Compare tuition, NCLEX pass rates, and program length for practical nursing schools serving the Westerville area.
Licensed practical nurses in the Columbus metro area earned a median wage of $53,620 in 2024, but pay can vary widely by facility and shift. Westerville’s location just north of the city places students within commuting distance of several LPN programs in Columbus, though only Fortis College’s Columbus campus sits within Westerville city limits.
Programs range from full-time, campus-based diplomas lasting about a year to hybrid options that blend online coursework with in-person clinicals. Tuition and fees differ markedly between public technical centers and private colleges, and NCLEX-PN first-time pass rates provide a direct measure of how well a school prepares graduates for licensure.
With OhioHealth, Mount Carmel, and multiple long-term care employers hiring aggressively throughout the region, selecting a program that combines competitive pricing with proven exam outcomes is a practical first step into the profession.
Finding the right LPN program near Westerville means balancing location, cost, and training quality. While several schools across Ohio offer strong practical nursing diplomas, only Fortis College's Columbus campus is actually located in Westerville itself. The following ranking highlights the top options within a reasonable radius, with a special emphasis on programs that deliver hybrid flexibility, solid NCLEX-PN preparation, and career support tailored to the central Ohio job market.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Fortis College-Columbus | Westerville, OH | $28,000/yr | Westerville hybrid LPN students | |
Fortis College's campus in Westerville, Ohio, offers a hybrid Practical Nursing program that blends online coursework with hands-on labs and clinical rotations in the Columbus metropolitan area. The 60-week, 1,289-clock-hour diploma prepares students for the NCLEX-PN and features a Career Services Center to support local job placement. The school is private, with a net price of about $27,708 and median graduate debt of $12,547, while graduates nationwide report median earnings around $36,368 ten years after entry. Institutional data shows a graduation rate of 40% and a student-faculty ratio of 16:1.
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| #2 | Professional Skills Institute | Maumee, OH | $21,000/yr | Quick completion with evening classes | |
Professional Skills Institute in Maumee, Ohio, provides a 48-week Practical Nursing diploma with both day and evening hybrid classes, combining online learning with campus labs and 270 hours of clinical training. It is a private institution with a net price of approximately $20,721 and median graduate debt of $17,813; the institution-wide graduation rate is 43.5%. Graduates see a median 10-year earnings of $47,765, and the school reports a 75% retention rate.
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| #3 | ATA College-Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 – $30,000/yr | No prerequisites or waiting list | |
ATA College in Cincinnati offers a 15-month hybrid Practical Nursing diploma requiring no prerequisites and maintaining no waiting list. The program integrates online classes with on-campus lab sessions and clinical experiences. As a private college, the net price is about $27,055, and the median debt for graduates is $21,030; the institution-wide graduation rate is 62.5%. Median 10-year earnings stand at $34,577, and 87.7% of students receive Pell Grants.
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| #4 | Galen College of Nursing-Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $29,000/yr | ||
Galen College of Nursing in Cincinnati delivers 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 to prepare students for the NCLEX-PN. It is a private college with a net price of $28,785 and median graduate debt of $24,166; the institution-wide graduation rate is 57.1% and retention rate is 83%. Graduates earn a median $61,480 ten years after entry.
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| #5 | Ohio Medical Career College | Dayton, OH | $15,000 – $20,000/yr | ||
Ohio Medical Career College in Dayton provides a 40-week campus-based Practical Nursing diploma requiring prior CNA or Medical Assistant certification. The program features both day and evening classes, covering anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and holistic care, with supervised clinical practice. This private college reports a net price of $16,456, median graduate debt of $12,403, and a strong institution-wide graduation rate of 79.1%. Earnings data are not available, but the school serves a high percentage of Pell Grant recipients (83.9%).
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| #6 | Southern State Community College | Hillsboro, OH | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Southern State Community College, a public institution in Hillsboro, Ohio, offers a three-semester Practical Nursing certificate that prepares students for the NCLEX-PN with a 92% licensure pass rate and 100% job placement rate. Day classes are available at two campuses, and the program includes e-books at reduced cost. The public net price is $9,674, median graduate debt is only $11,457, and the institution-wide graduation rate is 37%. Median 10-year earnings are $35,463, with a student-faculty ratio of 20:1.
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| #7 | Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls | Cuyahoga Falls, OH | $23,000/yr | ||
Fortis College in Cuyahoga Falls, near Akron, Ohio, offers a 16-month hybrid Practical Nursing program that blends classroom and clinical training for NCLEX-PN preparation. It is a private college with a net price of $23,374 and median graduate debt of $13,000; the institution-wide graduation rate is 46.6% and retention rate is 45%. Median 10-year earnings are $34,509, and 84.7% of students receive Pell Grants.
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Comparing LPN programs effectively means looking past marketing promises and focusing on factors that predict your success on the job.
Total cost matters, but it shouldn't be the only number you weigh. In the Westerville area, tuition varies widely among schools like Columbus State Community College and Fortis College, so request a breakdown that includes fees, scrubs, and exam costs. More importantly, look at the program's NCLEX-PN pass rate. A high graduation rate might seem impressive, but if recent graduates struggled to pass the licensing exam, your career is stuck at the starting line. Without an LPN license, you can't practice. Ask each school for its first-time pass rate from the last three years; you want a figure that matches or beats the national average. This single metric tells you whether the curriculum actually prepares students for state boards.
