Compare NCLEX pass rates, tuition, earnings, and clinical details for every accredited Dayton-area nursing program.
Kettering Health and Premier Health, Dayton’s dominant healthcare employers, generate steady demand for BSN-prepared nurses across acute care, outpatient, and community settings. Comparing nursing schools in the area means weighing tuition, clinical placement quality, and first-time NCLEX pass rates: factors that directly affect career readiness and hiring prospects.
Dayton-area programs range from traditional four-year BSNs to accelerated tracks and RN-to-BSN bridge options, many with hybrid or online coursework. With local employers increasingly favoring bachelor’s-level preparation, a BSN from an Ohio-approved program is now the baseline for most hospital nursing roles in the region.
Below are the top-ranked nursing schools in the Dayton area, evaluated on a mix of affordability, graduate outcomes, and program completion. Each entry includes key stats like net price and graduation rate to help you compare options quickly. Our full ranking methodology is detailed in the next section.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Ohio Institute of Allied Health | Huber Heights, OH | $47,000/yr | LPNs seeking fast ADN completion | |
Ohio Institute of Allied Health in Huber Heights draws LPNs and transfer students with an accelerated 52-week Associate Degree Nursing program. The campus-based curriculum packs 64 credits into a focused timeframe, with multiple start dates each year. An institution-wide graduation rate of 100% and median graduate debt of just $9,500 underscore strong completion and financial efficiency. Students must be 18 or older and hold a high school diploma or GED.
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| #2 | Ohio Medical Career College | Dayton, OH | $15,000 – $20,000/yr | Adult learners needing flexible ADN | |
Ohio Medical Career College, located right in Dayton, offers a One Plus One Associate of Applied Science in Nursing. Students can sit for the NCLEX-PN after 40 weeks or continue the full 90 weeks for NCLEX-RN eligibility. The program accommodates working adults with day and evening classes, and LPNs can transfer credits to accelerate their RN path. An institution-wide net price of $16,456 and a 79.1% graduation rate make it a practical route into the profession.
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| #3 | Ohio State University | Columbus, OH | $17,000/yr (net price) | Students pursuing nationally ranked BSN | |
Ohio State University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing ranks among the nation's best public programs. The 122-credit BSN offers multiple admission pathways, including direct entry for high school students, and emphasizes evidence-based, innovative care. An institution-wide net price of $17,339 for in-state students and a 87.7% graduation rate reflect strong value. Median earnings reach $60,409 a decade out, aided by NCLEX-RN eligibility upon completion.
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| #4 | ETI Technical College | Niles, OH | $14,000/yr | ||
ETI Technical College in Niles provides an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Nursing across five semesters. Daytime classes and clinical rotations in local healthcare settings build proficiency in medical-surgical, pediatric, and obstetric care. The school serves a high proportion of Pell Grant recipients (90.6%) and keeps net price at $13,665 for private-sector students. An 8:1 student-faculty ratio ensures personalized attention, and graduates can pursue NCLEX-RN licensure.
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| #5 | Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH | $41,000/yr | ||
Case Western Reserve University's direct-admission BSN starts nursing courses and clinical placements from the first semester, totaling over 1,000 clinical hours. The private research university in Cleveland boasts a 87.2% graduation rate and an impressive median 10-year earnings of $87,989. Accreditation by CCNE and access to state-of-the-art simulation labs and interprofessional teamwork opportunities distinguish this rigorous program.
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| #6 | Miami University | Oxford, OH | $18,000 – $41,000/yr | ||
Miami University's BSN program integrates liberal arts with professional nursing courses across two campus locations. Clinical experiences in Cincinnati and Dayton hospitals give students broad exposure, while community health projects add real-world application. An institution-wide net price of $28,384 for public enrollees and a 79.8% graduation rate frame a solid return, with median earnings reaching $55,076 a decade out.
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| #7 | Ohio Northern University | Ada, OH | $24,000/yr (net price) | ||
Ohio Northern University's direct-admission BSN offers 810 total clinical hours, advanced simulation tools like Anatomage Tables, and a 92.7% NCLEX-RN pass rate. The private university in Ada reports a 100% job placement rate within six months and starting salaries from $52,300 to $71,600. With a net price of $24,478 and a 75.5% graduation rate, it balances cost with strong outcomes.
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| #8 | University of Dayton | Dayton, OH | $30,000/yr | ||
The University of Dayton partners with Sinclair Community College to offer a dual-enrollment pathway that awards both an ASN and a BSN in four years. This blend of a community college’s hands-on training with a university’s liberal arts foundation prepares students for diverse settings. A private, Marianist institution with an 80.2% graduation rate and median 10-year earnings of $75,537, it emphasizes whole-person education.
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| #9 | University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $26,000/yr | ||
The University of Cincinnati provides a direct-admission BSN with clinical experiences at a Level I Trauma Center and a top pediatric hospital. Its campus sits within Ohio's Academic Health Center, fostering interprofessional collaboration. The university also offers an Accelerated Direct-Entry MSN for students with non-nursing bachelor's degrees. A public institution with an institution-wide net price of $25,648 and a 75% graduation rate, its BSN graduates earn a median of $54,810 over 10 years.
