Compare accredited BSN, ADN, and bridge programs within commuting distance — ranked by outcomes, cost, and flexibility.
Cuyahoga Falls, a city of roughly 50,000 in the Akron metro area, has no BSN-granting campus of its own. That geographic limitation forces prospective nursing students to weigh commute distance against program quality, and increasingly, against the career advantages a bachelor’s degree confers. The nearest accredited programs in Akron, Kent, and Cleveland offer traditional four-year, accelerated, and RN-to-BSN pathways, but tuition and admission selectivity vary sharply.
For those who prefer to stay close, an associate degree in nursing (ADN) from a nearby community college provides a faster route to RN licensure, though bridging to a BSN later can add both time and expense.
Northeast Ohio’s major health systems have increasingly adopted BSN-preferred hiring, making the choice of where and when to earn the degree a consequential one.
Our rankings consider multiple factors including net price, graduation rates, and student outcomes to help you find the best nursing programs near Cuyahoga Falls. Programs are sorted by an overall score that balances affordability, quality, and post-graduation success.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
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| #1 | ETI Technical College | Niles, OH | $14,000/yr | Budget-conscious aspiring RNs | |
ETI Technical College in Niles offers a focused ADN program that combines classroom learning with 390 clinical hours at local facilities. The 80-week program features daytime classes, three annual start dates, and an LPN advanced standing option for licensed practical nurses. Admissions require a HESI pre-entrance exam and background check.
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| #2 | Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH | $41,000/yr | Research-driven BSN in urban hospitals | |
Case Western Reserve University's Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing delivers a rigorous BSN with direct admission, meaning no separate nursing application. Students begin clinical placements in the first semester and accumulate over 1,000 hours, benefiting from interprofessional education alongside medical, dental, and social work students. The program emphasizes research and leadership within a nationally recognized academic medical environment.
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| #3 | Ursuline College | Pepper Pike, OH | $15,000 – $20,000/yr | Faith-based BSN with service focus | |
Ursuline College provides a holistic, values-based BSN grounded in Catholic traditions, with a focus on patient-centered care and teamwork. The campus-based program features a high-tech skills lab and TeamSTEPPS certification, consistently achieving strong NCLEX pass rates and a 100% post-licensure employment rate. Small class sizes encourage professional development through student organizations.
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| #4 | Kent State University | Kent, OH | ~$21,000/yr (est.) | ||
Kent State University offers a versatile nursing education with a traditional BSN, an LPN-to-ADN bridge, and a paramedic-to-ADN pathway. The BSN program boasts four concentration tracks and strong licensure pass and job placement rates, while the ADN options provide completion routes at the East Liverpool campus for licensed practical nurses and certified paramedics. Clinical rotations take place at major hospitals and simulation laboratories.
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| #5 | Baldwin Wallace University | Berea, OH | $28,000/yr | ||
Baldwin Wallace University offers both a traditional BSN and an intensive 15-month accelerated BSN for students with a prior bachelor's degree. The accelerated track delivers 700 clinical hours through partnerships with Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals, in small groups of six to eight students, and boasts a 100% NCLEX pass rate. Both tracks benefit from DNP- and MSN-prepared faculty and a Director of Clinical Education who oversees placements.
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| #6 | Ashland University | Ashland, OH | ~$22,000/yr (est.) | ||
Ashland University's traditional BSN program immerses students in nursing from day one, with clinical experiences starting in the second year. The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice and leadership, supported by a 1:8 instructor-to-student ratio during rotations. Graduates are hired by institutions like Cleveland Clinic and OhioHealth, aided by a 93% NCLEX pass rate and direct entry with no secondary application.
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| #7 | Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences | Canton, OH | $24,000/yr (net price) | ||
Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences in Canton provides a five-semester ASN program with clinical rotations at Aultman Health System, Stark County's largest healthcare provider. The ACEN-accredited program features small class sizes and personal support, with a clear pathway to the college's BSN completion program for those seeking further education. Graduates can expect hands-on experience in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
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| #8 | Cleveland State University | Cleveland, OH | $15,000/yr (net price) | ||
Cleveland State University offers a traditional BSN with a community-based nursing focus, available in both daytime and evening/weekend tracks. The three-year cohort program begins after prerequisites and requires a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA with two letters of recommendation. Competitive admission and a curriculum that blends theory with clinical practice prepare graduates for diverse healthcare settings.
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| #9 | University of Akron | Akron, OH | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | ||
The University of Akron provides both a BSN and an ADN, catering to different entry points. The BSN uses competitive priority and secondary admission pools with a 2.8 GPA requirement, while the ADN offers a cost-effective pathway to RN licensure and includes a partnership with Akron Children's Career Launch. Military benefits and Army ROTC scholarships are available for BSN students.
