Best LPN Programs in Centerville, OH (2026 Rankings)
Compare costs, NCLEX pass rates, and schedules for practical nursing schools in the Centerville–Dayton area.
By Hannah Pierce, BSNReviewed by TopNursing.org TeamUpdated August 16, 202613 min read
Points of interest…
The top LPN programs near Centerville combine high NCLEX pass rates, part-time tracks, and clinical sites within a short commute.
After grants, net price can be thousands less than published tuition, especially at schools with high Pell Grant enrollment.
Ohio’s median LPN wage of $52,330 sits below the national 50th percentile, but Dayton-area nurses with experience earn more.
LPN-to-RN bridge programs in Dayton take as few as 11 months, letting you advance without restarting your education.
Which LPN program near Centerville best fits your schedule, budget, and career goals? With at least half a dozen accredited LPN programs in Ohio within commuting distance of Montgomery County, finding a program is not the hard part. The real work is comparing tuition, graduation rates, NCLEX-PN performance, and clinical placement logistics. These factors can vary sharply even among public institutions. Ohio's median LPN wage of $52,330 makes the license a reliable return on investment, but not all programs deliver the same outcomes.
Best LPN Programs Near Centerville, OH
Selecting an LPN program near Centerville, Ohio involves weighing location, cost, and graduate outcomes. The schools below, all within roughly 65 miles of Centerville, include campus-based and hybrid options to fit different schedules. We highlight net price, program length, and licensure pass rates to help you find the right fit.
What we weighed
Affordability and net price
Graduation rates (institutional)
Program length and flexibility
Licensure exam pass rates
Clinical training opportunities
Underlying data
Internal program database
NCES-IPEDS federal institutional data — nces.ed.gov
Ohio Medical Career College, located in Dayton just a short commute from Centerville, offers a 40-week Practical Nursing diploma approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing. The program features day and evening classes, requiring a CNA or MA background for admission, and reports a net price of $16,456 with median debt around $12,403. The institution-wide graduation rate is 79%, though program-level earnings data is not yet available.
40-week diploma program with day and evening tracks
60 total credit hours across four 10-week terms
Supervised clinical practice in healthcare settings
Requires CNA or MA background for admission
Emphasizes holistic, patient-centered nursing
#2
Ohio Institute of Allied Health
Huber Heights, OH
$47,000/yr
Career changers seeking accelerated path
Ohio Institute of Allied Health in Huber Heights provides a 12-month accelerated Practical Nursing diploma with no entrance exam required. It reports a net price of $47,034 and median graduate debt of $9,500, with a reported 100% institutional graduation rate. Hands-on training is delivered through modern labs and offsite clinical experiences.
Southern State Community College's Practical Nursing certificate is a three-semester program with day classes at both the Hillsboro and Brown County campuses. It boasts a 92% licensure pass rate and claims 100% job placement, with an affordable net price of $9,674 and median debt of $11,457. The college's overall graduation rate is 37%.
ATA College-Cincinnati offers a 15-month Practical Nursing diploma that blends online coursework with in-person labs and clinical rotations, and has no waiting list or prerequisites. Its net price is $27,055, with median debt for graduates at $21,030, while the institutional graduation rate is 62.5%. Program-level earnings outcomes are not yet reported.
Edison State Community College provides a two-semester Practical Nursing certificate exclusively at its Eaton location, about 40 miles from Centerville. Admission is selective, requiring entrance exams and a 2.5 GPA, and the net price is $7,142 with median debt of $16,250. The college-wide graduation rate is 38%.
2-semester, 34-credit certificate at Eaton location
Requires entrance exam and 2.5 minimum GPA
Conditional acceptance for prerequisite courses
Prepares for NCLEX-PN exam
Background check and drug screen required
#6
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Cincinnati, OH
$5,000/yr
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College offers a three-semester Practical Nursing certificate on its Cincinnati campus, with a net price of just $4,968 and median debt of $14,715. The program requires a State Tested Nurse Aide prerequisite and reports median earnings over $53,000 for graduates. The institutional graduation rate is notably low at 16.3%.
Clark State College's 12-month Licensed Practical Nursing certificate is available in full-time or evening-weekend formats across Beavercreek, Bellefontaine, and Springfield. With a net price of $12,135 and median debt of $14,490, it offers stackable credits into the college's RN programs. The institution-wide graduation rate is 21.8%.
