Mary Ann Ball Bickerdyke was born in Mount Vernon, Ohio and worked as a nurse to the Union Army during the American Civil War. She was known as Mother Bickerdyke and established more than 300 field hospitals during the war in order to treat the sick and wounded. Today, thousands of Ohio nurses have followed in her footsteps, providing care for patients in hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices, schools, homes and senior living communities.

Top 10 Nursing Schools in Ohio

Ohio Badge ImageHere at NursingDegrees.com, we’ve compiled two lists of the best nursing schools in Ohio: one for graduate students and another one for undergraduate students. Our rankings take important aspects of nursing schools in Ohio into consideration, such as tuition and fees, acceptance rate, available nursing programs and availability of academic resources. With this information, prospective students can select the right school for their particular needs and career goals.

The data for our rankings comes from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Information about our methodology can be found at the bottom of this page.

Ohio
01
University of Rio Grande
Number of undergraduate-level nursing programs offered
0
Undergraduate tuition
$26,821
Undergraduate graduation rate
29%
Undergraduate retention rate
51%
Percent of undergrad students awarded financial aid
97%
02
Ohio University-Main Campus
Number of undergraduate-level nursing programs offered
0
Undergraduate tuition
$12,192
Undergraduate graduation rate
64%
Undergraduate retention rate
81%
Percent of undergrad students awarded financial aid
94%
03
Cleveland State University
Number of undergraduate-level nursing programs offered
0
Undergraduate tuition
$10,387
Undergraduate graduation rate
45%
Undergraduate retention rate
72%
Percent of undergrad students awarded financial aid
90%
04
Capital University
Number of undergraduate-level nursing programs offered
0
Undergraduate tuition
$35,146
Undergraduate graduation rate
58%
Undergraduate retention rate
78%
Percent of undergrad students awarded financial aid
100%
05
University of Toledo
Number of undergraduate-level nursing programs offered
0
Undergraduate tuition
$8,173
Undergraduate graduation rate
47%
Undergraduate retention rate
76%
Percent of undergrad students awarded financial aid
95%
06
Ohio State University-Main Campus
Number of undergraduate-level nursing programs offered
0
Undergraduate tuition
$9,852
Undergraduate graduation rate
84%
Undergraduate retention rate
95%
Percent of undergrad students awarded financial aid
82%
07
Owens Community College
Number of undergraduate-level nursing programs offered
0
Undergraduate tuition
$3,912
Undergraduate graduation rate
26%
Undergraduate retention rate
50%
Percent of undergrad students awarded financial aid
82%
08
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Number of undergraduate-level nursing programs offered
0
Undergraduate tuition
$9,322
Undergraduate graduation rate
68%
Undergraduate retention rate
86%
Percent of undergrad students awarded financial aid
83%
09
Edison State Community College
Number of undergraduate-level nursing programs offered
0
Undergraduate tuition
$3,910
Undergraduate graduation rate
33%
Undergraduate retention rate
57%
Percent of undergrad students awarded financial aid
77%
10
Otterbein University
Number of undergraduate-level nursing programs offered
0
Undergraduate tuition
$31,424
Undergraduate graduation rate
62%
Undergraduate retention rate
82%
Percent of undergrad students awarded financial aid
100%
01
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Number of graduate-level nursing programs offered
0
Graduate Tuition
$12,790
Number of graduate-level nursing programs offered through distance education
0
02
Case Western Reserve University
Number of graduate-level nursing programs offered
0
Graduate Tuition
$45,168
Number of graduate-level nursing programs offered through distance education
0
03
Xavier University
Number of graduate-level nursing programs offered
0
Graduate Tuition
$11,700
Number of graduate-level nursing programs offered through distance education
0
04
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Number of graduate-level nursing programs offered
0
Graduate Tuition
$11,403
Number of graduate-level nursing programs offered through distance education
0
05
University of Toledo
Number of graduate-level nursing programs offered
0
Graduate Tuition
$13,704
Number of graduate-level nursing programs offered through distance education
0
06
University of Akron Main Campus
Number of graduate-level nursing programs offered
0
Graduate Tuition
$7,958
Number of graduate-level nursing programs offered through distance education
0
07
Ashland University
Number of graduate-level nursing programs offered
0
Graduate Tuition
$6,885
Number of graduate-level nursing programs offered through distance education
0
08
Cedarville University
Number of graduate-level nursing programs offered
0
Graduate Tuition
$9,594
Number of graduate-level nursing programs offered through distance education
0
09
Mount Saint Joseph University
Number of graduate-level nursing programs offered
0
Graduate Tuition
$13,180
Number of graduate-level nursing programs offered through distance education
0
10
Capital University
Number of graduate-level nursing programs offered
0
Graduate Tuition
$11,700
Number of graduate-level nursing programs offered through distance education
0
Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2018-19, National Center for Education Statistics, http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

Nursing Accreditation in Ohio

The process that higher education institutions undergo to confirm they meet American educational standards is referred to as accreditation. Attending an accredited nursing school is important; students and employers alike can better trust the educational quality of an accredited school, while an unaccredited school has no such endorsements. Students may also be required to attend an accredited school in order to take certain certification exams, or to qualify for financial aid.

Two of the more prominent nursing school accreditation bodies in Ohio include:

  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
  • Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing (ACEN)

Ohio-Specific Licensure

To earn a license to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in Ohio, a student must graduate from a practical nursing program that is approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing; complete an Ohio criminal background check; submit an application for licensure; and earn a passing score on the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).

