Compare costs, NCLEX-PN pass rates, and schedules at Dayton-area practical nursing schools
Dayton’s largest health systems, Kettering Health and Premier Health, keep expanding, sustaining steady demand for licensed practical nurses across the region. Seven accredited LPN programs operate within a 75-mile drive of downtown, from hospital-based certificates to tracks embedded in associate degree plans. Students face a practical calculus: tuition, NCLEX-PN pass rates, and schedule promises intersect with the fixed reality that clinical slot availability often overrides advertised flexibility.
These seven schools offer practical nursing programs within a 75-mile radius of Dayton, Ohio. Each entry is assessed on affordability, completion rates, and program design, highlighting what makes them a strong fit for LPN students in the region. Graduation rates shown are institution-wide and not specific to the nursing program.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
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| #1 | Ohio Medical Career College | Dayton, OH | $15,000 – $20,000/yr | Dayton students seeking LPN-to-RN pathway | |
Ohio Medical Career College in Dayton offers a 40-week campus-based practical nursing diploma with day and evening schedules. The institution reports a graduation rate of 79.1% and a net price of $16,456. The program holds provisional approval from the Ohio Board of Nursing because prior first-time NCLEX-PN pass rates fell below the national average, but it provides a built-in LPN-to-RN pathway for local students.
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| #2 | Professional Skills Institute | Maumee, OH | $21,000/yr | Ohio-Michigan dual-licensure seekers | |
Professional Skills Institute in Maumee combines online learning with hands-on campus labs in a 48-week hybrid diploma. The school's overall graduation rate is 43.5%, and the net price is $20,721. Graduates benefit from a median earnings of $47,765 ten years after entry, and the program is approved for licensure in both Ohio and Michigan.
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| #3 | ATA College-Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 – $30,000/yr | Accelerated hybrid learners | |
ATA College in Cincinnati delivers a 15-month hybrid practical nursing diploma with no prerequisites or waiting list. The institution's graduation rate stands at 62.5%, while the net price is $27,055. School-wide median earnings are $34,577 a decade after entry.
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| #4 | Galen College of Nursing-Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $29,000/yr | ||
Galen College of Nursing in Cincinnati offers a campus-based practical nursing program that can be completed in as little as 12 months full-time or 21 months part-time. The institution's overall graduation rate is 57.1%, net price is $28,785, and median earnings for graduates reach $61,480 after ten years.
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| #5 | Fortis College-Columbus | Westerville, OH | $28,000/yr | ||
Fortis College in Columbus (Westerville) provides a hybrid practical nursing program that combines online coursework with on-campus labs and clinicals. The institution reports a graduation rate of 40.1%, a net price of $27,708, and median earnings of $36,368. It is particularly welcoming to STNAs seeking career advancement with transfer credits.
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| #6 | Southern State Community College | Hillsboro, OH | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Southern State Community College in Hillsboro offers an affordable public option with a three-semester practical nursing certificate. The college's graduation rate is 37%, but the net price is only $9,674, and median earnings are $35,463. Day classes are held at two campuses, and the program boasts a 100% job placement rate.
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| #7 | Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls | Cuyahoga Falls, OH | $23,000/yr | ||
Fortis College in Cuyahoga Falls offers a 16-month hybrid practical nursing diploma with classroom and clinical training. The institution's graduation rate is 46.6%, net price is $23,374, and median earnings after ten years are $34,509.
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Each Dayton-area LPN program on this page earned its position through a weighted comparison of several publicly available metrics. The factors we considered include the institution's net price (the amount students actually pay after subtracting grants and scholarships), its overall graduation rate, the median earnings of former students who completed a practical nursing program, and the typical debt load for graduates, which together form a comprehensive LPN program cost breakdown.
We draw graduation rates from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), where they are reported for the entire institution, not specifically for LPN cohorts. Median earnings come from program-level data gathered by the U.S. Department of Education. All schools included in the analysis are located within a 75-mile radius of Dayton, Ohio.
One important piece of information is not factored into the ranking itself: NCLEX-PN pass rates. Because those exam results are reported by the Ohio Board of Nursing rather than by federal data systems, we examine them separately in a detailed breakdown later in this guide. That approach keeps the ranking focused on long-term value while still giving you the licensing exam outcomes you need to gauge program quality.
