Compare tuition, NCLEX pass rates, and program length across Cincinnati's accredited LPN schools
TriHealth, UC Health, and Mercy Health anchor one of Ohio’s largest healthcare job markets, fueling steady demand for practical nurses across the Cincinnati metro. Seven accredited LPN programs serve the region, spanning community colleges, private career schools, and hospital-based tracks with widely different price tags, schedules, and graduate outcomes.
Net tuition costs after aid can differ by thousands of dollars between programs, and NCLEX pass rates are not uniform. These variations mean the right choice for a single parent working nights may be a poor fit for a recent high school graduate who can attend full-time.
New LPNs find jobs quickly in Cincinnati, but starting wage and shift flexibility depend on your licensure timing and NCLEX readiness.
The seven programs below reflect a careful balance of affordability, program structure, and outcomes relevant to students in the Cincinnati region. We considered factors such as net price, institutional graduation rates, and clinical training hours. For deeper dives into NCLEX pass rates and admissions criteria, check the dedicated sections further down the page.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | ATA College-Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 – $30,000/yr | Career changers seeking quick entry | |
ATA College-Cincinnati stands out as a top local choice, recognized among the best LPN programs in Cincinnati for 2026. Its Practical Nursing program requires no entrance exam, no prerequisites, and no waiting list, making it especially accessible for career changers who want to start quickly. The hybrid format blends online coursework with hands-on campus labs and clinical experiences, and the school holds provisional approval from the Ohio Board of Nursing.
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| #2 | Galen College of Nursing-Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $29,000/yr | LPNs seeking seamless RN progression locally | |
Galen College of Nursing's Cincinnati campus is a regional hub for nursing education, offering a clear local pathway from LPN to RN through its on-site LPN-to-ADN bridge. The Practical/Vocational Nursing program can be completed in as few as 12 months full-time or 21 months part-time, with four start dates each year. A dedicated Cincinnati admissions office and campus-based clinical learning labs support students throughout the fast-track curriculum.
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| #3 | Professional Skills Institute | Maumee, OH | $21,000/yr | Michigan-Ohio licensure seekers | |
Professional Skills Institute in Maumee offers a 48-week diploma program that prepares students for NCLEX-PN licensure in both Ohio and Michigan. Daytime and evening hybrid classes combine online flexibility with on-campus labs, and 270 hours of clinical training provide real-world experience. The school is approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing and extends eligibility across state lines, making it a practical choice for those near the Michigan border.
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| #4 | Ohio Medical Career College | Dayton, OH | $15,000 – $20,000/yr | ||
Ohio Medical Career College in Dayton provides a campus-based 40-week Practical Nursing program that requires prior CNA or MA certification and CPR training. Day and evening class options accommodate working students, and the curriculum covers anatomy, pharmacology, and holistic patient care before supervised clinical rotations. The program holds provisional approval from the Ohio Board of Nursing and is authorized by the Ohio State Board.
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| #5 | Southern State Community College | Hillsboro, OH | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Southern State Community College offers a public three-semester certificate that stands out for its affordability and impressive outcomes, a 92% NCLEX-PN pass rate and 100% job placement rate. Based in Hillsboro with programs at the Brown County campus, it serves southern Ohio communities, including some Cincinnati suburbs. Day classes, low tuition, and financial aid make it a strong value, and e-books are provided at reduced cost.
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| #6 | Fortis College-Columbus | Westerville, OH | $28,000/yr | ||
Fortis College in Columbus (Westerville) provides a hybrid Practical Nursing program with transfer credit opportunities for state-tested nursing assistants. The blend of online coursework and on-campus labs creates flexibility, while hands-on clinical experiences prepare students for the NCLEX-PN. Financial aid is available, and the Ohio campus holds provisional approval from the Ohio Board of Nursing.
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| #7 | Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls | Cuyahoga Falls, OH | $23,000/yr | ||
Fortis College in Cuyahoga Falls delivers a 16-month Practical Nursing program in a hybrid format, blending classroom theory with clinical training. With a focus on diverse patient care settings, the program readies students for the NCLEX-PN exam. Financial aid options help reduce barriers, though its location in northeast Ohio makes it a less convenient choice for Cincinnati residents unless relocation is planned.
