Compare tuition, NCLEX pass rates, and accreditation for BSN programs near Westerville
Choosing between a private BSN in Westerville and a larger public program in Columbus often comes down to cost versus convenience. Otterbein University, among the best nursing schools in Ohio and the only four-year nursing school in Westerville, reports first-time NCLEX pass rates above the national average and places students in clinical rotations at OhioHealth and Mount Carmel sites across the metro area. Additional BSN and ADN options in Columbus, including Ohio State’s high-volume program and multiple community college pathways, offer lower net prices but larger cohorts. The proximity to major hospitals creates robust clinical opportunities, yet admission to the most affordable programs remains competitive, especially for out-of-district applicants.
The following ranking highlights nursing programs within a reasonable distance of Westerville, with a focus on BSN and associate pathways. Ohio State University’s Columbus campus is the most geographically relevant option, offering a nationally recognized public BSN. The list also includes accelerated, direct-entry, and dual-degree options from schools across Ohio.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
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| #1 | Ohio State University | Columbus, OH | $17,000/yr (net price) | In-state students with flexible admission options | |
Ohio State University’s BSN is a top-tier public program based in Columbus, just minutes from Westerville. Students complete 122 credit hours through multiple entry pathways, with an evidence-based curriculum that emphasizes clinical reasoning and holistic wellness. Graduates are well-prepared for the NCLEX-RN and go on to lead in diverse healthcare settings.
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| #2 | Ohio Institute of Allied Health | Huber Heights, OH | $47,000/yr | LPNs and transfer students accelerating to RN | |
Ohio Institute of Allied Health specializes in an accelerated ADN pathway for LPNs and transfer students. The 52-week program delivers 64 credits on campus, with multiple start dates each year. Its focused curriculum and February, May, and September starts suit learners aiming to move quickly into registered nursing roles.
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| #3 | Ohio Medical Career College | Dayton, OH | $15,000 – $20,000/yr | Working adults needing day and evening classes | |
Ohio Medical Career College offers a flexible one-plus-one associate degree that lets students test for LPN licensure after 40 weeks or continue to the full 90-week RN track. Day and evening classes accommodate working schedules, and LPNs can transfer credits to finish faster. The program’s net price is among the lowest in this list.
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| #4 | ETI Technical College | Niles, OH | $14,000/yr | ||
ETI Technical College’s ADN program in Niles delivers a five-semester, campus-based education with daytime classes and clinicals. The curriculum covers medical-surgical, pediatric, and obstetric nursing. Admission requires a high school diploma or GED and a pre-entrance exam, making it a structured path for adult learners aiming for RN licensure.
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| #5 | Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH | $41,000/yr | ||
Case Western Reserve University’s BSN program starts nursing courses and clinical placements from the first semester, with over 1,000 clinical hours. Direct admission means no pre-nursing requirements or secondary applications. Located in Cleveland, the program emphasizes interprofessional teamwork and research, and graduates report strong median earnings.
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| #6 | Miami University | Oxford, OH | $18,000 – $41,000/yr | ||
Miami University’s BSN, available at two campuses, combines a liberal arts foundation with professional nursing coursework. Clinical rotations take place in Cincinnati and Dayton, and students complete a community health project. The public university’s net price is around $28,000, and its graduation rate approaches 80%.
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| #7 | Ohio Northern University | Ada, OH | $24,000/yr (net price) | ||
Ohio Northern University’s BSN stands out for its direct-admission structure, 810 clinical hours, and a 100% job placement rate. The program uses advanced simulation technology and maintains small class sizes for personalized mentorship. The recent NCLEX pass rate of 92.7% underscores strong preparation, and graduates start between $52,300 and $71,600.
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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 unique dual-degree BSN: students earn both an ASN and a BSN in four years. The CCNE-accredited program integrates liberal arts and Marianist values, with clinicals at Dayton-area hospitals. This structure provides a stepping-stone credential and a bachelor’s degree simultaneously.
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| #9 | University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $26,000/yr | ||
The University of Cincinnati’s direct-admit BSN eliminates post-enrollment competition and places students on Ohio’s medical campus from day one. Clinical rotations include a Level I trauma center and the nation’s leading pediatric hospital. For those with a bachelor’s in another field, the Accelerated Direct-Entry MSN packs RN preparation into five semesters.
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| #10 | Mercy College of Ohio | Toledo, OH | $18,000/yr (net price) | ||
Mercy College of Ohio provides an eight-semester prelicensure BSN with spring, fall, and summer start dates. Unique features include paid clinical hours during the final semester and a direct-admit option for high schoolers. The institution works with Mercy Health to offer debt-free education pathways. An evening-weekend associate degree track is also available.
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Our ranking evaluates nursing programs within 75 miles of Westerville using a blend of data points that gauge value and outcomes, not just popularity. The four main components are:
NCLEX pass rates are not part of this algorithm; we report those separately in the NCLEX & Graduate Outcomes section to give you a complete view. Our ranking focuses on the combination of cost, completion, and earnings that points to long-term value for nursing students in the Westerville area.
The sticker price of a BSN can vary widely, but financial aid often brings the actual cost down considerably. The net price figures shown here are institution-wide averages, not specific to nursing, and private colleges may offer substantial aid packages that offset higher tuition.
Nursing school accountability is increasingly measured by what happens after graduation, not just during the program. For prospective students near Westerville, the most concrete signal of a program’s quality is the share of graduates who become licensed and enter the workforce, and that starts with the NCLEX-RN.
