Ohio ABSN Programs - Accelerated Nursing Schools

Ohio has 13 accelerated nursing programs — the largest state roster in this series — spanning every major metro market from Toledo to Cincinnati, with a remote hybrid option available statewide.

Costs range from roughly $21,000 in in-state tuition at a Cleveland public university to nearly $90,000 at the state’s highest-ranked nursing school.

Program lengths run from 13 months to 24.

Two programs have published 100% first-time NCLEX pass rates. One offers a genuinely debt-free pathway through employer partnership. Another is one of only 17 institutions in the country endorsed by the national holistic nursing credentialing body.

With this many options, geography typically narrows the list first — then cost, format, and outcomes take over.

Ohio ABSN Programs at a Glance

School	Location	Est. Cost	Duration	Min. GPA	NCLEX Pass Rate
Cleveland State University	Cleveland	$31K	16 months	2.5 (3.0 prereq)	90.91% (2025)
University of Akron	Akron	$36K	15 months	2.75	Not published
Kent State University	Kent / Akron / Cleveland	$37K	15 months	2.75	92% avg
University of Mount Union	Alliance	$36K	15 months	3.0 (2.75 science)	Not published
Ashland University	Ashland	$40K	15 months	2.7	93.15% (2024)
Mercy College of Ohio	Toledo	$41K	15 months	3.0	Exceeds OH & national avg
Capital University	Columbus	$54K	20 months	3.0 (2.75 science)	100% (2024)
Kettering College	Kettering	$56K	15 months	3.0	100%
Mount Carmel College of Nursing	Columbus / Lancaster	$57K	13 months or 18 months	3.0 (recommended)	91.02% (5-yr avg)
Xavier University	Cincinnati / Cleveland / Columbus	$62K	16 months	2.70	Not published
Walsh University	North Canton	$65K	24 months	2.0	Not published
Joyce University	Hybrid (Draper, UT campus)	$65K	20 months	2.75	94.31% (2024)
Ohio State University	Columbus (OUHSC)	$88K–$90K	18 months	3.0 (B− per prereq)	Not published (launched 2024)

Narrow Your Choices to:

Best Ohio ABSN Programs by Goal

Northeast Ohio affordability: University of Mount Union (~$36,000) or University of Akron (~$35,028) — the most affordable in-person public and private options for Northeast Ohio residents.

Lowest in-state tuition: Cleveland State University — ~$21,684 in-state tuition (~$30,116 with fees), primarily online with two on-campus Cleveland residencies and a dedicated clinical placement team.

Fastest finish (13 months): Mount Carmel College of Nursing (SDAP-13) — compresses the full nursing sequence into 13 months of full-time study starting each January, as part of the Trinity Health System.

Most scheduling flexibility / most starts: Xavier University — three annual start dates (January, May, August) across three Ohio enrollment sites (Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus), the most entry points of any Ohio ABSN.

Lowest GPA floor: Walsh University — minimum 2.0 GPA, the most accessible academic bar in Ohio and among the lowest in this entire series, with credit for prior learning and work experience.

Best published NCLEX outcomes: Capital University and Kettering College — both report 100% first-time NCLEX pass rates (2024), the highest in Ohio.

Highest national ranking: Ohio State University — #1 among public nursing programs and #4 overall (U.S. News & World Report), with clinical training at the OSU Wexner Medical Center.

Debt-free pathway: Mercy College of Ohio — students who work within the Mercy Health system while enrolled can fully cover their costs, and final-semester students receive a paid clinical immersion.

Work-compatible schedule: Walsh University (evening/weekend clinicals), Capital University (hybrid track with Wednesday evenings and Thursday/Saturday clinicals), Kent State (Akron and Cleveland Evening & Weekend cohorts), or Mount Carmel’s SDAP-18 (part-time, evenings and weekends over 18 months).

No prerequisites needed: Joyce University — the only Ohio-eligible program that integrates anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and statistics directly into its curriculum, eliminating the prerequisite period.

Kettering Health system pipeline: Kettering College — clinicals begin in the first nursing course and run throughout the Kettering Health system, with 98% graduate employment, many within Kettering Health itself.

