Best colleges for Practical Nursing in Ohio
Ranked by graduate earnings
Fortis College - Columbus, Cuyahoga Community College District and Central Ohio Technical College are the top Practical Nursing programs in Ohio by graduate earnings. Fortis College - Columbus leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,956, College Scorecard. James A. Rhodes State College, Valley College - Cleveland and Cuyahoga Community College District award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Ohio: 261, 247 and 243 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 72 Ohio colleges offer Practical Nursing and award 6,471 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fortis College - Columbus Westerville Private for-profit · Certificate | $49,956 | 26 | 40% | $29,428 | $28,378 |
| 2 | Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland Public · Certificate | $48,692 | 243 | 31% | — | $19,750 |
| 3 | Central Ohio Technical College Newark Public · Certificate | $48,483 | 121 | 30% | — | $14,281 |
| 4 | Fortis College - Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Falls Private for-profit · Certificate | $48,339 | 29 | 47% | $27,723 | $26,334 |
| 5 | Athena Career Academy Toledo Private for-profit · Certificate | $48,002 | 104 | 52% | $27,012 | $18,811 |
| 6 | Fortis College - Centerville Centerville Private for-profit · Certificate | $47,880 | 41 | 44% | $26,852 | $22,945 |
| 7 | Northwest State Community College Archbold Public · Certificate | $47,124 | 22 | 46% | — | $14,334 |
| 8 | Butler Technology and Career Development Schools Monroe Public · Certificate | $46,386 | 188 | 76% | — | $14,060 |
| 9 | Knox County Career Center Mount Vernon Public · Certificate | $46,081 | 51 | 100% | — | $18,950 |
| 10 | Cuyahoga Valley Career Center Brecksville Public · Certificate | $45,874 | 21 | 81% | — | $18,596 |
Colleges awarding the most Practical Nursing degrees in Ohio
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James A. Rhodes State College Lima Public | 261 | $41,545 |
| 2 | Valley College - Cleveland Cleveland Private not-for-profit | 247 | Not reported |
| 3 | Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland Public | 243 | $48,692 |
| 4 | Apollo Career Center Lima Public | 230 | $43,207 |
| 5 | Sinclair Community College Dayton Public | 223 | $24,297 |
| 6 | Four County Career Center Archbold Public | 201 | Not reported |
| 7 | Butler Technology and Career Development Schools Monroe Public | 188 | $46,386 |
| 8 | Academia Medical Institute Columbus Private for-profit | 151 | Not reported |
| 9 | Professional Skills Institute Maumee Private for-profit | 147 | $41,539 |
| 10 | Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County Newark Public | 143 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 62 Ohio colleges offering Practical Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
Top skills
What Nursing Assistants earn in Ohio
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in Ohio.
Which Ohio colleges award the most Practical Nursing degrees?+
James A. Rhodes State College (261 graduates a year), Valley College - Cleveland (247 graduates a year) and Cuyahoga Community College District (243 graduates a year) award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Ohio, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 72 Ohio colleges offer Practical Nursing.
What is the best college for Practical Nursing in Ohio?+
By graduate earnings, Fortis College - Columbus leads among Practical Nursing programs in Ohio, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,956, College Scorecard. Cuyahoga Community College District and Central Ohio Technical College follow. By degrees awarded, James A. Rhodes State College is the largest, with 261 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Practical Nursing program in Ohio has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Fortis College - Columbus tops the list at $49,956. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Nursing Assistants earn in Ohio?+
The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in Ohio is $40,520 (median $39,010), across about 63,280 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Practical Nursing program?+
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Nursing Assistants?+
The national job outlook is about +2.3% growth with around 204,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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