Best BSN Programs in Ohio in 2024 (Online & On-Campus)

Looking for a nursing school in Ohio? You’re in luck. A career as a registered nurse in Ohio provides a challenging, stable career with an excellent yearly salary. Currently, the demand for registered nurses nationally is increasing much faster than the average demand for all occupations in the United States. This is reflected in the rising demand for entrance into the best BSN Programs in Ohio. When applying for RN nursing positions, RN’s with bachelor’s degrees tend to demand higher salaries than those without four-year degrees.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2023 RN salaries in Ohio will increase by 8.75% which is equivalent to an annual salary of $72,690. Currently, the average salary for an RN in Ohio is $66,820 compared to a national median average for registered nurses of $70,000 a year.

Additionally, the employment of RN’s nationally is expected to grow by from 12% to 15% from 2018 to 2028 with 438,100 new openings for RN’s occurring over the next ten years. This is mainly due to the aging population and the increasing incidence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, dementia, strokes, hypertension, heart disease, degenerative joint disease, and cancer.

There are many areas of nursing specialization available to those in the field of nursing in the state of Ohio. Some of the nursing specialty options include: Perinatal Nurse, Flight Nurse, Nurse Midwife, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Trauma Nurse, Travel Nurse, Nurse Midwife, Nurse Manager, Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), Nursing Educator, Nursing Administrator, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), and Community Health Nurse (see nursing careers). RN’s who wish to pursue a career in teaching, nursing administration, research, Nurse Midwife, FNP, PMHNP, and CRNA can also obtain a master’s degree or Ph.D. in nursing. Whether you’re looking for a nursing school in Columbus or another city in Ohio, you’ll be sure to find an option below.

General Ohio BSN Admission Requirements:

• A Cumulative GPA of at least 2.5
• A grade of at least a C in all prerequisite courses
• Current certification in CPR

How to Become an RN in Ohio

In order to become an RN in Ohio, applicants must have obtained a bachelor’s degree in nursing from a program approved by the Ohio State Board of Nursing.

After obtaining their nursing  degree, applicants must then successfully pass the NCLEX-RN exam before receiving licensure. In order to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam, applicants must have successfully submitted an application for licensure and successfully met all state licensure requirements.

This includes:

• Completing the RN application
• Submitting all required fees
• Transmitting electronically all undergraduate transcripts from the schools to the Ohio State Board of Nursing
• Registering with Pearson Vue in order to take the NCLEX-RN exam
• Completing the criminal background check with fingerprints which is sent electronically to the Ohio State Board of Nursing

Fees for RN licensure in Ohio include an application fee of $75 with an additional $33.25 required for fingerprinting and a criminal background check.

The NCLEX-RN Exam is a national registered nursing licensure computer exam that is scored on a pass-fail system. The cost to register for the NCLEX-RN exam is $200 payable to Pearson Vue which administers the exam.

The NCLEX-RN exam consists of 4 major categories and 8 sub-categories of questions with the questions being mainly multiple choice with 4 possible choices. There are also fill-in-the-blank questions on the NCLEX – RN exam which lasts for up to 6 hours.

List of the Best Nursing School in Ohio in 2024

When choosing which nursing school in Ohio is best for you, you should carefully consider the following important factors when evaluating each school:

• NCLEX-RN Exam Pass Rate
• The length of the program or the number of accredited hours required
• The admission requirements
• The tuition
• The accreditation – CCNE and/or ACEN

The CCNE and the ACEN are the 2 national accrediting bodies that are related to nursing schools.

1. ACEN – The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) provides accreditation to schools that offer diploma programs in nursing as well as Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Post-Bachelor’s degrees in nursing.
2. CCNE – The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) which is associated with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing offers national accreditation for nursing schools that offer Nursing Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate programs.

1. Muskingum University

Muskingum University Nursing Program is our pick for the #1 BSN Program in Ohio. It is located at 10 College Dr, New Concord, OH 43762. This program highlights a holistic learning approach with small class sizes. From 2016 to 2019 the Muskingum University Nursing Program had a 100% NCLEX-RN passing rate and a 100% job placement rate for its graduates. This program also gives their senior students the opportunity to meet with potential employers prior to graduation and has the full approval of the Ohio Board of Nursing.

