reasons beyond quality assurance. CCNE- or ACEN-accredited programs make you eligible for federal financial aid, qualify you for military service, and meet the requirements for most graduate nursing programs if you plan to advance your career later.
Consider clinical placement. Hospitals in Ohio often have affiliation agreements with specific nursing schools, giving graduates an inside track to jobs. If you are considering an online program based outside Ohio, confirm that it arranges clinical placements within Ohio and is approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing for pre-licensure study.
Nursing Career Outlook in Ohio
Registered nurses in Ohio earn an average of $86,110 annually. The BLS projects nursing employment to grow 6% nationally through 2032 — faster than the average for all occupations — driven by an aging population and expanded access to healthcare. Ohio is expected to see strong demand in hospitals, outpatient care centers, and home health settings.
BSN-prepared nurses command higher salaries and have access to broader roles. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reports that 80% of nursing positions now prefer or require a BSN. If you currently hold an ADN, many schools serving Ohiooffer flexible RN-to-BSN completion programs you can complete while working.