Compare NCLEX pass rates, tuition, earnings, and clinical details for every accredited Dayton-area nursing program.
Kettering Health and Premier Health, Dayton’s dominant healthcare employers, generate steady demand for BSN-prepared nurses across acute care, outpatient, and community settings. Comparing nursing schools in the area means weighing tuition, clinical placement quality, and first-time NCLEX pass rates: factors that directly affect career readiness and hiring prospects.
Dayton-area programs range from traditional four-year BSNs to accelerated tracks and RN-to-BSN bridge options, many with hybrid or online coursework. With local employers increasingly favoring bachelor’s-level preparation, a BSN from an Ohio-approved program is now the baseline for most hospital nursing roles in the region.
Our rankings weigh cost, outcomes, and completion rates to help you identify the best nursing programs in the Dayton area. From accelerated associate degrees to traditional BSNs, each school profile highlights key details like tuition, program format, and distinctive features. A full breakdown of our methodology follows below.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Ohio Institute of Allied Health | Huber Heights, OH | $47,000/yr | Accelerated ADN for current LPNs | |
This career-focused college offers an accelerated associate degree nursing program designed for licensed practical nurses and transfer students. The 52-week program provides a fast-paced path to RN licensure, with multiple start dates throughout the year.
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| #2 | Ohio Medical Career College | Dayton, OH | $15,000 – $20,000/yr | Flexible ADN with built-in LPN step | |
Ohio Medical Career College delivers a unique One Plus One ADN program where students earn LPN credentials after the first year and continue to RN completion. With day and evening classes and advanced placement for current LPNs, it caters to working adults.
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| #3 | University of Dayton | Dayton, OH | $30,000/yr | BSN students wanting six specialty labs | |
The University of Dayton combines a rigorous BSN curriculum with extensive hands-on learning in six specialized lab spaces. Students benefit from clinical placements, research opportunities, and the university's Marianist emphasis on educating the whole person.
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| #4 | Kettering College | Kettering, OH | $22,000/yr | ||
Kettering College offers a streamlined 3-year BSN program with clinical rotations at Kettering Health hospitals. Full-time and part-time tracks accommodate different schedules, with starts in both fall and spring.
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| #5 | Sinclair Community College | Dayton, OH | $4,000 – $9,000/yr | ||
Sinclair Community College provides affordable, hybrid nursing pathways including an ADN for aspiring RNs and an RN-to-BSN completion program. Both formats blend online and on-campus learning to offer flexibility.
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| #6 | Wittenberg University | Springfield, OH | $15,000 – $20,000/yr | ||
Wittenberg University's BSN program integrates nursing with a liberal arts education, emphasizing critical thinking and compassionate care. Small class sizes and early clinical experiences prepare graduates for practice and graduate study.
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| #7 | Wright State University | Dayton, OH | $15,000/yr | ||
Wright State University offers a fast-track BSN that students complete in three years by enrolling in summer sessions. With a pre-licensure focus, the program prepares graduates for the NCLEX and immediate entry into nursing practice.
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| #8 | Edison State Community College | Piqua, OH | $7,000/yr | ||
Edison State's fully online RN-to-BSN completion program is tailored for working nurses seeking career advancement. The seven-course sequence can be finished in four semesters, building on an existing associate degree.
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How do you tell whether a nursing school will actually prepare you for a job and not load you with debt? Our ranking cuts through the noise by zeroing in on outcomes that matter: graduation rates, net cost, debt levels, and early-career earnings. We drew on publicly available federal data from the College Scorecard and IPEDS to create a transparent comparison of every eligible program.
The net price we report is the average amount students pay after grants and scholarships. It is not a sticker price. Because graduation rates cover all departments, a school’s overall figure may differ from its nursing program’s completion rate. Debt figures include only federal loans. We weigh these factors alongside proximity to Dayton (a 75-mile radius) and whether the program leads to initial RN licensure. The ranking spotlights prelicensure BSN tracks but also considered strong ADN and direct-entry MSN options at the best nursing schools in Ohio when the data supported them.
