Compare costs, NCLEX outcomes, and program formats for BSN programs in the Beachwood–Cleveland area.
Which nursing schools near Beachwood give you a realistic shot at Cleveland’s magnet-hospital residencies? Over 37,000 RNs work in the Cleveland-Elyria metro, and BSN-preferred hiring is now standard at Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, and MetroHealth.
Beachwood’s location along I-271 puts accredited programs within a 30- to 75-minute drive. The mix includes direct-admit BSNs, RN-to-BSN bridges, and accelerated second-degree tracks; many blend online coursework with local clinical rotations to reduce commute time.
As these health systems expand residency cohorts, the BSN pay premium in the region often recovers tuition within a few years, keeping enrollment in local programs competitive.
This ranking highlights accredited nursing programs within roughly 65 miles of Beachwood, Ohio, drawing from Cleveland and Northeast Ohio schools. Programs are evaluated based on accessibility, clinical partnerships, and student outcomes to help local students find the right fit.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
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| #1 | Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH | $41,000/yr | Beachwood-area students seeking hospital partnerships | |
Case Western Reserve University's Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing offers a direct-admission BSN program in Cleveland, just minutes from Beachwood. Students begin nursing courses and clinical placements in the first semester, accumulating over 1,000 clinical hours. The program emphasizes interprofessional education alongside medical and dental students and has deep clinical partnerships with University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic, including nearby locations like UH Ahuja Medical Center and Cleveland Clinic Beachwood.
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| #2 | Ursuline College | Pepper Pike, OH | $15,000 – $20,000/yr | Students desiring a holistic, employment-focused BSN | |
Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, adjacent to Beachwood, provides a holistic BSN program with a values-based curriculum and CCNE accreditation. The program features a high-tech skills lab, TeamSTEPPS certification, and boasts a 100% employment rate for graduates. With strong NCLEX pass rates and a low 8:1 student-faculty ratio, it offers personalized attention and professional development through student organizations.
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| #3 | Baldwin Wallace University | Berea, OH | $28,000/yr | Career switchers seeking an accelerated BSN | |
Baldwin Wallace University in Berea offers both traditional and accelerated BSN tracks, with clinical partnerships at Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals. The accelerated track is a 15-month, full-time program with a 100% licensure pass rate and 700 clinical hours. The traditional track features dedicated coordinators and faculty with DNP and MSN preparation, preparing graduates for nursing careers across the region.
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| #4 | Kent State University | Kent, OH | ~$21,000/yr (est.) | ||
Kent State University, about 30 miles from Beachwood, offers a comprehensive BSN program with multiple entry paths and a 99% job placement rate. Students benefit from clinical rotations at major hospitals, state-of-the-art simulation labs, and a capstone preceptorship. The university also provides an accredited ADN program at its East Liverpool campus with traditional, LPN, and paramedic tracks.
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| #5 | Cleveland State University | Cleveland, OH | $15,000/yr (net price) | ||
Cleveland State University's Traditional BSN program, located in the heart of Cleveland, offers daytime and evening/weekend tracks over three years of full-time nursing coursework. The community-based curriculum emphasizes interprofessional collaboration and features a cohort model. Admission is competitive, with prerequisite and cumulative GPA requirements.
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| #6 | University of Akron | Akron, OH | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | ||
The University of Akron's School of Nursing provides a competitive BSN program with priority and secondary admission pools, and an Army ROTC scholarship reservation. The curriculum includes diverse clinical rotations, and graduates are eligible for NCLEX-RN. The university also offers a cost-effective ADN program at its Akron campus with a pathway to the BSN.
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| #7 | Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences | Canton, OH | $24,000/yr (net price) | ||
Aultman College in Canton offers an Associate of Science in Nursing program with clinical experience at Aultman Health System, Stark County's largest healthcare provider. The five-semester program features small class sizes, ACEN accreditation, and a clear pathway to the BSN Completion Program.
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| #8 | Ashland University | Ashland, OH | ~$22,000/yr (est.) | ||
Ashland University's Traditional BSN program in Ashland, about 60 miles from Beachwood, provides a direct-entry path with clinical experiences beginning in the second year. The program boasts a 93% NCLEX-RN pass rate and a low 1:8 clinical instructor-to-student ratio. Graduates have been hired by top Ohio employers like Cleveland Clinic, and the program is eligible for Choose Ohio First Scholarships.
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| #9 | Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing | Sandusky, OH | |||
Firelands School of Nursing in Sandusky partners with Bowling Green State University to offer an RN diploma and non-nursing associate degree, with a seamless pathway to a BSN. The hospital-based program provides individualized instruction, no waitlist for clinical placements, and a 100% first-attempt NCLEX-RN pass rate.
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| #10 | ETI Technical College | Niles, OH | $14,000/yr | ||
ETI Technical College in Niles offers a focused Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program designed to prepare students for NCLEX-RN licensure. The 80-week program features daytime classes, 390 clinical hours, and an LPN advanced standing option. With a student-faculty ratio of 8:1 and a strong NCLEX preparation emphasis, it provides hands-on training at local healthcare facilities.