• NCLEX-RN Exam Pass Rate – 100%
• Length of the program or the number of accredited hours required – 4 years
• Admission requirements – Prerequisites
• Tuition – $19,005
• Accreditation – CCNE

2. University of Mount Union

The University of Mount Union is located at 1972 Clark Ave, Alliance, OH 44601. This program boasts a new state of the art simulation center complete with a replica of an ICU. Freshman students are admitted directly into the BSN program and there is no waiting list for prospective students.

• NCLEX-RN Exam Pass Rate – 100%
• Length of the program or the number of accredited hours required – 4 years – 128 credit hours
• Admission requirements – Prerequisites
• Tuition – $27,031
• Accreditation – CCNE

3. Baldwin Wallace University

Baldwin Wallace University Nursing Program is located at 275 Eastland Rd, Berea, OH 44017. This program offers a concept based learning 15-month program over 4 semesters.  The curriculum is as follows:

• NCLEX-RN Exam Pass Rate – 100% (December 2018)
• Length of the program or the number of accredited hours required – 15 months, 60 credit hours
• Admission requirements – prerequisite classes
• Tuition – $38,200 (for entire 15-month program)
• Accreditation – CCNE

4. Malone University

Malone University Nursing Program is located at 2600 Cleveland Ave NW, Canton, OH 44709.  Malone University’s Nursing Program has direct admission and no waiting list. Nursing courses are instituted in the first year of study with clinicals started in the 3^rd semester. The program also includes a 21st-century patient simulation lab. In addition, individual advisors are assigned to each student in the first year and 100% of job-seeking graduates are employed within 6 months of graduation. There are also many volunteer opportunities including volunteering in migrant clinics and in local children’s hospitals.

• NCLEX-RN Exam Pass Rate – 100%
• Length of the program or the number of accredited hours required – 4 years – 128 credit hours
• Tuition – $19,972
• Accreditation – CCNE
• Admission requirements – Prerequisites including:
  • A High School GPA of at least 3.0
  • An ACT score of at least 20
  • A combined SAT score of 940 or greater
  • Proficiency in at least 2 college-level science courses
  • A minimum overall GPA of 2.5 throughout the nursing program
  • Passing a background check
  • Health Exam
  • CPR certification

5. Ohio Northern University

Ohio Northern University is located at 525 S Main St, Ada, OH 45810. Ohio Northern University Nursing Program begins clinical rotations in the sophomore year and emphasizes small class size. The average starting salary for an ONU nursing graduate is currently $52,586.

• NCLEX-RN Exam Pass Rate – 100%
• Length of the program or the number of accredited hours required – 4 years – 120 credit hours
• Admission requirements – Prerequisites
• Tuition – $23,355
• Accreditation – CCNE

6. Ohio State University

Ohio State University Nursing Program is located at 1585 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210. Students can initially enroll as pre-nursing students.

• NCLEX-RN Exam Pass Rate – 91.98%
• Length of the program or the number of accredited hours required – 4 years – 121 credit hours
• Admission requirements – Prerequisites
• Tuition – $18,502
• Accreditation – CCNE

7. Capital University

Capital University Nursing Program is located at 1 College Ave, Columbus, OH 43209. Capital University Nursing Program has a superb teaching staff many of whom have advanced nursing degrees. In addition. senior nursing students have the opportunity to study abroad for 8 weeks in countries such as Sweden and Scotland.

• NCLEX-RN Exam Pass Rate – 86.76%
• Length of the program or the number of accredited hours required – 4 years
• Admission requirements – Prerequisites
• Tuition – $22,016
• Accreditation – CCNE

8. Case Western Reserve University

Case Western Reserve University Nursing Program is located at 2120 Cornell Road, Cleveland, OH 44106.  This program through the Frances Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University has direct admission to the nursing program. Nursing students take nursing classes during their first semester and have clinical placements starting in the first month of their first year of study.

Case Western Reserve nursing students receive over 1300 hours of clinical studies and have access to the nation’s first perioperative nursing required course. At Case Western Reserve University, nursing students will have full access to the full range of undergraduate student activities.

