Ohio has one of the largest nursing education sectors in the US, with more than 35 colleges producing BSN graduates for major health systems in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. This guide ranks them using official federal data and reviews the top 5.
Imagine you want to become a nurse in Ohio. You could study at a world-famous research university in Columbus, a private university next to a major Cleveland hospital system, or a smaller Catholic or liberal arts college. Here is how they compare.
How we ranked these schools
We used the latest official data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard. We included colleges in Ohio that award a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), and ranked those producing at least 20 BSN graduates a year by their graduation rate. We also show how much their nursing graduates earn and what tuition costs. Graduation rates are for each college as a whole, not nursing students alone.
Ohio nursing schools ranked (2026)
| Rank | College | City | Type | Graduation rate | BSN graduates a year | BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year) | In-state tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland | Private nonprofit | 87% | 60 | $82,843 | $69,270 |
| 2 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | Columbus | Public | 87% | 243 | $78,970 | $13,641 |
| 3 | Miami University-Oxford | Oxford | Public | 81% | 32 | $74,043 | $18,520 |
| 4 | Franciscan University of Steubenville | Steubenville | Private nonprofit | 76% | 40 | $74,926 | $35,900 |
| 5 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | Cincinnati | Public | 75% | 336 | $78,002 | $14,394 |
| 6 | Cedarville University | Cedarville | Private nonprofit | 74% | 90 | $73,503 | $38,258 |
| 7 | Xavier University | Cincinnati | Private nonprofit | 71% | 302 | $80,580 | $52,680 |
| 8 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | Bowling Green | Public | 66% | 98 | $75,940 | $14,892 |
| 9 | Ohio University-Main Campus | Athens | Public | 65% | 1212 | $83,529 | $14,582 |
| 10 | University of Mount Union | Alliance | Private nonprofit | 65% | 29 | $75,465 | $37,700 |
| 11 | Mount Vernon Nazarene University | Mount Vernon | Private nonprofit | 63% | 26 | $75,805 | $38,274 |
| 12 | Otterbein University | Westerville | Private nonprofit | 61% | 52 | $80,166 | $36,598 |
| 13 | The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences | Cincinnati | Private nonprofit | 60% | 183 | $76,399 | $17,318 |
| 14 | Mount Carmel College of Nursing | Columbus | Private nonprofit | 59% | 256 | $78,721 | $28,500 |
| 15 | Walsh University | North Canton | Private nonprofit | 58% | 78 | $74,611 | $37,115 |
| 16 | University of Toledo | Toledo | Public | 58% | 250 | $74,846 | $13,122 |
| 17 | Capital University | Columbus | Private nonprofit | 57% | 79 | $76,542 | $44,304 |
| 18 | Ashland University | Ashland | Private nonprofit | 57% | 100 | $78,090 | $33,220 |
| 19 | Kettering College | Kettering | Private nonprofit | 57% | 93 | $75,237 | $16,800 |
| 20 | Ursuline College | Pepper Pike | Private nonprofit | 55% | 139 | $78,415 | $39,780 |
| 21 | Mount St. Joseph University | Cincinnati | Private nonprofit | 54% | 20 | $80,828 | $39,650 |
| 22 | Muskingum University | New Concord | Private nonprofit | 53% | 32 | $75,122 | $33,579 |
| 23 | University of Akron Main Campus | Akron | Public | 53% | 162 | $72,920 | $13,530 |
| 24 | Youngstown State University | Youngstown | Public | 53% | 123 | $72,504 | $11,444 |
| 25 | Cleveland State University | Cleveland | Public | 51% | 182 | $73,828 | $13,262 |
| 26 | Kent State University at Kent | Kent | Public | 51% | 435 | $74,293 | $13,628 |
| 27 | Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences | Canton | Private nonprofit | 50% | 34 | $72,418 | $20,800 |
| 28 | Mercy College of Ohio | Toledo | Private nonprofit | 48% | 143 | $80,763 | $19,702 |
| 29 | Wright State University-Lake Campus | Celina | Public | 44% | 25 | $74,715 | $8,230 |
| 30 | Wright State University-Main Campus | Dayton | Public | 42% | 123 | $74,715 | $12,268 |
| 31 | Miami University-Middletown | Middletown | Public | 27% | 22 | $74,043 | $7,709 |
| 32 | Miami University-Hamilton | Hamilton | Public | 26% | 67 | $74,043 | $7,709 |
| 33 | Franklin University | Columbus | Private nonprofit | 21% | 36 | n/a | $9,552 |
| 34 | Ohio University-Zanesville Campus | Zanesville | Public | 19% | 25 | $83,529 | $6,552 |
| 35 | University of Akron Wayne College | Orrville | Public | 11% | 24 | $72,920 | $7,955 |
| 36 | Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus | Chillicothe | Public | 9% | 26 | $83,529 | $6,552 |
Also offering a BSN in Ohio (not ranked: either a comparable graduation rate isn’t reported, often because they mainly enrol transfer, upper-division or adult students, or they’re for-profit career colleges whose college-wide rates aren’t comparable with universities):
| College | City | Type | Graduation rate | BSN graduates a year | BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year) | In-state tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamberlain University-Ohio | Columbus | Private for-profit | 27% | 183 | $89,974 | $20,845 |
| Galen College of Nursing-Cincinnati | Cincinnati | Private for-profit | 17% | 49 | $78,918 | $18,740 |
Top Ohio nursing schools reviewed
1. Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland is a private research university whose Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing is one of the oldest university-based nursing schools in the US, with clinical training at major Cleveland hospitals.