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| #10 | Youngstown State University | Youngstown, OH | $13,000/yr | ||
Youngstown State University's Centofanti School of Nursing admits BSN cohorts each fall, requiring a TEAS score of 66% and a 3.0 prerequisite GPA. The ADN program starts in spring with similar pre-nursing requirements. Both programs mandate drug screening, CPR certification, and background checks, with free TEAS prep available for BSN applicants.
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Nursing students near Cuyahoga Falls can choose from three main BSN pathways: a traditional four-year pre-licensure BSN, an accelerated second-degree BSN for career-changers, and an RN-to-BSN bridge for current registered nurses. LPN-to-BSN programs are also offered at select Ohio schools, but the three core options below cover the most common routes to the baccalaureate degree. Notably, RN-to-BSN programs in the Akron area are largely online, allowing working nurses in Cuyahoga Falls to advance without commuting.
The sticker price of a nursing degree rarely tells the whole story. Net price, which deducts average grants and scholarships, gives a more realistic starting point. While a public institution like North Central State College offers a net price under $5,000, a private option such as Ursuline College can exceed $16,000 per year, though individual awards may close that gap significantly.
| School | Type | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Central State College | Public | $5,786 | $11,374 | $4,687 |
| Sinclair Community College | Public | $4,809 | $8,556 | $5,992 |
| Mount Carmel College of Nursing | Private | $27,600 | $27,600 | $10,420 |
| Ursuline College | Private | $38,990 | $38,990 | $16,164 |
| University of Toledo | Public | $12,157 | $21,517 | $17,249 |
| Ohio State University | Public | $13,244 | $40,022 | $17,339 |
The push for a BSN-prepared nursing workforce has reshaped hiring expectations in northeast Ohio, where Magnet hospitals and complex care environments increasingly prefer baccalaureate-educated RNs. In the Akron metropolitan area, registered nurses earn strong wages that often reward advanced education.
According to 2025 BLS data for the Akron MSA, the median annual wage for registered nurses is $86,000. The mean annual wage is $87,230, and the hourly mean is $41.94. The earning range is wide: the 10th percentile earns $63,000, while the top 10% earn $110,000. This spread reflects factors like experience, specialty, and degree level. For comparison, Ohio’s mean RN wage is $82,750 in 2026, so Akron-area nurses earn slightly above the state average. Nationally, the median is $93,600 (May 2024), reflecting higher costs of living in many metro areas, but Akron’s wages remain competitive when adjusted for local costs.
BSN-prepared nurses often command a premium over ADN-educated counterparts, particularly in hospitals seeking Magnet designation or those with higher acuity patients. As a result, earning a bachelor’s degree can unlock top-tier pay within the local range.
Employment for RNs in the Akron MSA stood at 3,650 in 2025. Nationally, the occupation is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 189,100 openings each year driven by retirements and expanding healthcare needs. In northeast Ohio, major health systems like Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Summa Health, and Akron Children’s Hospital consistently recruit RNs, and job postings for both new graduates and experienced nurses remain plentiful. This steady demand provides a reliable job market for new nursing program graduates.
While program-specific early-career earnings data is not yet available, long-term outcomes for graduates of top Ohio nursing schools offer a favorable picture. Among schools with bachelor’s nursing programs, median earnings 10 years after entry range from $68,723 to $87,989. For example, graduates of Case Western Reserve University’s BSN program have a median earnings of $87,989, slightly above the Akron MSA median, demonstrating that nursing graduates can quickly reach or surpass the local wage midpoint. Even graduates of associate and diploma programs report strong averages, often exceeding the 10th percentile of the local RN pay scale early in their careers. These figures, drawn from College Scorecard data, suggest that investing in a nursing education from a quality Ohio program positions you for competitive wages in the Akron–Cuyahoga Falls metro and beyond.
A program's accreditation and NCLEX pass rates are the two strongest predictors of whether you'll sit for the licensing exam with confidence and land a job afterward.
Both CCNE and ACEN satisfy Ohio Board of Nursing requirements for licensure, and employers across the state recognize either accreditor. Verify a program's current status directly on its website; schools that lose accreditation are rare, but checking protects your investment.
Traditional campus-based BSN programs in Akron, Kent, or Cleveland require a regular commute. Online options, especially for RN-to-BSN and select accelerated tracks, let working nurses stay employed while advancing. Match the delivery mode to your life, not the other way around.
The Ohio Board of Nursing publishes program-level first-time NCLEX pass rates annually. Look for schools where rates consistently exceed the state average; a high pass rate signals effective teaching and clinical readiness. Avoid programs with wide swings or sustained dips.
Public universities like the University of Akron and Kent State often carry lower sticker prices, but private institutions such as Ursuline and Hiram may close the gap with grants and scholarships. Run a net price calculator for each school and compare the full cost of attendance including fees and living expenses.
Prospective nursing students in the Cuyahoga Falls area often seek clarity on program logistics, admissions, and career prospects. Below are answers to common questions about BSN programs near Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