Offered in Beavercreek, Bellefontaine, Springfield
Total program tuition approximately $11,172
Stackable into college's RN degree programs
Approved by Ohio Board of Nursing
How Much Do LPN Programs Cost Near Centerville?
The published tuition rate is only part of the picture. Net price after grants and scholarships often looks very different, and the share of students receiving Pell Grants can signal a school's commitment to affordability. Keep in mind that these net price figures are institution-wide averages; your individual cost will depend on your financial aid package.
School
In-State Tuition & Fees
Net Price (After Aid)
Pell Grant Recipients (%)
Median Graduate Debt
Southern State Community College
$5,912
$9,674
81.7%
$11,457
Ohio Medical Career College
N/A
$16,456
83.9%
$12,403
Professional Skills Institute
$15,884
$20,721
83.7%
$17,813
Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls
$14,596
$23,374
84.7%
$13,000
ATA College-Cincinnati
$14,250
$27,055
87.7%
$21,030
Fortis College-Columbus
$14,935
$27,708
91.1%
$12,547
Galen College of Nursing-Cincinnati
$17,048
$28,785
66.3%
$24,166
NCLEX-PN Pass Rates for Ohio LPN Schools
Why NCLEX-PN Pass Rates Matter
Passing the NCLEX-PN is a non-negotiable step to becoming a licensed practical nurse in Ohio. Without that license, you cannot work as an LPN, so a school’s first-time pass rate is one of the most direct quality signals available. A high pass rate indicates that the program prepares students well for the exam, while a consistently low rate suggests gaps in the curriculum or student support.
Ohio Statewide Pass Rate
According to the Ohio Board of Nursing’s 2024 NCLEX-PN pass rate report, the statewide average for first-time test takers was 80.38%1. This benchmark gives you a quick reference point: a program performing near or above this average is generally doing a solid job.
Comparing Centerville-Area Programs
For LPN programs near Centerville, pass rates can vary substantially. As an example, Academia Medical Institute posted a 47.5% pass rate in 20241, well below the state average. That stark difference highlights how important it is to check individual school data rather than assuming all local options are equal. Other schools in the Dayton metro area may have rates closer to or above the statewide figure, so gather this data directly from each program’s admissions office or the Ohio Board of Nursing’s public reports.
What to Look For
Consistency: Aim for programs that show pass rates consistently above 80% over multiple years.
Recent data: Ask the admissions office for the most recent year's pass rate. Some schools may have only a single year of data if they are new, but established programs should have a track record.
Trends: A program whose rates have improved may indicate strong remediation efforts, while declining rates might be a red flag.
Even a school with a lower pass rate might be working hard to improve, but your goal is to choose a program that gives you the best chance at licensure on your first attempt. Investigating NCLEX-PN outcomes now can save you time, money, and stress later.
What to Look for in a Centerville-Area LPN Program
Today's practical nursing programs increasingly balance rigorous NCLEX-PN preparation with the flexibility working adults need. Selecting the right program near Centerville means looking beyond the basic curriculum and understanding how schedule, clinical placements, admissions, and length align with your life.
Schedule and Flexibility
Not every student can attend a traditional daytime program. Ohio Medical Career College in Dayton runs both day and evening cohorts, and Collins Career Technical Center offers similar scheduling options that let you keep a job while training. Other programs stick to a set daytime block, Vantage Career Center, for example, meets Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. If you need part-time attendance, ask the admissions office directly: some schools can accommodate a slower pace even if it is not advertised, though it will extend the total time to licensure.
Clinical Experience
Hands-on training turns classroom knowledge into bedside competence. Area LPN programs place students with clinical site partners throughout the Dayton metro. While specific facility agreements change each year, students commonly rotate through local hospitals, long-term care centers, and community health agencies. Vantage Career Center explicitly lists local hospitals, community agencies, and long-term care facilities as its clinical sites. These partnerships give you exposure to different patient populations and work environments, which can help you decide which setting you prefer after graduation.
Admission Requirements
Most Centerville-area LPN programs share a core set of prerequisites. You will need a high school diploma or GED, and many schools require a background check and drug screening once you are accepted. Entrance exams vary: some programs use the TEAS or HESI, while Collins Career Technical Center uses the WorkKeys assessment with minimum scores in Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents. A minimum age of 18 is standard. Completing prerequisite courses in basic math and English is often expected, so check each program’s website for the current catalog.
