Compare tuition, NCLEX pass rates, and accreditation for BSN programs near Westerville
Choosing between a private BSN in Westerville and a larger public program in Columbus often comes down to cost versus convenience. Otterbein University, among the best nursing schools in Ohio and the only four-year nursing school in Westerville, reports first-time NCLEX pass rates above the national average and places students in clinical rotations at OhioHealth and Mount Carmel sites across the metro area. Additional BSN and ADN options in Columbus, including Ohio State’s high-volume program and multiple community college pathways, offer lower net prices but larger cohorts. The proximity to major hospitals creates robust clinical opportunities, yet admission to the most affordable programs remains competitive, especially for out-of-district applicants.
Choosing the right nursing program in the Westerville area means considering factors like NCLEX pass rates, clinical placement quality, and overall cost. The schools below represent the top-ranked BSN and ADN options within commuting distance of Westerville, based on institutional data and program highlights.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Ohio State University | Columbus, OH | $17,000/yr (net price) | Traditional students seeking a large public research university | |
Ohio State University's College of Nursing is the top public BSN program in the nation, offering a rigorous, lock-step curriculum with early clinical placements at its medical campus. Students benefit from faculty mentorship, research honors, and study abroad. As Ohio's flagship university, it provides extensive resources and a strong alumni network.
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| #2 | Otterbein University | Westerville, OH | ~$19,000/yr (est.) | Westerville residents wanting a small private college | |
Otterbein University, located right in Westerville, offers a highly personalized BSN program that places students in clinical settings from the start. Its 100% first-time NCLEX pass rate and senior immersion with a nurse preceptor reflect strong preparation. Small class sizes and dedicated faculty support students through every step.
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| #3 | Mount Carmel College of Nursing | Columbus, OH | $10,000/yr | Faith-driven learners preferring a nursing-focused college | |
Mount Carmel College of Nursing is a private nursing-only college in Columbus with a century-plus legacy. It offers multiple pathways into nursing, including a traditional BSN, an online RN-BSN, and a second-degree accelerated program. Small class sizes, strong job placement, and affiliation with the Mount Carmel Health System ensure clinical relevance.
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| #4 | North Central State College | Mansfield, OH | $5,000/yr (net price) | ||
North Central State College, located in Mansfield, offers an affordable path into nursing with its hybrid RN-to-BSN completion track and a traditional ADN program. The BSN can be completed in four semesters, combining online coursework with one clinical rotation, while the ADN boasts a 92.8% NCLEX pass rate and 100% job placement.
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| #5 | Central Ohio Technical College | Newark, OH | $5,000 – $8,000/yr | ||
Central Ohio Technical College, with campuses in Newark and nearby, provides a hands-on ADN program that prepares students for the NCLEX-RN. Selective admission and strong job placement rates highlight its practical focus, while the LPN-to-ADN bridge offers a fast track for licensed practical nurses.
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| #6 | Mount Vernon Nazarene University | Mount Vernon, OH | $22,000/yr | ||
Mount Vernon Nazarene University mixes faith and nursing education in its BSN program, featuring over 620 clinical hours and cutting-edge VR simulation. With a 100% first-time NCLEX pass rate in 2025, graduates are well-prepared for roles across healthcare settings.
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| #7 | Ashland University | Ashland, OH | ~$22,000/yr (est.) | ||
Ashland University's direct-entry BSN program starts students in nursing from day one, with clinical experiences beginning in the second year. The program emphasizes evidence-based practice and leadership, and graduates have been hired by top employers like Cleveland Clinic.
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| #8 | Capital University | Columbus, OH | $23,000/yr | ||
Capital University in Columbus offers a small-campus BSN experience with a 100% NCLEX pass rate and 1:1 faculty mentoring. Clinical partnerships with top hospitals like Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and a 4:1 student-instructor ratio in simulation labs ensure personalized training.
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| #9 | Muskingum University | New Concord, OH | $20,000/yr (net price) | ||
Muskingum University's pre-licensure BSN program in New Concord boasts a 95% first-time NCLEX pass rate and 100% job placement since 2016. Small class sizes, a new nursing laboratory, and clinical practicums at Nationwide Children's Hospital make it a strong choice.
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| #10 | Marion Technical College | Marion, OH | ~$7,000/yr (est.) | ||
Marion Technical College offers an affordable ADN program with ACEN accreditation and a dual degree pathway to a BSN. Starting Fall 2026, 8-week courses provide focused learning, and advanced standing is available for LPNs, paramedics, and military medics.
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Our ranking evaluates nursing programs within 75 miles of Westerville using a blend of data points that gauge value and outcomes, not just popularity. The four main components are:
NCLEX pass rates are not part of this algorithm; we report those separately in the NCLEX & Graduate Outcomes section to give you a complete view. Our ranking focuses on the combination of cost, completion, and earnings that points to long-term value for nursing students in the Westerville area.
The sticker price of a BSN can vary widely, but financial aid often brings the actual cost down considerably. The net price figures shown here are institution-wide averages, not specific to nursing, and private colleges may offer substantial aid packages that offset higher tuition.