The net price figures shown here represent the average amount students pay after grants and scholarships, based on institution-wide data. These are not exact LPN program costs, your actual expenses will depend on your financial aid package and specific program fees. Always contact the school's financial aid office for a personalized estimate.
How do Dayton-area LPN programs perform on the NCLEX-PN, and what do these rates mean for your career prospects?
The NCLEX-PN is the national licensing exam that every practical nurse must pass to practice. First-time pass rates are a transparent measure of how well a program prepares its students. According to the Ohio Board of Nursing's 2025 report, first-time test-takers in Ohio achieved a collective pass rate of 82.52%, which trails the national average of 86.59%.1 This gap highlights that not all programs are equally effective, and your choice of school can directly impact your odds of passing on the first attempt.
A high pass rate signals a program with strong instruction, relevant clinical experiences, and dedicated student support. Programs that consistently exceed the state average - especially those above 90% - demonstrate a reliable track record of producing competent graduates. On the other hand, schools with pass rates significantly below the state average may struggle with curriculum quality or student readiness. Low rates can also trigger regulatory scrutiny, which might affect program accreditation or your eligibility for financial aid.
While statewide averages offer context, the most relevant data comes from individual program reports. The Ohio Board of Nursing publishes annual pass-rate summaries for every approved LPN programs in Ohio, including those near Dayton.1 Reviewing these reports lets you compare schools directly and spot multi-year trends. Always look for programs that maintain pass rates above 85% over several exam cycles - that consistency is a strong indicator of program stability and quality.
Balancing work, family, and nursing school is the real puzzle. Dayton offers LPN programs with part-time, evening, and weekend pathways, but the flexibility you see on paper often collides with the fixed reality of clinical rotations. Know what actually fits before you commit.
Several programs recognize that not everyone can attend traditional daytime classes. Clark State College runs an evening and weekend certificate designed for part-time students. Ohio Medical Career College offers both day and evening cohorts in a compressed 40-week format. Stark State College provides day, evening, and weekend options, while Professional Skills Institute has daytime and evening classes. Fortis College in Centerville follows an 18-month track, longer than the typical 12-month sprint, which can feel part-time for some. Even so, flexibility has limits: a program labeled “evening” may still demand daytime commitments.
Clinical hours rarely align with evening lectures. Hospitals and long-term care facilities typically schedule precepted shifts in the morning and early afternoon. Stark State College, for instance, lists clinicals every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. While that weekend block can work for weekday workers, it is still a full-day obligation. Before enrolling, ask the program coordinator directly about clinical schedules, never assume that evening classes mean evening clinicals.
Dayton LPN programs share predictable hoops. Most expect a high school diploma or equivalent and a minimum GPA, often 2.5. Several require a standardized entrance exam; Stark State College uses the TEAS. Prerequisites differ: Clark State College specifies BIO 1105 and MST 1105, while Ohio Medical Career College demands a current CNA or MA credential plus CPR certification. Background checks and drug screenings are near-universal, Stark State explicitly lists both. You will also need immunizations, a physical exam, and usually CPR if not already covered.
If you want to skip the high-stakes test, a few schools offer open enrollment or omit the TEAS. Fortis College asks only for a high school diploma or equivalent, with no exam requirement. Ohio Medical Career College also does not mention an entrance exam, though its CNA or MA prerequisite acts as a readiness filter. These pathways can be quicker to start, but verify how they prepare you for the NCLEX-PN and local job expectations.
Dayton-area LPNs find employment at major healthcare employers such as Kettering Health, Premier Health, and the Dayton VA Medical Center. Although the BLS does not publish Dayton-specific salary data for LPNs, Ohio's mean annual wage is $60,990, aligning with national trends. Local LPN-to-RN bridge programs at area colleges provide a pathway to higher earnings for those looking to advance their nursing careers.
If you're considering a practical nursing career in the Dayton area, you likely have questions about salary, program length, costs, and flexibility. Below are answers to some of the most common inquiries from prospective LPN students in Ohio.
