Ohio Nursing Programs

Top Nursing Schools in
Ohio — 2026

Compare the best BSN, MSN, ADN, and RN programs in Ohio. Tuition costs, NCLEX pass rates, accreditation, and unique program highlights for prospective nursing students.

7 programs listed BSN · MSN · ADN Ohio Board of Nursing Nurse Licensure Compact member

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Nursing Programs in Ohio

BSN · On-Campus
Ohio State University
BSN Program — Columbus

OSU College of Nursing is Ohio's flagship nursing program, consistently ranked among the nation's top 25. Located adjacent to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

$12,500/yearAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
94%NCLEX Pass
BSN · On-Campus
Case Western Reserve University
BSN Program — Cleveland

CWRU's Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing is consistently ranked in the top 20. Clinical placements at University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic — two of America's top hospital systems.

$28,000/yearAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
95%NCLEX Pass
BSN · On-Campus
Ohio State University
BSN Program — Columbus

Big Ten flagship university with Ohio State Wexner Medical Center clinical network

$22,000/yrAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
93%NCLEX Pass
MSN · On-Campus
Case Western Reserve University
MSN – NP Program — Cleveland

Elite private research university MSN with UH Cleveland Medical Center partnerships

$44,000/yrAvg Cost
2 yearsLength
N/ANCLEX Pass
ADN · On-Campus
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
ADN Program — Cincinnati

Southwest Ohio ADN with UC Health and TriHealth clinical partnerships

$7,500 totalAvg Cost
2 yearsLength
88%NCLEX Pass
ADN · On-Campus
Columbus State Community College
ADN Program — Columbus

Central Ohio ADN with OhioHealth and Ohio State clinical partnerships

$7,800 totalAvg Cost
2 yearsLength
89%NCLEX Pass
BSN · On-Campus
University of Toledo
BSN – Traditional — Toledo

Northwest Ohio public university BSN with ProMedica and Mercy Health partnerships

$16,000/yrAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
90%NCLEX Pass

About Nursing Programs in Ohio

Ohio combines a strong healthcare economy with relatively affordable nursing education, making it a solid place to launch or grow a nursing career. The state is home to nationally ranked systems including the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and large networks across Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton, alongside steady demand in community hospitals, long-term care, and home health statewide.

You will find the full range of pathways in Ohio: community-college and technical-school ADN programs that lead to RN licensure, BSN degrees at public and private universities, accelerated and second-degree BSN options, and RN-to-BSN bridges plus MSN tracks for nurse practitioners, educators, and leaders. Many Ohio health systems support continuing education with tuition assistance, which pairs well with starting at the ADN level and bridging to a BSN while you work.

Licensure runs through the Ohio Board of Nursing. Ohio is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN license issued to an Ohio resident is a multistate license — you can practice in person or by telehealth across all compact states without applying for separate licenses, which is a meaningful advantage for travel nurses and those near state lines.

Licensing authority: Ohio Board of Nursing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Ohio is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. If Ohio is your primary state of residence, your RN or LPN license is a multistate license valid across all compact states.
Graduate from an Ohio Board of Nursing-approved ADN or BSN program, pass the NCLEX-RN, and apply for licensure through the Ohio Board of Nursing, including a background check.
Both let you sit for the NCLEX-RN. A BSN is preferred for Magnet hospitals and leadership tracks, but an affordable ADN followed by an employer-supported RN-to-BSN is a popular and cost-effective route in Ohio.
Community-college ADN programs are the most affordable path to RN licensure, while university BSN programs cost more. Review each program's tuition and NCLEX pass rate above to compare.
About two years for an ADN and four for a BSN, with accelerated BSN options finishing in roughly 12 to 18 months for students who already hold a bachelor's degree.
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