•  NCLEX-RN Exam Pass Rate – 86.57%
• Length of the program or the number of accredited hours required – 4 years
• Admission requirements – Prerequisites
• Tuition – $31,356
• Accreditation – CCNE

9. Cleveland State University

Cleveland State University Nursing Program is located at 2121 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44115.  Prerequisite coursework for the Cleveland State University Nursing Program includes Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, Microbiology, English, and college-level math. Nursing applicants must demonstrate that they are competent in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. All prerequisite courses must be completed at least six weeks before the beginning of the nursing program and a grade of  “C” or above is required in all courses. In addition, a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 is required to be able to enter the nursing curriculum. Also required is the completion of the school of nursing application, submission of all relevant course transcripts, 2 letters of recommendation and a CV.

• NCLEX-RN Exam Pass Rate – 90.3%
• Length of the program or the number of accredited hours required – 4 years
• Admission requirements – Prerequisites
• Tuition – $15,937
• Accreditation – CCNE

10. Ashland University

Ashland University Nursing Program is located at 401 College Ave, Ashland, OH 44905. The Ashland University Nursing Program core coursework is completed within the first 2 years. The program includes a state of the art simulation center and a 1:8 clinical instructor to student ratio. This University which was founded in 1878 is situated on a beautiful campus and is highly ranked by US News and World Report as a top tier college.

• NCLEX-RN Exam Pass Rate – 92.05%
• Length of the program or the number of accredited hours required – 4 years
• Admission requirements – Prerequisites
• Tuition – $21,504
• Accreditation – CCNE

 11. Otterbein University

Otterbein University School of Nursing is located at 1 South Grove Street, Westerville,  OH 43081. This program emphasizes critical and independent thinking. The first suggested step towards admission into the nursing program is to schedule a visit to the campus. The next step requires applying as a Pre-Nursing Major. Completing the following prerequisites in the first year of study, including Chemistry, Freshman English, Psychology, Biology, Anatomy, and Physiology, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for admission into the nursing program.

12. Walsh University

Walsh University Nursing Program is located at 2020 East Maple Street, North Canton, OH 44720. The Byers School of Nursing at Walsh University has been named a top nursing school in Ohio by the Nursing Almanac.  They emphasize Judeo-Christian values and offer an accelerated BSN program for those who possess a bachelor’s degree of any kind. They also have a “Fast Track” BSN program online for adults that allows them to achieve a BSN in about one year.

• NCLEX-RN Exam Pass Rate – 88.89%
• Length of the program or the number of accredited hours required – 4 years
• Admission requirements – Prerequisites
• Tuition – $19,508
• Accreditation – CCNE

13. Wright State University

The Wright State University Nursing Program is located at 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy, Dayton, OH 45435. This nursing program provides day, night and online options and can be completed with 30 credits in as little as 15 months. There is no waiting list for the Wright State University Nursing program. Admission prerequisites include obtaining at least a grade of “C” in College level English courses and Introductory Psychology courses. In addition, all applicants must complete an application for admission to Wright State University and successfully complete a criminal records check with both the FBI and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.

• NCLEX-RN Exam Pass Rate – 85.96%
• Length of the program or the number of accredited hours required – 4 years
• Admission requirements – Prerequisites as above
• Tuition – $13,172
• Accreditation – CCNE

14. Kent State University

The Kent State University BSN Nursing Program is located at Henderson Hall, 1375 University Esplanade, Kent OH 44242. This program has been in existence since the 1960s and is the 6th largest nursing program in the country. It is a 4-year pre-licensure program that combines classroom lectures, laboratory experience and supervised clinical rotations at major local hospitals. Each nursing student is assigned an individual program advisor  and this program also includes a state of the art simulation laboratory. The BSN program is available at the Kent, Stark, Geauga, Trimbull, and Salem campuses.  Nursing major prerequisites for the nursing major include: completion of high school math, biology, and chemistry; an overall high school GPA of at least 2.7; a minimum composite score on the ACT of 22; a minimum score of 1100 on the new SAT or a score of 1020 on the old SAT for reading and math.

