Compare tuition, NCLEX pass rates, and program formats at Columbus-area nursing schools to find your best fit.
Columbus has become a major healthcare hub, with hospital systems like OhioHealth and Mount Carmel now requiring or preferring BSN-prepared nurses. Nursing programs in the city include public universities, community colleges, and private institutions, offering online, accelerated, and traditional campus-based BSN degrees. Tuition ranges from under $5,000 to over $40,000 annually, and NCLEX pass rates and accreditation status vary significantly. Earnings for new graduates in the Columbus metro reflect strong demand, but program-level outcomes differ depending on degree type and clinical placement quality.
Our 2026 rankings spotlight the best nursing schools in Columbus, Ohio, based on the latest available data on cost, student outcomes, and program quality. These accredited institutions offer a mix of BSN and ADN pathways, with both public and private options to fit diverse budgets and career goals. Whether you seek a traditional university experience, an accelerated path, or an online RN-to-BSN, Columbus has a program to match your needs.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Ohio State University | Columbus, OH | $17,000/yr (net price) | Aspiring nurse leaders at a public flagship | |
Ohio State University houses one of the nation's top-ranked public nursing colleges, blending rigorous academics with early clinical immersion at its own medical campus. Students benefit from a structured curriculum, faculty mentorship, and options like an honors research track or study abroad. The program consistently earns high marks for preparing graduates for licensure and leadership roles across healthcare settings.
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| #2 | Mount Carmel College of Nursing | Columbus, OH | $10,000/yr | Small college nursing with strong job outcomes | |
Mount Carmel College of Nursing emphasizes personal attention and career-ready training, reporting a 100% job placement rate for recent graduates. Small class sizes and direct admission pathways define the campus experience, while affiliations with Mount Carmel Health System enhance clinical rotations. It also offers an online RN-BSN and a second-degree accelerated track.
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| #3 | Central Ohio Technical College | Newark, OH | $5,000 – $8,000/yr | Cost-conscious students pursuing an ADN | |
Central Ohio Technical College provides an accessible ADN pathway with a 91% licensure pass rate and 92% job placement. The program offers LPN and paramedic transition options plus seamless RN-to-BSN articulation. Hands-on clinicals across central Ohio and selective admission criteria ensure a robust foundation for entry-level nursing practice.
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| #4 | Otterbein University | Westerville, OH | ~$19,000/yr (est.) | ||
Otterbein University reports a 100% first-time NCLEX pass rate and 100% job placement, positioning it as a regional standout. Clinical placements begin in the first nursing course, and a senior immersion pairs students with a nurse preceptor. Partnerships with OhioHealth and Mount Carmel, plus elective nursing tracks, add depth to the BSN experience.
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| #5 | Capital University | Columbus, OH | $23,000/yr | ||
Capital University's BSN program combines a small campus environment with intensive clinical training at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children's Hospital. A 4:1 student-instructor ratio in labs and 1:1 faculty mentoring support a 100% NCLEX pass rate. The curriculum emphasizes pathophysiology, community health, and professional nursing leadership.
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| #6 | Hondros College of Nursing | Columbus, OH | $25,000 – $30,000/yr | ||
Hondros College of Nursing offers an accelerated ADN with multiple start dates and no wait list, designed for working adults with day, night, or weekend classes. The 15-month program leads to NCLEX-RN eligibility and features a Direct Entry option for those with prior college credit or military medic training.
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| #7 | Columbus State Community College | Columbus, OH | $5,000 – $11,000/yr | ||
Columbus State Community College delivers a hybrid ADN blending online coursework with hands-on labs and clinicals, and an online RN-to-BSN completion program. The ADN offers advanced standing for LPNs and paramedics, while the BSN track boasts low per-credit tuition and a 95% employment rate.
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| #8 | Fortis College-Columbus | Westerville, OH | $28,000/yr | ||
Fortis College in Columbus provides a hybrid ADN with an LPN/LVN bridge path and a partnership that eases progression to RN-to-BSN and MSN programs. Career services and financial aid support learners aiming to enter hospitals, clinics, or long-term care settings.
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| #9 | Chamberlain University-Ohio | Columbus, OH | $30,000 – $35,000/yr | ||
Chamberlain University's Columbus campus offers an accelerated, year-round BSN that can be completed in three years with no prerequisites required. Students train in simulation labs and clinical settings while specializing in areas like emergency or perioperative nursing, supported by small class sizes and extensive NCLEX prep.
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| #10 | Franklin University | Columbus, OH | $25,000/yr | ||
Franklin University's RN to BSN program is built for working nurses, delivering a fully online competency-based curriculum in as few as 12 months. The program focuses on leadership, informatics, and population health, with transfer credits accepted up to 90 hours and clinical experiences completed locally.
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Some rankings rely on reputation surveys or subjective scores; ours are built on publicly verifiable data points. The list you see here reflects a blend of hard numbers that matter to nursing students: net price after aid, the percentage of all undergraduates who graduate, and measurable program outcomes including median earnings and debt levels. We also reward programs that offer flexible formats: on-campus, hybrid, or online, because nurses juggle clinical rotations, jobs, and family responsibilities.