Program Length
Full-time LPN programs in Ohio typically run 11 to 14 months. Vantage Career Center’s program spans 11 months and 1,318 clock hours, while Collins Career Technical Center finishes in about 12 months with 1,300 hours. Part-time or evening tracks will take longer, sometimes stretching to 18 or 24 months. When comparing programs, look at total credit or clock hours, not just calendar length, because the number of instructional and clinical hours directly affects how thoroughly you are prepared for the NCLEX-PN and your first nursing role.
How Do LPN Salaries Stack Up? National Percentiles Vs. Ohio’s Median
Wages for LPNs vary widely by experience, employer, and location. The chart below shows the nationwide wage distribution for licensed practical nurses in 2022. Ohio’s median annual wage of $52,330 sits between the 25th and 50th percentiles nationally. For more precise Dayton-area figures, visit the BLS Occupational Employment Statistics query tool and filter by metropolitan area.
LPN-To-RN Bridge Pathways in the Dayton Area
Most LPN-to-RN bridge programs in the Dayton area can be completed in 11 to 24 months, letting you build on your existing practical nursing license without starting from scratch.
Why Bridge to an RN License
An LPN-to-RN bridge recognizes your clinical experience and prior coursework, condensing the path to registered nursing. Instead of a full two-year ADN, you advance through an abbreviated sequence that fills in assessment, pharmacology, and leadership competencies. For many LPNs, that means a shorter route to higher pay, registered nurses earn a significantly higher median salary than LPNs nationally, and greater autonomy in patient care. An RN also unlocks long-term career mobility: it’s the prerequisite for most BSN completion programs and for specialty certifications that can increase your earning potential even further.
Bridge Programs Within Reach
Several accredited institutions near Centerville offer dedicated LPN-to-RN tracks, each with its own format and admission requirements:
- Clark State College: LPN to RN Associate of Applied Science, campus-based, 18-24 months, 65 credits.
- Butler Tech: LPN to RN Bridge Program, hybrid delivery, about 12 months, estimated $15,249 cost including fees, TEAS exam required.
- Upper Valley Career Center: LPN to RN Diploma, campus-based, 12 months.
- Collins Career Technical Center: LPN to RN Diploma, 11 months, $15,795 total program cost, requires TEAS (minimum 65), WorkKeys, and at least one year of LPN work experience.
- Ohio Business College: LPN to RN Program, 11 months, minimum 2.0 GPA required.
- Fortis College – Centerville: Associate Degree in Nursing, campus program that may offer advanced placement for LPNs.
From RN to BSN and Beyond
Earning an RN is just the beginning. Many bridge programs are designed to meet general education requirements for a BSN, so you can continue seamlessly. Once licensed, RNs can pursue specialty certifications in areas like critical care, pediatrics, or gerontology, which often correlate with higher pay and leadership roles in the Dayton healthcare market.
Frequently Asked Questions About LPN Programs in Centerville
Selecting an LPN program is a big decision. Prospective students often have questions about expenses, program length, prerequisites, and what to expect after graduation. Here are clear, research-backed answers to the most frequently asked questions about practical nursing training in the Centerville area.
LPN program costs in Ohio vary widely. Community colleges and technical schools typically charge between $5,000 and $20,000 for a full diploma or certificate program, depending on residency and program length. Additional expenses include books, uniforms, and exam fees. Financial aid is often available to eligible students.
Most full-time LPN programs near Centerville take 12 to 18 months to complete. Part-time options may extend the timeline. Programs include classroom instruction, lab skills training, and supervised clinical rotations at local healthcare facilities. Accelerated tracks, if offered, can finish in under a year.
Ohio LPN programs generally require a high school diploma or GED, minimum GPA (often 2.5), completion of prerequisite courses like biology and math, a passing score on the TEAS entrance exam, a background check, drug screening, and current immunizations. Some programs also require CPR certification.
Many LPN students in Centerville work part time, but the rigorous schedule of lectures, labs, and clinicals can be demanding. Evening or hybrid programs offer more flexibility. Good time management and employer support are key to balancing work with the accelerated pace of practical nursing training.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for LPNs in the Dayton, OH metropolitan area is approximately $52,000. Entry-level positions pay less, while those with experience or in specialized settings can earn more. Overtime and shift differentials often increase take-home pay.