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How do you separate a top LPN program that truly delivers value from one that just looks good on paper? We built our ranking around the numbers that most directly affect your wallet and your career.
We weighted four hard metrics drawn from the College Scorecard and IPEDS databases, all designed to cut through marketing claims and focus on outcomes.
Several factors that matter for your decision were intentionally left out of this ranking. NCLEX-PN pass rates, arguably the most direct measure of program quality, get their own dedicated section later. Subjective student reviews and admissions selectivity don’t appear here because they don’t reliably predict whether you’ll graduate, pass the exam, or land a good job. We encourage you to weigh pass rates alongside this ranking to find your best fit.
Net price, the actual cost after grants and scholarships, gives a clearer picture of affordability than sticker tuition. Across the seven programs in the Cincinnati area, net price ranges widely, reflecting differences in institutional aid and other factors. Keep in mind these are institution-wide averages; your individual aid package may differ.
A single year’s pass rate gives a quick benchmark, but multi-year patterns offer a truer picture of program quality.
According to the Ohio Board of Nursing’s 2024 report, Hondros College of Nursing’s West Chester/Cincinnati campus posted an 84.48% NCLEX-PN pass rate. For other Cincinnati-area programs, such as Fortis, Cincinnati State, and Great Oaks, program-specific 2024 data is not yet available from the state board.
Hondros’s 84.48% rate surpasses the Ohio statewide average of 82.54%, but it trails the 2024 national average of 88.38%. This places the program above the typical Ohio LPN program, yet below the national benchmark.
A single low pass rate doesn’t automatically signal a failing program. Small cohorts can magnify year-to-year swings, and a dip might reflect one challenging class rather than a curriculum problem. Persistent low rates, however, may point to gaps in preparation or student support. Before committing, examine multi-year pass rate trends, available through the Ohio Board of Nursing, to confirm consistency.
For aspiring LPNs, salary expectations and job availability are the practical counterbalance to tuition costs and program time commitment.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024)1, the Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville metropolitan area reports these annual wages for licensed practical nurses:
The metro median of $62,530 outpaces the Ohio statewide median of $60,990 by roughly $1,540, reflecting a small but noticeable premium for working in the Cincinnati area1. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $74,010, offering room for wage growth1.
A 2025 regional workforce report2 identified Mercy Health (79 job postings), LHC Group (54), Addus (41), and Southern Health Partners (41) as among the most active LPN hirers, joining established health systems such as TriHealth, UC Health, and Cincinnati Children’s.
Program-specific earnings data shortly after graduation are not yet published for LPN programs in Cincinnati, so the metro-wide BLS figures remain the most reliable benchmark for new graduates.
Which LPN program in Cincinnati will give you the best chance of passing the NCLEX-PN and landing a job quickly? The answer often lies in details that aren’t always published in one place, so you’ll need to do a little digging.
The most accurate way to learn about TEAS score minimums, GPA requirements, and lpn prerequisites is to visit each school’s official website. Fortis Institute, Cincinnati State, Hondros College, and Great Oaks Career Campuses all maintain admissions pages where these requirements are posted. Look for information about background check policies as well, since Ohio clinical sites often require them.
Cohort schedules can shift, and some programs fill up months in advance. Call the admissions office or submit an inquiry through the school's form to ask about seat availability for the next cohort, whether evening or weekend tracks exist, and if any hybrid formats are offered. This step also lets you gauge the responsiveness of the admissions staff.
The Ohio Board of Nursing sets clinical hour requirements for all approved practical nursing programs. Their website lists the mandated clinical experiences and can confirm that a program meets state standards. It’s also the best place to find a current list of approved LPN-to-RN bridge programs, so you can plan your career ladder from day one.
For broader context, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov) provides national LPN job outlook data, but don’t stop there. The Ohio Nurses Association offers local networking, continuing education, and advocacy resources that can help you understand Cincinnati’s specific nursing landscape.
Prospective practical nursing students in Cincinnati often have questions about earnings, program length, and costs. Below, we address the most common inquiries to help you make an informed decision. For deeper data on any topic, explore the relevant sections of this guide.