Nursing school accountability is increasingly measured by what happens after graduation, not just during the program. For prospective students near Westerville, the most concrete signal of a program’s quality is the share of graduates who become licensed and enter the workforce, and that starts with the NCLEX-RN.
The Ohio Board of Nursing publishes annual first-time pass rates for all approved programs. Otterbein University stands out in the Westerville-Columbus region with a 96.61% NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2021, drawn from roughly 49 examinees. This is well above both the Ohio statewide average of 79.07% and the national average of 82.48% for the same year. Such a margin suggests strong curricular alignment with the exam’s shifting emphasis on clinical judgment and patient safety.
Pass rate data for other nearby programs, such as the accelerated BSN at Mount Carmel College of Nursing or the traditional BSN at Capital University, was not included in the slice of the Ohio Board’s information available for this ranking. When comparing schools, it’s wise to request three-year trend data directly from admissions offices to see stability, not just one high-scoring year.
NCLEX success is the gateway to practice, but long-term earnings and employment rates tell the rest of the story. For Otterbein and other Westerville-area schools, program-level earnings data from federal sources such as College Scorecard is not yet published or is too small to report reliably. That’s not unusual: many nursing programs have fewer than the minimum number of working graduates required for median earnings to appear.
In practical terms, however, a first-attempt NCLEX pass rate above 95% almost always leads to job placement. Ohio employers routinely hire new graduates months before they sit for the exam, so the gap between licensure and employment is often measured in weeks. Otterbein’s 2025 graduating cohort numbered 53 students, and local health systems, including OhioHealth and Mount Carmel Health System, actively recruit from the school’s career fairs.
Otterbein’s 96.61% pass rate is not an outlier; it’s the result of a curriculum that integrates simulation, interprofessional education, and dedicated NCLEX preparation. The 2021 figures came during a period when many programs nationwide saw pass rates dip due to pandemic disruptions, making Otterbein’s performance even more notable. Still, small annual fluctuations are normal, so check the most recent year’s data when applying.
For students who cannot access published earnings figures, the true test of outcomes is often reputation and employer relationships. Otterbein’s long history in suburban Columbus and strong clinical partnerships typically provide a reliable pipeline into acute care, community health, and graduate study.
Nursing program accreditation is non-negotiable for licensure eligibility, transfer credit, and graduate school admissions in Ohio. A degree from an unaccredited program can block your path to the NCLEX or advanced practice roles before you even begin.
Otterbein University’s BSN is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) through the 2025-2026 academic year, with the next on-site evaluation scheduled for October 27-29, 2025.3 The program also holds full approval from the Ohio Board of Nursing1, which is valid through the 2034-2035 academic year2. This dual endorsement means graduates meet both national quality standards and the state’s specific requirements for registered nurse licensure.
Both CCNE and ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing) are nationally recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, but they serve slightly different purposes. CCNE typically accredits baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs at four-year institutions, while ACEN often accredits associate degree programs and hospital-based diploma programs. For BSN graduates, CCNE accreditation is especially relevant because it is widely expected by graduate nursing programs. Either accreditation qualifies you for the NCLEX, but CCNE can streamline the path to a master’s or doctoral degree.
All other BSN programs within commuting distance of Westerville hold CCNE accreditation. The Ohio State University, Capital University, and Mount Carmel College of Nursing all carry active CCNE accreditation for the 2025-2026 academic year4, ensuring that students have multiple high-quality options with consistent, rigorous preparation for licensure and beyond.
A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for Otterbein University's BSN, while Ohio State sets the bar slightly higher at 3.2, and both programs admit only a limited number of students each year. Beyond GPA, the prerequisite course lists differ.
Otterbein expects completion of CHEM 1100 & 1110, CHEM 1200, INST 1500, PSYC 1000, PSYC 2000, BIOL 1810, and BIOL 1820, all with a grade of C or better. Ohio State's pre-nursing track demands human anatomy, human physiology, biology, chemistry with a lab, English composition, general psychology, and sociology or rural sociology; a C+ or B may be required depending on the course. Capital University and Mount Carmel College of Nursing have their own prerequisite lists, prospective students should consult each school's nursing advising office directly.
Neither Otterbein nor Ohio State requires the TEAS or HESI for entry into the traditional BSN. Otterbein does not mandate SAT/ACT scores, but submitting an ACT result can trigger a guaranteed admission pathway. Ohio State is similarly test-optional for university admission and does not use the TEAS for nursing. However, other Westerville-area programs, particularly associate-degree or direct-entry MSN tracks, may still require the TEAS or HESI, so always confirm current testing expectations on the program website.
Otterbein's BSN application closes the last Friday of January for a fall start, and all prerequisites must be finished before the nursing sequence begins. Ohio State's deadline aligns with the university's competitive admissions cycle, with early action strongly encouraged. Both schools fill a single cohort each fall, and seats are limited. Meeting the minimum GPA does not guarantee a place; admissions are competitive and based on a holistic review of academics, prerequisites, and sometimes an essay or interview. Some community college programs offer more flexible, rolling admission but often require a TEAS score and may maintain waiting lists.
Choosing a nursing school is a big decision. Here are direct answers to the questions we hear most often from future nurses exploring programs in and around Westerville, Ohio.
