Compare costs, NCLEX pass rates, program length, and schedule flexibility for nearby LPN schools
LPN programs near Cuyahoga Falls typically take 12 to 18 months, offering a fast-entry nursing pathway in Ohio. Local skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies regularly recruit from area schools.
However, tuition can swing by $10,000 or more, and NCLEX-PN pass rates span 72% to 100%. Scheduling varies from intensive full-time days to part-time evenings and hybrid options for working adults.
Employers in the region often prioritize candidates from programs with consistent licensure success, so your school choice directly shapes your job readiness and speed to a paycheck.
The following LPN programs near Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, have been evaluated based on cost, program features, and graduate outcomes. Whether you're looking for a local hybrid option or a quick pathway to licensure, these schools offer diverse routes to becoming a licensed practical nurse in the region.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls | Cuyahoga Falls, OH | $23,000/yr | Local commuters wanting hybrid flexibility | |
Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls offers a hybrid Practical Nursing program that serves the greater Cleveland-Akron area, allowing students to train close to home. The 16-month curriculum blends on-campus lab work and clinical rotations with some online coursework, preparing graduates for the NCLEX-PN and entry-level LPN positions. A Career Services Center supports job placement in the regional market, and financial aid is available for qualifying students.
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| #2 | Professional Skills Institute | Maumee, OH | $21,000/yr | Working adults needing evening hybrid classes | |
Professional Skills Institute, located in Maumee, Ohio, provides a 48-week Practical Nurse diploma with a hybrid format that includes online classes and on-campus labs. The program features 270 hours of clinical training and is approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing, qualifying graduates for NCLEX-PN licensure in Ohio and Michigan. With both daytime and evening schedules, it accommodates working students, and financial aid options are available.
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| #3 | ATA College-Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 – $30,000/yr | Career starters with no healthcare background | |
ATA College-Cincinnati offers a 15-month Practical Nursing diploma with no prerequisites or waiting list, making it an accelerated path into nursing. The hybrid program combines online coursework with hands-on lab and clinical training, emphasizing critical thinking and comprehensive nursing skills. Graduates are eligible for the NCLEX-PN, and career placement support is provided.
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| #4 | Galen College of Nursing-Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $29,000/yr | ||
Galen College of Nursing in Cincinnati runs a Practical/Vocational Nursing program that can be completed in as little as 12 months full-time or 21 months part-time, with four start dates per year. The campus-based curriculum emphasizes clinical coursework and practice-based training, preparing students thoroughly for the NCLEX-PN. Financial aid and scholarships are available, and applicants need a high school diploma or GED.
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| #5 | Ohio Medical Career College | Dayton, OH | $15,000 – $20,000/yr | ||
Ohio Medical Career College in Dayton offers a 40-week Practical Nursing diploma that balances classroom instruction and supervised clinical practice. The program requires prior CNA or MA certification and CPR training, covering anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and holistic patient care. Day and evening classes provide scheduling flexibility, and graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN for state licensure.
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| #6 | Fortis College-Columbus | Westerville, OH | $28,000/yr | ||
Fortis College-Columbus, located in Westerville, delivers a hybrid Practical Nursing program that integrates online learning with on-campus labs and clinical experiences. The curriculum centers on nursing theory and diverse patient care, preparing students for the NCLEX-PN exam. The program is particularly suited to State Tested Nursing Assistants (STNAs) seeking career advancement, with transfer credit opportunities and financial aid for those who qualify.
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| #7 | Southern State Community College | Hillsboro, OH | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Southern State Community College, with campuses in Hillsboro and Brown County, offers a three-semester Practical Nursing certificate. The program features lecture, lab, and clinical experiences aligned with the Ohio Nurse Practice Act, and prepares students for the NCLEX-PN. With day classes and e-books at reduced cost, it reports a 100% job placement rate and provides financial aid and dedicated faculty support.
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Below compares the cost of LPN programs near Cuyahoga Falls using in-state and out-of-state tuition alongside the average net price after financial aid. Net price is an institution-wide average, so your actual cost may differ based on your specific aid package. Public options like Southern State Community College typically cost much less than private schools, with net prices ranging from $9,674 to over $28,000.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Average Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern State Community College | $5,912 | $10,818 | $9,674 |
| Ohio Medical Career College | N/A | N/A | $16,456 |
| Professional Skills Institute | $15,884 | $15,884 | $20,721 |
| Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls | $14,596 | $14,596 | $23,374 |
| ATA College-Cincinnati | $14,250 | $14,250 | $27,055 |
| Fortis College-Columbus | $14,935 | $14,935 | $27,708 |
| Galen College of Nursing-Cincinnati | $17,048 | $17,048 | $28,785 |
Reviewing the latest NCLEX-PN pass rates for LPN programs near Cuyahoga Falls helps compare local performance against state and national numbers.