Ohio licensure for registered nurses (RNs) involves graduating with a registered nursing degree or diploma; completing an Ohio criminal background check; submitting an application for licensure; and passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Nurse practitioners (NPs) in Ohio must first become licensed as an RN in Ohio. Next, they need to earn a graduate degree in nursing, and then national certification as an NP. Finally, they must submit an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Application for Certificate of Authority before they can begin to practice. Please note that NPs in Ohio have reduced-practice authority, and thus may require a doctor to sign off on some of their job duties and responsibilities.

There are many other kinds of nurses, and nursing licensure requirements are subject to change. Visit the Ohio Board of Nursing and check on the requirements for your planned nursing career to make sure you are aware of any recent changes.

Ohio Nursing Organizations

There are several Ohio nursing organizations that can help nurses in the Buckeye State enhance their knowledge, improve their job prospects and/or connect with other nurses in their specialization. Here are a few such organizations:

  • Ohio Nurses Association (ONA):

    The ONA was formed in 1904 to provide nurses with a powerful platform for the protection, promotion and advancement of their careers. As of July 2018, it serves as the voice for over 180,000 registered nurses in Ohio.

  • Ohio Association of School Nurses (OASN):

    OASN was designed for registered nurses with an interest in school nursing. Members of OASN work in school districts of all sizes, addressing injuries and health issues at schools across Ohio.

  • Northeast Ohio Nurse Practitioners (NEONP):

    As the name suggests, NEONP is a networking association for nurse practitioners in northeast Ohio. Its stated purpose is to promote professional development and high standards of healthcare delivery in every medical environment.

  • Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses (OOAPN):

    OOAPN exists for advanced practice nurses: Certified Nurse Practitioners (CNP), Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM), Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA). This organization offers a variety of resources for its members, including educational opportunities and attorney referrals.

Ohio-Specific Continuing Education

LPNs and RNs in Ohio are both responsible for completing twenty-four hours of continuing education during each licensure period. One continuing education hour must focus on the Ohio Nurse Practice Act and the rules of the Ohio Board of Nursing.

The LPN licensure period lasts two years, starting on September 1 of even-numbered years and continuing through August 31 of the next even-numbered year. The RN licensure period also lasts two years; however, it starts on September 1 of odd-numbered years and goes through until August 31 of the next odd-numbered year.

Hospitals in Ohio

  • The Cleveland Clinic: Known as a nonprofit academic medical center, the Cleveland Clinic provides both clinical and hospital care to patients. As of 2018, it is equipped with more than 1,400 beds on its main campus and 4,538 beds system-wide.
  • The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is home to 3 Magnet-designated hospitals for national nursing excellence. It is the only academic medical center in central Ohio and provided care to more than 1.7 million patients in 2017.
  • Miami Valley Hospital: Miami Valley Hospital is an urban hospital located in Dayton. As of July 2017, it houses the only level one trauma center, regional adult burn center, and level three neonatal intensive care unit in the Dayton area.
Sources & Methodology

Methodology

Using the National Center for Education Statistics’ Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), we gathered data for 6,758 United States institutions. We then filtered that list of schools by state and analyzed the data for each state with two different methodologies, in order to create two different lists: our undergraduate list, based on 11 ranking criteria, and our graduate list, based on 9 ranking criteria.

Final data for the 2016-17 school year was used for these rankings. Schools that did not provide data for all of the required ranking criteria were disqualified from that ranking.

The 11 criteria for the undergraduate school ranking were as follows:

  1. Number of associate- and bachelor’s-level degree programs offered to nursing-related majors
  2. Number of associate- and bachelor’s-level nursing-related degree programs offered via distance education
  3. Variety of associate- and bachelor’s-level nursing-related degree programs offered
  4. Tuition
  5. Retention rate
  6. Graduation rate
  7. Average amount of federal grant aid awarded to full-time first-time undergraduates
  8. Percent of full-time first-time undergraduates awarded any financial aid
  9. Credit offerings (Military, Dual, Life Experience, AP)
  10. Services (Career Counseling, Placement Services)
  11. Availability of tuition plans (Guaranteed, Prepaid, Payment, Other)

The graduate school ranking scored schools based on 9 criteria, different from the undergraduate list. These 9 criteria were as follows:

  1. Number of master’s- and doctoral-level degree programs offered to nursing-related majors
  2. Number of master’s- and doctoral-level nursing-related degree programs offered via distance education
  3. Variety of master’s- and doctoral-level nursing-related degree programs offered
  4. Tuition
  5. Retention rate
  6. Graduation rate
  7. Credit offerings (Military, Dual, Life Experience, AP)
  8. Services (Career Counseling, Placement Services)
  9. Availability of tuition plans (Guaranteed, Prepaid, Payment, Other)

All schools were scored on a 10-point scale for each of the points listed above. Individual data point scores were then multiplied by their respective weights, and the scores were added together, for a maximum possible score of 10 points.

NOTE: Schools’ tuition amounts are based on 2016-17 undergraduate and graduate data reported to the National Center for Education Statistics. The actual cost of tuition may vary.

 

Sources

  • Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2016-17, National Center for Education Statistics, Accessed January 2018, http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/
  • American Hospital Directory, Accessed June 2018, https://www.ahd.com/
  • The Ohio Board of Nursing, Accessed June 2018, http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/education.htm
  • National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Accessed June 2018, https://www.ncsbn.org/index.htm
  • 2017 Year-End Facts & Figures, Cleveland Clinic, Accessed August 2018, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/-/scassets/files/org/about/who-we-are/cleveland-clinic-facts-and-figures-2017.ashx?la=en
  • Our Story, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Accessed August 2018, https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/about-us/our-story#Our%20Story