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| #10 | Mercy College of Ohio | Toledo, OH | $18,000/yr (net price) | ||
Mercy College of Ohio in Toledo offers a BSN Nursing Prelicensure program with paid clinical hours in the final semester and a direct-admit option for high school students. An eight-semester curriculum with spring, fall, or summer starts provides flexibility. The private Catholic institution reports a net price of $17,989 and a 55.8% graduation rate; its graduates earn a median of $65,409 after 10 years, aided by partnerships with Mercy Health for debt-free education pathways.
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How do you tell whether a nursing school will actually prepare you for a job and not load you with debt? Our ranking cuts through the noise by zeroing in on outcomes that matter: graduation rates, net cost, debt levels, and early-career earnings. We drew on publicly available federal data from the College Scorecard and IPEDS to create a transparent comparison of every eligible program.
The net price we report is the average amount students pay after grants and scholarships. It is not a sticker price. Because graduation rates cover all departments, a school’s overall figure may differ from its nursing program’s completion rate. Debt figures include only federal loans. We weigh these factors alongside proximity to Dayton (a 75-mile radius) and whether the program leads to initial RN licensure. The ranking spotlights prelicensure BSN tracks but also considered strong ADN and direct-entry MSN options at the best nursing schools in Ohio when the data supported them.
The cost of a BSN in the Dayton area ranges widely, from a net price under $5,000 at public community colleges to over $17,000 at larger universities. These net price figures reflect the institution-wide average after grant aid, so your actual cost will depend on your financial situation. North Central State College is the cheapest option with a net price of $4,687, and its high Pell grant share (79.1%) underscores strong aid accessibility for qualifying students, while some clinical placement hospitals may also offer tuition assistance that reduces out-of-pocket costs further.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price | Median Graduate Debt | Pell Grant Recipients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Central State College | $5,786 | $11,374 | $4,687 | $8,252 | 79.1% |
| Sinclair Community College | $4,809 | $8,556 | $5,992 | $12,000 | 77.1% |
| Central Ohio Technical College | $5,256 | $8,016 | $9,948 | $12,072 | 69.3% |
| Mount Carmel College of Nursing | $27,600 | $27,600 | $10,420 | $22,082 | 35.5% |
| Northwest State Community College | $4,698 | $9,170 | $13,555 | $9,750 | 70.9% |
| ETI Technical College | $11,060 | $11,060 | $13,665 | $13,805 | 90.6% |
| Ursuline College | $38,990 | $38,990 | $16,164 | $26,250 | 54.4% |
| Ohio Medical Career College | N/A | N/A | $16,456 | $12,403 | 83.9% |
| University of Toledo | $12,157 | $21,517 | $17,249 | $22,250 | 57% |
| Ohio State University | $13,244 | $40,022 | $17,339 | $19,976 | 48.2% |
NCLEX-RN pass rates reflect the percentage of nursing graduates who pass the national licensing exam on their first attempt. They are a key indicator of how well a program prepares students for entry-level nursing practice. For anyone considering nursing schools in Dayton, Ohio, these rates offer a transparent view of academic outcomes and can help you compare programs effectively.
Consistently high first-time pass rates suggest a program has a strong curriculum, effective clinical training, and robust student support. When a school's rates remain above state and national averages over several years, it signals that graduates are well-equipped to enter the workforce. Conversely, rates that dip or fluctuate may point to areas where a program is evolving, perhaps due to curriculum changes or cohort size shifts. While no single metric tells the whole story, NCLEX performance is one of the most standardized ways to evaluate nursing education quality.
The Ohio Board of Nursing collects and publishes first-time NCLEX pass rates for all approved pre-licensure programs. For Dayton-area BSN programs, such as those at Wright State University, University of Dayton, Cedarville University, and Kettering College, the most recent school-specific data available covers the 2024 exam year (with 2023 figures shown in parentheses in the official report).3 The 2025 school-specific report has not yet been released,4 so prospective students should check the Ohio Board of Nursing's website for the latest comparisons when making enrollment decisions. Historically, many Dayton programs have posted pass rates that exceed both state and national averages, but always confirm current figures directly from the Board's published reports.
Statewide, Ohio's BSN programs collectively perform at or slightly above national benchmarks. National first-time pass rates for baccalaureate-degree candidates were 87.6% in 20251 and 86.8% during the first quarter of 2026.2 These numbers provide useful context: a program with a 90% pass rate is outperforming the national norm, while one with an 80% rate may warrant a closer look. When reviewing pass rates, focus on multi-year consistency rather than a single year's result, as annual fluctuations can occur. The Ohio Board of Nursing reports remain the authoritative source for verifying any program's current standing.
Program-level earnings data for BSN completers at Dayton-area nursing schools are not yet reported in the College Scorecard. For context, the national median annual wage for registered nurses was $93,600 in May 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Actual earnings vary by location, experience, and employer.
Becoming a registered nurse in Dayton follows Ohio’s standard licensure pathway. The process involves completing an approved nursing program, passing the NCLEX-RN, and meeting the Ohio Board of Nursing’s requirements. Here’s a step-by-step overview of what to expect, from choosing a program to maintaining your license.
Considering a nursing career in Dayton? Here are answers to common questions about local programs, costs, and timelines, based on current data and publicly available information.
If the top-ranked programs didn't quite fit your needs, these additional nursing schools within a 75-mile radius of Dayton offer BSN and RN-to-BSN pathways, from online completions to traditional campus experiences. Use this directory to explore tuition, format, and net price before applying.