Our model factors in net price so you can compare real out-of-pocket costs, not just sticker prices. Graduation rate serves as a proxy for student support and overall institutional health; while it covers the entire college, not just the nursing department, schools that reliably graduate students tend to invest in advising, resources, and faculty, all of which benefit nursing majors. Earnings data comes directly from College Scorecard, which reports the median earnings of federal financial aid recipients one year after graduation. For BSN programs, this gives a concrete picture of what recent Columbus graduates actually earn, rather than relying on data from all nursing programs in Ohio or national occupational averages. Debt levels help gauge whether students are borrowing sustainably relative to starting salaries.
Most college rankings keep their formula hidden, leaving you to wonder whether marketing budgets or prestige influenced the results. By explaining exactly which metrics we use and where they come from, you can verify the data yourself. This transparency is a trust signal: it shows we are confident in what the numbers reveal and that you should be too.
Comparing costs is crucial when choosing a nursing program. The table below ranks Columbus-area BSN programs by estimated net price, which reflects the average amount students pay after grants and scholarships. As shown, public community colleges like North Central State and Sinclair offer the lowest in-state tuition, while private institutions often have higher sticker prices but may provide generous aid packages that significantly reduce the final cost. Keep in mind that net price is an institution-wide average; your individual expenses will depend on your financial situation and aid eligibility.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Average Net Price (After Aid) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Central State College | $5,786 | $11,374 | $4,687 |
| Sinclair Community College | $4,809 | $8,556 | $5,992 |
| Central Ohio Technical College | $5,256 | $8,016 | $9,948 |
| Mount Carmel College of Nursing | $27,600 | $27,600 | $10,420 |
| Northwest State Community College | $4,698 | $9,170 | $13,555 |
| ETI Technical College | $11,060 | $11,060 | $13,665 |
| Ursuline College | $38,990 | $38,990 | $16,164 |
| Ohio Medical Career College | N/A | N/A | $16,456 |
| University of Toledo | $12,157 | $21,517 | $17,249 |
| Ohio State University | $13,244 | $40,022 | $17,339 |
What’s the difference between CCNE and ACEN accreditation, and why does it matter for your nursing license?
To sit for the NCLEX-RN and earn a nursing license, you must graduate from a program approved by your state board of nursing. Most boards require that the program also hold national accreditation from either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Both agencies ensure programs meet rigorous standards for faculty, curriculum, and clinical experiences. Employers and graduate schools alike recognize either accreditor, so a school’s accreditation status is a non-negotiable filter when you build your list.
In Columbus, the majority of BSN programs hold CCNE accreditation: Ohio State University, Capital University, and Otterbein University all list CCNE-accredited BSN programs. Franklin University offers an RN-to-BSN track that is fully online and fully accredited, but it is designed for nurses who already hold an associate degree or diploma, and there is no prelicensure BSN option at Franklin.2
NCLEX first-time pass rates tell you how well a program prepares students for the licensure exam. Nationally, the first-time pass rate for the NCLEX-RN stood at 86.8% in early 2026.1 Ohio’s overall rate across all programs hovers around 83-84% (2025 data), with individual program rates varying from about 76% up to 90%.2 The Ohio Board of Nursing publishes quarterly pass-rate reports for every approved prelicensure program1, so you can look up the latest figures for Columbus schools directly.
Although program-level rates shift from year to year, a sustained pattern above the state and national averages signals solid curriculum and clinical preparation. When comparing schools, check several quarters rather than a single snapshot.
Accreditation can change, and programs may lose or gain approval. Before applying, visit the CCNE and ACEN directories directly (or the school’s nursing department page) to confirm current status. The Ohio Board of Nursing also maintains a list of approved prelicensure programs; that list, combined with the NCLEX pass-rate reports, gives you concrete data to guide your decision.
Most prelicensure BSN programs in Columbus follow a traditional on-campus schedule. Ohio State University's standard BSN and its accelerated track are delivered in-person with full-time daytime classes and clinical rotations.
Career changers with a non-nursing bachelor's degree can enroll in accelerated programs that pack nursing coursework into a shorter timeline. Ohio State's 18-month ABSN starts each summer and runs five consecutive semesters. Capital University offers a 20-month accelerated nursing program with a choice of daytime or online/hybrid delivery. Mount Carmel College of Nursing has two second-degree accelerated tracks: a 13-month program (blended and fully online) and an 18-month program that blends online learning with evening and weekend in-person sessions.
Fully online BSN programs in Columbus are typically limited to post-licensure or completion tracks, not prelicensure. Mount Carmel's accelerated programs include fully online academic coursework, though clinical placements still require in-person attendance at local sites. When enrolling in an online program, students usually must arrange their own clinical placements at approved facilities near their home.
For students who need to work or manage other responsibilities, Mount Carmel's 18-month accelerated track schedules the majority of in-person classes, labs, and clinical experiences during evenings and weekends. Part-time study is less common among prelicensure BSN programs, but some schools may offer flexible pacing on a case-by-case basis.
Local wage data for Columbus-area registered nurses from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is based on May 2020 figures, which may not reflect current market conditions. Nationally, the median annual wage for RNs provides a useful reference.
Prospective nursing students in Columbus often have similar questions about program quality, cost, and format. Below, we answer the most common inquiries to help you navigate your options.