- Graduation rate: 87%, number 1 in Ohio on our list
- Programme size: about 60 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $82,843 one year after graduating
- Cost: $69,270 tuition a year before financial aid
- Acceptance rate: 37%
2. Ohio State University-Main Campus
Ohio State University in Columbus is one of the largest public universities in the country, with a large College of Nursing and an academic medical centre on campus.
- Graduation rate: 87%, number 2 in Ohio on our list
- Programme size: about 243 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $78,970 one year after graduating
- Cost: $13,641 in-state tuition ($42,423 out of state)
- Acceptance rate: 61%
3. Miami University-Oxford
Miami University in Oxford is a public university known for its strong undergraduate focus, offering a BSN through its Department of Nursing.
- Graduation rate: 81%, number 3 in Ohio on our list
- Programme size: about 32 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, a smaller programme with a more personal feel
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $74,043 one year after graduating
- Cost: $18,520 in-state tuition ($42,042 out of state)
- Acceptance rate: 75%
4. Franciscan University of Steubenville
Franciscan University of Steubenville is a small private Catholic university in eastern Ohio with a long-established BSN programme.
- Graduation rate: 76%, number 4 in Ohio on our list
- Programme size: about 40 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $74,926 one year after graduating
- Cost: $35,900 tuition a year before financial aid
- Acceptance rate: 58%
5. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
The University of Cincinnati is a large public research university with one of the largest Colleges of Nursing in Ohio and close links to the city’s academic health centre.
- Graduation rate: 75%, number 5 in Ohio on our list
- Programme size: about 336 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $78,002 one year after graduating
- Cost: $14,394 in-state tuition ($29,728 out of state)
- Acceptance rate: 85%
Studying nursing in Ohio: what to know
Ohio is home to some of the largest health systems in the country, including major academic medical centres in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati, along with extensive community hospital networks across the state. This creates strong demand for new BSN graduates, particularly in acute care, critical care and specialties such as oncology and paediatrics. Many Ohio hospitals offer nurse residency programmes for new graduates and tuition support for nurses who go on to graduate study. Ohio also has a large number of associate degree and practical nursing programmes, and many RN-to-BSN options for nurses who start with an ADN.
Ways to become a registered nurse in Ohio
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): a four-year degree, the route covered in this guide, preferred by many hospitals and required for most leadership and advanced roles.
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): a two-year programme, often at community colleges, leading to the same NCLEX-RN exam. Many nurses later complete an RN-to-BSN degree, often online and part-time while working.
- Accelerated BSN (ABSN): for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another subject, usually 12 to 18 months of intensive study.
- Direct-entry master’s (MSN): offered by some universities for graduates of other fields.
Whichever route you choose, you must graduate from an approved programme and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to be licensed by the Ohio Board of Nursing. Ohio is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate licence lets you practise in other compact states.
Frequently asked questions
How many colleges in Ohio offer a BSN?
Based on the latest College Scorecard data, 38 colleges in Ohio produce at least 20 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, together awarding around 5,409 BSN degrees annually. Some smaller programmes are not included.
Which Ohio nursing school has the highest graduation rate?
Case Western Reserve University has the highest college-wide graduation rate on our list, at 87%.
Which is the largest nursing programme in Ohio?
Ohio University-Main Campus produces the most bachelor’s nursing graduates in the state, about 1212 a year.
How much do new BSN graduates earn in Ohio?
Across the colleges listed, the median first-year earnings of bachelor’s nursing graduates range from $72,418 to $89,974, with a typical (median) figure of about $75,805. Earnings depend on where graduates work, their shift patterns and whether they were already working as nurses.
How much does a public nursing degree cost in Ohio?
In-state tuition at the public universities on our list ranges from $6,552 to $18,520 a year, before fees, housing and financial aid.
But is a ranking enough to choose a school?
No ranking can tell you everything. Before you apply, also check:
- NCLEX pass rates: the Ohio Board of Nursing publishes first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for approved programmes. Look for consistently high rates over several years.
- Accreditation: make sure the BSN is accredited by CCNE or ACEN.
- Getting into the nursing major: many universities admit students as “pre-nursing” first. Ask what share progress into the nursing programme.
- Clinical placements: where students train and how placements are arranged.
- Total cost: use each college’s net price calculator to see your likely cost after financial aid.
Your next step: Shortlist three schools from the table, then check each programme’s NCLEX pass rate on the Ohio Board of Nursing website before you apply.
Related: US nursing schools with the highest graduation rates · How to get into nursing school
Sources: US Department of Education College Scorecard (accessed November 2026), Ohio Board of Nursing, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Figures change every year; always confirm with the college.
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