• NCLEX-RN Exam Pass Rate – 90.02%
• Length of the program or the number of accredited hours required – 4 years
• Admission requirements – Prerequisites
• Tuition – Ohio Residents – $11,131
• Tuition – Non-Residents – $20,007
• Accreditation – CCNE

15. Aultman College

Aultman College Nursing program is located at 2600 6^th St SW, Canton, OH 44710. Aultman College Nursing Program has a 125-year tradition of providing top-quality nursing education to nursing students in Ohio. Students are accepted directly into the nursing program upon acceptance which is available for fall, spring and summer terms. This program emphasizes small class sizes and State of the Art Technology Patient Simulators which have the capacity to blink, talk and breathe. Clinical placements are in acute and long term care settings including Aultman Hospital and other major hospitals in the area. Admission criteria include:

• NCLEX-RN Exam Pass Rate – 98.44% (2018)
• Length of the program or the number of accredited hours required – 4 years
• Admission requirements:
  • A High School Cumulative GPA of 3.0
  • An ACT score of 20+ or an SAT combined score of 1030+
  • A fully completed application to Aultman College
  • All available official high school and college transcripts
• Tuition – $18,862
• Accreditation – CCNE

16. Mount Carmel College

Mount Carmel College of Nursing is located at 127 S. Davis Avenue, Columbus, OH 43222. Mount Carmel College has one of the largest baccalaureate programs among Ohio private colleges. This program emphasizes personal attention and the benefits of a diverse student population. Mount Carmel College of Nursing is affiliated with the Mount Carmel Health Care System which is one of the largest healthcare providers in central Ohio. Mount Carmel College of Nursing provides 5 options through which to obtain an RN degree:

• • Traditional 4 Year program – This program is for students without previous nursing experience.
  • Advanced Placement Program – This program is for those students with sufficient and appropriate completed coursework. This pathway to a BSN can be completed in 5 semesters.
  • 2nd Degree Accelerated Program – This is an accelerated 13-month program for those students with either a baccalaureate or advance degree.
  • 2nd Degree Accelerated Program Hybrid – This is an accelerated 18-month program for those students with a baccalaureate or advanced degree who desires to continue to work either part or full time.

The traditional 4-year program is currently offered at the Columbus and Lancaster, Ohio campuses. During the first year, nursing students complete general education requirements. Nursing studies begin in the second year of study. The nursing curriculum consists of  “hands-on clinical experience” and classroom lectures. Clinical rotations are conducted in acute care community-based hospital centers.

• NCLEX-RN Exam Pass Rate – 92.58%
• Length of the program or the number of accredited hours required – 4 years
• Admission requirements – Prerequisites
• Tuition – $14,524academic-programs/undergraduate
• Accreditation – CCNE

17.  University of Akron School of Nursing

The University of Akron School of Nursing is located at 302 E. Buchtel Ave, Akron, OH 44325.  The University of Akron was founded in 1917. They provide a BSN program, a second degree BSN accelerated program, MSN program, DNP program, RN-BSN program, and an LPN-BSN program. The BSN program is completed within 6 semesters. The prerequisites for admission include a cumulative GPA of 2.75 and a science GPA of  2.75 for organic chemistry, biochemistry, anatomy, and physiology.

• NCLEX-RN Exam Pass Rate – 85.48%
• Length of the program or the number of accredited hours required – 4 years
• Admission requirements – Prerequisites
• Tuition – $33,000
• Accreditation – CCNE

18. University of Toledo School of Nursing

The University of Toledo School of Nursing is located at 2801 W. Bancroft St. Toledo, OH 43606. This program has advanced simulators including 12 low fidelity mannequins, 5 high fidelity simulators, pediatric and infant simulators. They also have the availability of 2 3D CAD walls for virtual, immersive education as well as small class sizes and clinical rotations at community care clinics and local hospitals.

• NCLEX-RN Exam Pass Rate – 82.53%
• Length of the program or the number of accredited hours required – 4 years
• Admission requirements – Prerequisites
• Tuition – $14,911
• Accreditation – CCNE

Ranking Methodology

In ranking the best BSN Programs in Ohio we took into consideration the schools with the top NCLEX-RN passage rates, the length of each program, the amount of tuition, the graduation rate, student ratings, student to faculty ratios and if the school was accredited.

Edits, Additions, and Comments

We understand that other factors can also affect the ranking of nursing schools and we welcome any suggestions, recommendations or additions to the list. Please send any comments or questions via our contact form.