The cost of a BSN in the Dayton area ranges widely, from a net price under $5,000 at public community colleges to over $17,000 at larger universities. These net price figures reflect the institution-wide average after grant aid, so your actual cost will depend on your financial situation. North Central State College is the cheapest option with a net price of $4,687, and its high Pell grant share (79.1%) underscores strong aid accessibility for qualifying students, while some clinical placement hospitals may also offer tuition assistance that reduces out-of-pocket costs further.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price | Median Graduate Debt | Pell Grant Recipients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Central State College | $5,786 | $11,374 | $4,687 | $8,252 | 79.1% |
| Sinclair Community College | $4,809 | $8,556 | $5,992 | $12,000 | 77.1% |
| Central Ohio Technical College | $5,256 | $8,016 | $9,948 | $12,072 | 69.3% |
| Mount Carmel College of Nursing | $27,600 | $27,600 | $10,420 | $22,082 | 35.5% |
| Northwest State Community College | $4,698 | $9,170 | $13,555 | $9,750 | 70.9% |
| ETI Technical College | $11,060 | $11,060 | $13,665 | $13,805 | 90.6% |
| Ursuline College | $38,990 | $38,990 | $16,164 | $26,250 | 54.4% |
| Ohio Medical Career College | N/A | N/A | $16,456 | $12,403 | 83.9% |
| University of Toledo | $12,157 | $21,517 | $17,249 | $22,250 | 57% |
| Ohio State University | $13,244 | $40,022 | $17,339 | $19,976 | 48.2% |
NCLEX-RN pass rates reflect the percentage of nursing graduates who pass the national licensing exam on their first attempt. They are a key indicator of how well a program prepares students for entry-level nursing practice. For anyone considering nursing schools in Dayton, Ohio, these rates offer a transparent view of academic outcomes and can help you compare programs effectively.
Consistently high first-time pass rates suggest a program has a strong curriculum, effective clinical training, and robust student support. When a school's rates remain above state and national averages over several years, it signals that graduates are well-equipped to enter the workforce. Conversely, rates that dip or fluctuate may point to areas where a program is evolving, perhaps due to curriculum changes or cohort size shifts. While no single metric tells the whole story, NCLEX performance is one of the most standardized ways to evaluate nursing education quality.
The Ohio Board of Nursing collects and publishes first-time NCLEX pass rates for all approved pre-licensure programs. For Dayton-area BSN programs, such as those at Wright State University, University of Dayton, Cedarville University, and Kettering College, the most recent school-specific data available covers the 2024 exam year (with 2023 figures shown in parentheses in the official report).3 The 2025 school-specific report has not yet been released,4 so prospective students should check the Ohio Board of Nursing's website for the latest comparisons when making enrollment decisions. Historically, many Dayton programs have posted pass rates that exceed both state and national averages, but always confirm current figures directly from the Board's published reports.
Statewide, Ohio's BSN programs collectively perform at or slightly above national benchmarks. National first-time pass rates for baccalaureate-degree candidates were 87.6% in 20251 and 86.8% during the first quarter of 2026.2 These numbers provide useful context: a program with a 90% pass rate is outperforming the national norm, while one with an 80% rate may warrant a closer look. When reviewing pass rates, focus on multi-year consistency rather than a single year's result, as annual fluctuations can occur. The Ohio Board of Nursing reports remain the authoritative source for verifying any program's current standing.
Program-level earnings data for BSN completers at Dayton-area nursing schools are not yet reported in the College Scorecard. For context, the national median annual wage for registered nurses was $93,600 in May 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Actual earnings vary by location, experience, and employer.
Becoming a registered nurse in Dayton follows Ohio’s standard licensure pathway. The process involves completing an approved nursing program, passing the NCLEX-RN, and meeting the Ohio Board of Nursing’s requirements. Here’s a step-by-step overview of what to expect, from choosing a program to maintaining your license.
Considering a nursing career in Dayton? Here are answers to common questions about local programs, costs, and timelines, based on current data and publicly available information.
