Compare accredited BSN programs by tuition, NCLEX pass rates, and format — all near Maumee, OH.
Ohio BSN graduates pass the NCLEX at a rate just below the national average, so a program’s preparation quality becomes especially important in Maumee. The city sits inside the Toledo metro, where Mercy College of Ohio anchors the local nursing education market. Widening the search to a 75-mile radius brings the total to 7 accredited BSN programs, including public universities and private colleges with widely different price points and admission pathways.
Students weigh tuition costs, accreditation, and NCLEX pass rates when choosing a program. Net prices range from under $18,000 to over $40,000 per year. Many schools have shifted to direct admission or accelerated formats in response to persistent demand for nurses across northwest Ohio.
Aspiring nurses in Maumee have access to BSN programs within commuting distance, from large research universities to private colleges specializing in health sciences. The schools below serve northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, offering campus-based, hybrid, and accelerated options. Each balances affordability, clinical opportunities, and geographic convenience for students in the Toledo metropolitan area.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Mercy College of Ohio | Toledo, OH | $18,000/yr (net price) | Northwest Ohio residents seeking Mercy employment | |
Mercy College of Ohio, located in downtown Toledo, is the most locally embedded option for Maumee-area students, with deep ties to the Mercy Health system. Its BSN and associate programs offer small classes, paid clinicals in the final semester, and a debt-free pathway through Mercy Health employment, making it a direct pipeline to nursing jobs in Toledo and northwest Ohio.
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| #2 | University of Toledo | Toledo, OH | $13,000 – $22,000/yr | Budget-savvy students leveraging low in-state tuition | |
The University of Toledo offers an affordable BSN at a public research university, with a choice of traditional or direct admission pathways. Students split their four years between the main campus and the advanced Health Science Campus, gaining hands-on simulation and internship experiences; the majority receive scholarships.
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| #3 | Bowling Green State University | Bowling Green, OH | $24,000/yr | High-achieving freshman seeking guaranteed entry | |
Bowling Green State University runs the largest nursing program in northwest Ohio, with a strong track record of near-100% employment at graduation. Its CCNE-accredited BSN admits freshmen directly with a 3.9 high school GPA and partners with leading local health systems such as Mercy Health and ProMedica for clinical rotations.
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| #4 | Ohio Northern University | Ada, OH | $24,000/yr (net price) | ||
Ohio Northern University in Ada provides a close private BSN option for Maumee residents, with direct admission, 690 clinical hours, and small class sizes. Its CCNE accreditation and Ohio Board approval assure quality, while the supportive atmosphere eases the transition to professional nursing.
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| #5 | University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | $18,000 – $61,000/yr | ||
The University of Michigan's BSN, located about 50 miles from Maumee in Ann Arbor, offers a world-class education with over 1,000 clinical hours, global study abroad, and an honors program. As a top public university, it prepares graduates for advanced practice and leadership roles, though at a higher out-of-state cost.
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| #6 | University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit, MI | $15,000/yr | ||
University of Detroit Mercy's BSN emphasizes Jesuit values and direct admission, with a 96% job placement rate for licensed graduates. It also offers a master's entry option, the first in Michigan, for career changers seeking an accelerated MSN. Both programs feature simulation in the STAR Center and small classes.
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| #7 | Wayne State University | Detroit, MI | $13,000/yr | ||
Wayne State University in Detroit tailors its BSN to urban health challenges with multiple pathways including a veteran-specific track. Consistently high NCLEX pass rates and a diverse clinical environment make it a strong choice for students who want to serve in urban communities, with a public-university price point.
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| #8 | Madonna University | Livonia, MI | $15,000 – $20,000/yr | ||
Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan, blends liberal arts with nursing in a Catholic and Franciscan tradition. It offers both a traditional campus-based BSN and a 16-month hybrid accelerated BSN for career changers, with CCNE accreditation and strong faculty support.
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| #9 | Spring Arbor University | Spring Arbor, MI | $19,000/yr | ||
Spring Arbor University, located in Spring Arbor, Michigan, offers a faith-integrated BSN with 87 credit hours and a holistic care approach. About one-quarter of nursing students participate in athletics, and the program emphasizes evidence-based practice in a close-knit community setting.
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| #10 | Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing | Sandusky, OH | |||
Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing in Sandusky, Ohio, provides a unique hospital-based RN diploma program that partners with Bowling Green State University. Students earn a diploma and an associate degree, with a 100% first-attempt NCLEX pass rate and no clinical placement waitlists.
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This ranking is built on the metrics that directly shape a nursing career launch: affordability, completion rates, program flexibility, and post-graduation outcomes. We drew from federal College Scorecard data, prioritizing net price and graduation rate for each institution’s BSN program. Schools that offer multiple formats (on-campus, online, and hybrid) received credit for flexibility that suits working students. We weighted earnings and employment data from the Scorecard as a signal of return on investment, but only for programs with sufficient reported data.
Geographically, the list covers a 75-mile radius from Maumee. That sweeps in nursing schools in Ohio across Toledo, Bowling Green, Findlay, and parts of southeast Michigan. This radius ensures programs are genuinely commutable while still giving you a manageable set of options.
Note: NCLEX pass rates and accreditation status are essential trust signals, and we cover them later in detail. They are not baked into the ranking algorithm itself. Here, we focus on the publicly available, comparable data that let you weigh cost, time, and projected outcomes side by side.