The standout performer near Cuyahoga Falls is Fortis Institute. In 2024, all 17 first-time testers passed the NCLEX-PN, for a 100% first-time pass rate.1 That kind of result is rare and speaks directly to the program’s instruction quality and exam readiness.
Publicly available pass-rate data for Cuyahoga Valley Career Center, Stark State College, and Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) is harder to pin down. Neither the Ohio Board of Nursing annual reports nor national NCLEX summaries isolate their LPN cohorts in the most recent reporting periods. Prospective students should contact these schools directly and ask for their last three years of NCLEX-PN first-time pass rates, a straightforward indicator of how well a program prepares its graduates.
For context, nursing programs in Ohio see first-time pass rates between 85% and 87% (2026 data),2 while the national average is 83.4% as of 2025.2 A program that consistently posts rates above 80% is considered solid. Anything above 90% puts a school in the top tier. And a record like Fortis’s perfect 100% (even on a smaller testing cohort) signals a program where the entire instructional arc, from clinical hours to test-prep modules, is aligned with licensure success.
LPN training paths tend to fall into two camps: accelerated full-time programs that get you to the NCLEX-PN quickly, and stretched-out part-time schedules that let you keep working while you learn.
Most practical nursing certificates in northeast Ohio require 11 to 16 months of study. Fortis Institute in Cuyahoga Falls runs a structured 15-month program.1 Nearby public colleges often design their LPN curricula to fit a traditional academic year, though exact lengths can vary by prerequisite completion and term start. Because credit-hour totals and clock-hour requirements are set by the state board, the curriculum itself is fairly consistent; what changes is how schools package those hours into a calendar.
Fortis’s program follows a full-time weekday schedule,1 which works well for students who can dedicate their daytime hours exclusively to coursework. On the other hand, community colleges like Stark State College and Cuyahoga Community College may offer evening or weekend sections designed for working adults, though these options depend on enrollment demand and instructor availability each term. Some programs have begun blending online coursework for theory-based subjects, but lab and clinical components remain firmly in-person. If flexibility is your top priority, call admissions offices and ask specifically about current section times. What was offered last year might not be available in the upcoming term.
Clinicals are the hands-on heart of any LPN program, and they almost always require daytime attendance. Even if you take evening classes, your clinical rotation will likely be scheduled during standard hospital or long-term care facility hours. For example, Fortis’s clinical day is typically an 8- to 12-hour shift once a week.2 Other programs arrange clinicals in blocks, such as several consecutive days or a dedicated preceptorship at the end of the program. Be prepared to arrange child care or adjust your work schedule during clinical weeks, as these hours are non-negotiable.
If you can commit to a full-time daytime track, you’ll likely finish faster and enter the workforce sooner. That makes Fortis a solid choice for those who want a direct, predictable route. Working parents or career-changers who need to keep a daytime job should prioritize schools that clearly offer evening or weekend didactic classes, but accept that clinicals may still require occasional daytime blocks. Before enrolling, confirm the total program length, the weekly time commitment, and the exact clinical schedule for the entire program to avoid surprises down the road.
LPNs in the Cuyahoga Falls area benefit from strong demand, particularly in Summit County hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies. While local salaries are slightly below national norms, the region's lower cost of living can stretch earnings further.
What matters most when picking an LPN program near Cuyahoga Falls: cost, convenience, or the NCLEX pass rate?
Think about what you can manage: a shorter program might mean a more intensive schedule, while an evening-track option stretches the timeline but keeps a paycheck. List out tuition, NCLEX-PN first-time pass rates, program length, and admissions prerequisites side by side. Check prerequisites early: some require a CNA credential, CPR certification, or TEAS test, while others admit directly from high school. Rank what matters most for your life right now.
Before you apply, confirm that the program holds full approval from the Ohio Board of Nursing: a simple search on the Board's website avoids costly missteps. Attend an info session or schedule a campus visit to see the simulation lab and talk with instructors. Better yet, ask to be connected with a recent graduate or current student; their unfiltered take on clinical placement support or schedule reality often tells you more than a brochure.
The sticker price can mislead. Request a net price estimate after subtracting federal, state, and institutional aid: many students find that grants and scholarships drastically change the total. Then consider total time to license: a program that costs $2,000 less but takes six months longer delays your earnings by half a year, which may outweigh the upfront savings.
Navigating the path to becoming an LPN in the Cuyahoga Falls area means asking the right questions about salary, program length, cost, and quality. Below we answer five frequently asked questions with data specific to Ohio and the local region, so you can make an informed decision.