The Ohio Board of Nursing publishes annual first-time pass rates for all approved programs. Otterbein University stands out in the Westerville-Columbus region with a 96.61% NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2021, drawn from roughly 49 examinees. This is well above both the Ohio statewide average of 79.07% and the national average of 82.48% for the same year. Such a margin suggests strong curricular alignment with the exam’s shifting emphasis on clinical judgment and patient safety.
Pass rate data for other nearby programs, such as the accelerated BSN at Mount Carmel College of Nursing or the traditional BSN at Capital University, was not included in the slice of the Ohio Board’s information available for this ranking. When comparing schools, it’s wise to request three-year trend data directly from admissions offices to see stability, not just one high-scoring year.
NCLEX success is the gateway to practice, but long-term earnings and employment rates tell the rest of the story. For Otterbein and other Westerville-area schools, program-level earnings data from federal sources such as College Scorecard is not yet published or is too small to report reliably. That’s not unusual: many nursing programs have fewer than the minimum number of working graduates required for median earnings to appear.
In practical terms, however, a first-attempt NCLEX pass rate above 95% almost always leads to job placement. Ohio employers routinely hire new graduates months before they sit for the exam, so the gap between licensure and employment is often measured in weeks. Otterbein’s 2025 graduating cohort numbered 53 students, and local health systems, including OhioHealth and Mount Carmel Health System, actively recruit from the school’s career fairs.
Otterbein’s 96.61% pass rate is not an outlier; it’s the result of a curriculum that integrates simulation, interprofessional education, and dedicated NCLEX preparation. The 2021 figures came during a period when many programs nationwide saw pass rates dip due to pandemic disruptions, making Otterbein’s performance even more notable. Still, small annual fluctuations are normal, so check the most recent year’s data when applying.
For students who cannot access published earnings figures, the true test of outcomes is often reputation and employer relationships. Otterbein’s long history in suburban Columbus and strong clinical partnerships typically provide a reliable pipeline into acute care, community health, and graduate study.
Nursing program accreditation is non-negotiable for licensure eligibility, transfer credit, and graduate school admissions in Ohio. A degree from an unaccredited program can block your path to the NCLEX or advanced practice roles before you even begin.
Otterbein University’s BSN is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) through the 2025-2026 academic year, with the next on-site evaluation scheduled for October 27-29, 2025.3 The program also holds full approval from the Ohio Board of Nursing1, which is valid through the 2034-2035 academic year2. This dual endorsement means graduates meet both national quality standards and the state’s specific requirements for registered nurse licensure.
Both CCNE and ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing) are nationally recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, but they serve slightly different purposes. CCNE typically accredits baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs at four-year institutions, while ACEN often accredits associate degree programs and hospital-based diploma programs. For BSN graduates, CCNE accreditation is especially relevant because it is widely expected by graduate nursing programs. Either accreditation qualifies you for the NCLEX, but CCNE can streamline the path to a master’s or doctoral degree.
All other BSN programs within commuting distance of Westerville hold CCNE accreditation. The Ohio State University, Capital University, and Mount Carmel College of Nursing all carry active CCNE accreditation for the 2025-2026 academic year4, ensuring that students have multiple high-quality options with consistent, rigorous preparation for licensure and beyond.
A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for Otterbein University's BSN, while Ohio State sets the bar slightly higher at 3.2, and both programs admit only a limited number of students each year. Beyond GPA, the prerequisite course lists differ.
Otterbein expects completion of CHEM 1100 & 1110, CHEM 1200, INST 1500, PSYC 1000, PSYC 2000, BIOL 1810, and BIOL 1820, all with a grade of C or better. Ohio State's pre-nursing track demands human anatomy, human physiology, biology, chemistry with a lab, English composition, general psychology, and sociology or rural sociology; a C+ or B may be required depending on the course. Capital University and Mount Carmel College of Nursing have their own prerequisite lists, prospective students should consult each school's nursing advising office directly.
Neither Otterbein nor Ohio State requires the TEAS or HESI for entry into the traditional BSN. Otterbein does not mandate SAT/ACT scores, but submitting an ACT result can trigger a guaranteed admission pathway. Ohio State is similarly test-optional for university admission and does not use the TEAS for nursing. However, other Westerville-area programs, particularly associate-degree or direct-entry MSN tracks, may still require the TEAS or HESI, so always confirm current testing expectations on the program website.
Otterbein's BSN application closes the last Friday of January for a fall start, and all prerequisites must be finished before the nursing sequence begins. Ohio State's deadline aligns with the university's competitive admissions cycle, with early action strongly encouraged. Both schools fill a single cohort each fall, and seats are limited. Meeting the minimum GPA does not guarantee a place; admissions are competitive and based on a holistic review of academics, prerequisites, and sometimes an essay or interview. Some community college programs offer more flexible, rolling admission but often require a TEAS score and may maintain waiting lists.
Choosing a nursing school is a big decision. Here are direct answers to the questions we hear most often from future nurses exploring programs in and around Westerville, Ohio.
Beyond the top-ranked schools, Ohio offers a wealth of nursing programs spanning BSN, ADN, and advanced pathways. The following directory includes additional options across the Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, and Cleveland areas, among others. For a complete statewide search, visit the Ohio nursing schools hub.