The cost of a BSN program near Maumee varies widely, from under $5,000 per year in net price at public community colleges to over $17,000 at public universities. The following table compares tuition, net price, graduation rates, and median debt for bachelor's-level nursing programs in the region.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price | Graduation Rate | Median Graduate Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Central State College | $5786 | $11374 | $4687 | 36.1% | $8252 |
| Sinclair Community College | $4809 | $8556 | $5992 | 41.1% | $12000 |
| Mount Carmel College of Nursing | $27600 | $27600 | $10420 | 53.8% | $22082 |
| Ursuline College | $38990 | $38990 | $16164 | 66.7% | $26250 |
| University of Toledo | $12157 | $21517 | $17249 | 57% | $22250 |
| Ohio State University | $13244 | $40022 | $17339 | 87.7% | $19976 |
The University of Toledo’s prelicensure BSN is a two-year, 120-credit hour program designed for students who have completed prerequisite coursework. When factoring in general education and science prerequisites, most students spend four years earning the degree.
Traditional BSN programs in the Maumee-Toledo area follow a two-part structure: pre-nursing prerequisites taken over two years, followed by two years of upper-division nursing courses and clinical rotations. For example, Mercy College of Ohio structures its prelicensure BSN as an eight-semester campus-based program with spring, fall, and summer starts, aligning with a full-time four-year timeline. The University of Toledo’s prelicensure track condenses nursing coursework into 24 months after prerequisites are met, though the total time to degree remains approximately four years for first-time college students.
Accelerated BSN programs, which allow bachelor’s degree holders to earn a nursing credential in 12 to 18 months, are not widely available at the four main institutions near Maumee. University of Toledo does not offer an accelerated BSN; instead, career-changers with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree can pursue the Graduate-Entry MSN, a direct-entry master’s pathway. For a standalone accelerated BSN, students may need to explore programs beyond the immediate Toledo metropolitan area. Contacting admissions offices directly is the best way to confirm current accelerated offerings.
Registered nurses looking to advance their education will find flexible pathways designed for working professionals. University of Toledo’s RN-to-BSN program is delivered 100% online in an asynchronous, self-paced format. Full-time students can complete the degree in as few as two semesters, while part-time learners typically finish in about five semesters. This competency-based model allows nurses to progress according to their own schedules, making it a practical option for those balancing work and family responsibilities.
Prelicensure BSN programs in the area are predominantly campus-based, given the hands-on nature of clinical training. University of Toledo’s prelicensure BSN and Mercy College’s BSN are both on-campus programs with in-person labs and clinical placements. Evening or hybrid prelicensure tracks are less common, though some courses may be offered in a blended format. For the RN-to-BSN, fully online delivery is the norm, University of Toledo’s program is entirely online with no required campus visits. Students interested in part-time or evening prelicensure options should inquire with individual schools, as scheduling details can change.
Because program durations, credit requirements, and delivery modes are specific to each institution and can evolve, always confirm current details with the nursing admissions office. A program listed as “two years” may assume year-round enrollment or a specific transfer credit profile, while a 120-credit curriculum may spread over four years for a traditional student but take longer for a part-time learner. Reach out to the University of Toledo, Mercy College of Ohio, Lourdes University, or Bowling Green State University for the most accurate and up-to-date information before committing to a plan of study.
NCLEX pass rates serve as a real-time barometer of how well a program prepares students for licensure, and in Ohio, BSN graduates are clearing that hurdle at a rate just below the national average.
Accreditation signals that a nursing program meets rigorous educational standards. All major BSN programs within 75 miles of Maumee, including those at the University of Toledo, Mercy College of Ohio, Lourdes University, and Bowling Green State University, hold either CCNE or ACEN accreditation. This baseline credential is essential for graduates who plan to pursue advanced degrees or seek federal employment, and it ensures that the curriculum aligns with state licensing requirements.
According to the Ohio Board of Nursing’s 2025 NCLEX pass rate report, Ohio BSN programs posted a first-time pass rate of 84.04%1, compared to a national BSN average of 86.71%. These figures reflect all first-time test candidates and provide a useful benchmark when comparing local programs. While aggregate data can guide your shortlist, prospective students should review school-specific pass rates, which the Ohio Board of Nursing publishes annually. A program that consistently outperforms the state average often indicates strong clinical preparation and exam readiness.
Admission standards for nursing programs in the Maumee-Toledo area share common elements, but each school sets its own thresholds and deadlines. A strong application balances academic performance, prerequisite completion, and relevant test scores where required.
Most BSN programs expect a minimum cumulative GPA, often in the 2.75 to 3.0 range. At the University of Toledo, the current BSN minimum is 3.0.1 Standard prerequisites include anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, and psychology. While some programs require the TEAS or HESI entrance exam, others have shifted to test-optional policies; Toledo's BSN, for instance, does not require a nursing entrance exam.1 Deadlines also vary: Toledo accepts BSN applications between February 15 and May 15 for fall admission.2 Other area schools like Mercy College of Ohio and Lourdes University may have different timelines and testing policies.
For licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs) seeking advancement, the Toledo corridor offers several bridge programs. LPN-to-RN pathways allow working nurses to become eligible for the NCLEX-RN while building on existing clinical skills. RN-to-BSN programs, often offered online or with flexible scheduling, admit ADN-prepared nurses and typically grant credit for prior licensure and experience. These pathways shorten time to degree and are available through multiple area institutions.
Because admission criteria, prerequisite lists, and deadlines are school-specific and may change, always confirm details directly with the program's admissions office before applying.
Prospective nursing students in Maumee and the greater Toledo area often have similar questions about program quality, costs, and licensure preparation. Here are clear answers to help you choose the right BSN pathway.