Program length near Westerville typically ranges from 10 to 15 months, but you'll find exceptions on both ends. For example, ALIA School of Nursing offers a 10-month accelerated track, while Fortis College Westerville's hybrid program extends to 18 months. Most schools, including AIAM and Ohio Business College, land around 12 months. Shorter isn't always better: accelerated formats demand full-time focus and may not work if you're balancing a job. Look for schedule flexibility that matches your life: Columbus State runs full-time day and evening cohorts, COTC lets you take some general education courses online, and Fortis blends on-campus and online instruction. Confirm whether part-time or evening options are available, because clinical hours are often fixed and cannot be negotiated.
Clinical rotations shape your competence and confidence. When you talk to admissions, don't just ask whether the program includes clinical hours; ask where those sites are located. A school might schedule your rotations at facilities on the opposite side of Columbus, adding an hour of driving to an already long day. Proximity to Westerville matters. Programs with established relationships at central Ohio hospitals and long-term care centers often give you shorter commutes and better networking opportunities. If a school is vague about placement locations, ask current students or recent graduates about their experience. Commuting logistics can quietly drain your energy during a demanding program, so make clinical site geography a tiebreaker.
By weighing these four factors, cost and pass rates, length and flexibility, and clinical access, you'll choose a program that sets you up for swift licensure and a steady job close to home.
The sticker price of an LPN program only tells part of the story. The net price, what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, provides a clearer picture, though individual costs will vary. Beyond tuition, budget for the NCLEX-PN exam ($200), books and supplies ($700-$1,000), uniforms ($150-$300), clinical supplies ($75-$175), program fees ($300-$700), and state licensure and background checks (up to $400 and $150, respectively).
In 2024, first-time NCLEX-PN candidates from LPN programs in Ohio achieved a statewide pass rate of 82.54%1; however, Fortis College’s Columbus campus, which serves students from Westerville, posted a notably higher 93.10% pass rate2.
The table below compares the most recent NCLEX-PN results for Fortis College Columbus with Ohio and national averages.
| Program | NCLEX-PN Pass Rate (2024) | First-Time Candidates |
|---|---|---|
| Fortis College Columbus PN | 93.10%2 | 292 |
| Ohio Statewide PN Average | 82.54%1 | 3,4361 |
| National PN Average | 88.38%1 | 50,5671 |
Fortis College’s performance exceeded the Ohio average by over ten percentage points and also cleared the national benchmark, indicating effective preparation for its students.
A program’s NCLEX-PN pass rate is a direct indicator of how well its curriculum aligns with the licensure exam. Consistently high rates suggest strong instruction, quality clinical placements, and solid student support. On the other hand, rates dipping below 80% can raise concerns about program quality and student readiness.
The Ohio Board of Nursing tracks these outcomes closely and requires corrective action plans from programs that fall below established thresholds.1 When researching programs near Westerville, prioritize those with pass rates consistently above the state average, and verify the most recent year’s data, since rates can shift.
Becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in Westerville, Ohio follows a clear path regulated by the Ohio Board of Nursing. Here is the step-by-step process from completing prerequisites to passing the NCLEX-PN.
Practical nursing offers a reliable entry point into healthcare, with steady demand across long-term care, home health, and outpatient clinics.
In 2024, Licensed Practical Nurses in the Columbus metropolitan area earned a median annual wage of $48,0001. This is notably below the statewide median of $61,000 for Ohio2 and the national median of $62,340.3 The local figure reflects the mix of employers, facility types, and cost of living in the region, but it still provides a stable foundation for a career that requires less than a year of full-time training.
Nationally, BLS projects a 3% growth rate for LPNs from 2024 to 2034, with about 54,400 annual openings3, many driven by the need to replace workers who retire or exit the field. While Ohio-specific projections are not broken out at the state level in the latest outlook, the national trend signals ongoing demand, especially in skilled nursing and community-based care settings that are common around Columbus.
Program-level earnings data for specific LPN schools near Westerville is not yet available in federal datasets, so direct post-completion salary comparisons aren’t possible. However, given the short duration of most LPN programs, graduates can begin earning quickly. When weighing program costs against the Columbus-area median wage, even entry-level LPN roles offer a rapid return on a modest educational investment, particularly for students who minimize debt.
Earning your RN license after working as an LPN is a practical path to higher pay and expanded clinical responsibilities.
Several schools within a short drive of Westerville offer LPN-to-RN bridge programs. Columbus State Community College offers an Advanced Standing Nursing pathway that allows LPNs to enter the associate degree program with credit for prior coursework. The program uses a blended format, common in many online LPN to RN programs, combining online and on-campus learning, and includes a prior learning assessment for some nursing courses. Central Ohio Technical College in Newark offers a campus-based LPN-to-ADN bridge that admits students by campus and term. Hondros College of Nursing, with a campus right in Westerville, delivers a bridge program designed to take about 12 to 18 months, building on your practical nursing foundation.
Bridge programs recognize the clinical experience and coursework you completed as an LPN. You typically skip the first semester or two of a traditional ADN program, leaving roughly 1-2 semesters of advanced nursing content, leadership, and clinical rotations. The final step is passing the NCLEX-RN to earn your RN license.
Moving from LPN to RN is not just a title change. Registered nurses in the Columbus metropolitan area earn significantly higher wages and have access to a wider range of job settings, from hospital acute care to specialty clinics. The investment of a bridge program often pays for itself through increased earning potential within the first year of employment.
Prospective LPN students often have questions about program length, costs, admission criteria, and career pathways. Below, we address the most frequent inquiries to help you make an informed decision about practical nursing education near Westerville, Ohio.