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Three primary metrics shape our rankings for nursing schools near Beachwood, part of our broader best nursing schools in Ohio rankings: net price, graduation rate, and program-level outcomes from the College Scorecard. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships, it is not a guarantee for every student. Graduation rates reflect the entire institution, not just nursing, so they serve as a broader indicator of student success. Program-level earnings and employment data, pulled from the College Scorecard, are factored in when available.
Only programs with CCNE or ACEN accreditation are included; accreditation acts as a baseline filter rather than a ranking weight. This approach balances affordability, student outcomes, and real-world earnings to surface schools that offer solid value.
Nursing programs with consistently high first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates produce graduates who are ready to enter practice immediately. For anyone considering a BSN near Beachwood, these numbers offer a transparent, outcome-focused way to compare schools.
The Ohio Board of Nursing publishes an annual report on nursing education program outcomes, including first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for every approved prelicensure BSN program in the state. The most recent report reflects 2024 testing data, letting you compare outcomes for Cleveland State University, Ursuline College, Kent State University, the University of Akron, and other regional programs. Many nursing departments also post their pass rates on their own websites, typically under accreditation, student outcomes, or program effectiveness sections.
According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), the national first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for all nursing program types was 91.16 percent in 2024. Ohio’s first-time pass rate averaged 89.55 percent the same year, trailing the national average slightly.1 Individual BSN programs in the Cleveland area often exceed both figures; a school with a first-time pass rate consistently above 90 percent is generally considered strong. When evaluating any program, always prioritize first-time pass rates over cumulative pass rates, as they more clearly reflect how well the program prepares students on their initial attempt.
Accelerated nursing programs continue to reshape career-change pathways into the profession. For those in the Beachwood area, a few targeted steps can surface ABSN, second-degree, and RN-to-BSN options without sifting through generic directories.
The board's website maintains a current list of approved pre-licensure and completion programs. Note which schools offer accelerated formats, then visit their admissions pages directly for prerequisites, cohort calendars, and application windows. Most accelerated BSN tracks require a prior bachelor's degree and cover roughly 12 to 18 months of full-time study.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics' 'Find a School' tool lets you search for nursing programs near Beachwood, OH and filter by accelerated or second-degree options. Review program lengths and prerequisite coursework side by side; some listings also link to NCLEX performance data.
Admissions offices at Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals can confirm which nursing programs regularly place students in their facilities. Clinical access varies, and a program's primary teaching hospital often determines the mix of acute care, community health, and specialty rotations you will experience.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing maintains a searchable directory of accelerated baccalaureate programs, while the Ohio Nurses Association can point to regional second-degree and bridge options. Both resources help validate what the individual schools claim.
Nursing school represents a substantial financial commitment, but the long-term earnings in the Cleveland metro area often justify the investment. Within a 75-mile radius of Beachwood, two BSN programs, one public and one private, illustrate the range of costs students can expect.
The average net price after grants and scholarships reveals a sharp contrast. At public North Central State College, the effective net price for an in-state student sits at $4,687 per year, compared to $16,164 at private Ursuline College. Sticker prices differ even more dramatically: in-state tuition and fees at North Central State College are $4,624, while Ursuline’s tuition is $38,990 before aid. The private institution’s higher list price is offset by substantial institutional aid, but the final out-of-pocket difference remains significant.
Median federal student loan debt among graduates echoes the pattern: - Public (North Central State College): $8,252 - Private (Ursuline College): $26,250
Assuming a standard 10-year repayment plan at a common interest rate, estimated monthly payments would run about $90 for the public-program graduate and roughly $280 for the private. Both figures are manageable relative to nursing salaries in the region.
While program-specific salary data is not yet available, the broader profession provides strong context. The mean annual wage for registered nurses in the Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor metropolitan area is $89,840, which is well above the national median of $75,330. Even at the lower end of the national wage distribution (10th percentile: $53,410), typical debt levels remain modest. A public-school graduate could cover the entire debt balance with a few months of salary, while a private-school graduate would need less than a year’s earnings on the standard payment schedule. These numbers make nursing programs near Beachwood a high-ROI educational path.
With over 750 clinical partners, Kent State University’s nursing program illustrates the depth of healthcare connections available to students near Beachwood. Choosing the right school means balancing accreditation, clinical opportunities, and flexibility.
Without CCNE or ACEN accreditation, your degree may not qualify you for licensure in Ohio. Every program you consider should hold one of these recognized stamps. Employers in the Cleveland area also expect it.
Access to major health systems like Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, and MetroHealth can define your pre-licensure experience. Most strong programs in the region leverage multiple sites:
Some programs, including the Arizona College of Nursing campus in Beachwood itself, do not publicly list clinical partners. If you cannot review placement sites, ask directly before enrolling. A robust clinical network impacts your range of exposure and future job prospects.
If you need to work while in school, look for evening, weekend, or hybrid formats. Accelerated programs like Baldwin Wallace’s condense timelines but often require full-time commitment. Confirm whether the schedule aligns with your life before you commit.
Finding the right nursing program involves weighing factors like cost, accreditation, and NCLEX preparation. Below we answer common questions to help you evaluate schools near Beachwood, Ohio.