Best Ohio ABSN Programs by Student Type

You need the fastest finish in Ohio

Mount Carmel College of Nursing (SDAP-13) — 13 months starting each January; the fastest ABSN in the state; plan not to work

You need to keep working while enrolled

Capital University — hybrid track; Wednesday evenings on campus, Thursday or Saturday clinicals; 100% NCLEX; Columbus
Mount Carmel College of Nursing (SDAP-18) — same curriculum as the 13-month track stretched to 18 months; evenings and weekends; August start
Mercy College of Ohio — clinical and lab obligations grouped into 4–5 long weekends per semester; debt-free for Mercy Health employees; Toledo
Kent State University (Evening & Weekend cohorts) — Monday/Wednesday evenings plus weekend clinicals; Akron cohort starts Fall 2026; Cleveland cohort starts Fall 2027
Walsh University — online lectures with evening/weekend in-person clinicals; 24 months; North Canton; 2.0 GPA minimum

You want the best published NCLEX outcomes

Capital University — 100% first-time pass rate (2024); Columbus
Kettering College — 100% first-time pass rate; 98% job placement; Kettering
Ashland University — 93.15% (2024), above both Ohio and national averages; Mansfield
Kent State University — 92% average NCLEX; 99% job placement within six months; Kent

You want the lowest cost

Cleveland State University — ~$21,684 in-state tuition; primarily online; dedicated clinical placement team; Cleveland
University of Akron — ~$35,028; most affordable in-person public option in Northeast Ohio; Akron
Mercy College of Ohio — ~$40,675 published; effectively debt-free for students who work within Mercy Health; Toledo

You want primarily online or remote-compatible coursework

Cleveland State University — primarily asynchronous online; two Cleveland residencies; local clinical placements arranged for you
Joyce University — fully asynchronous online; clinical placements arranged near your Ohio home; Utah simulation immersions only required travel; no prerequisites needed
Walsh University — online lectures with in-person clinicals on evenings and weekends; credit for prior learning; North Canton

You have a lower GPA or non-traditional academic record

Walsh University — 2.0 GPA minimum; the most accessible bar of any program in this guide; accepts credit for prior learning and professional training; Military Friendly
Cleveland State University — 2.5 GPA minimum (3.0 in prerequisites); no application fee
Ashland University — 2.7 GPA minimum; strong NCLEX outcomes despite accessible bar

You’re in Columbus

Capital University — 100% NCLEX; hybrid or daytime tracks; 80+ clinical partners; embedded MSN credits
Mount Carmel College of Nursing — 13 or 18 months; Trinity Health pipeline; January and August starts
Ohio State University — #1 public nursing program nationally; Wexner Medical Center; highest credential in the state
Xavier University (Columbus site) — #6 in Ohio; 850+ clinical hours; three annual starts

You’re in Northeast Ohio

Kent State University — three cohort formats; daytime, Akron E&W, or Cleveland E&W; 92% NCLEX; 99% placement
University of Akron — most affordable in-person public option; ~$35,028; 80+ clinical facilities
University of Mount Union — Alliance; simulation in every course; new facility; ~$36,000
Ashland University — Mansfield; small clinical groups; pipeline to Cleveland Clinic, Nationwide Children’s, OSU Wexner
Walsh University — North Canton; broadest access (2.0 GPA); credit for prior learning; evening/weekend schedule

You want a nationally ranked or faith-integrated program

Ohio State University — #1 public, #4 overall (U.S. News); Wexner Medical Center; launched 2024; employer tuition support possible for current OSU Health staff
Xavier University — #6 in Ohio (U.S. News); Jesuit holistic curriculum; one of only 17 AHNCC-endorsed institutions nationally; Cincinnati, Columbus, or Cleveland
Kettering College — Seventh-day Adventist whole-person care; dedicated spirituality and end-of-life coursework found at no other Ohio program; Kettering Health integration from day one

You’re planning for graduate school and want credit built in

Capital University — three graduate-level courses (statistics, research/EBP, informatics) earn credit toward Capital’s MSN within the BSN curriculum; Columbus

You have no science prerequisites completed

Joyce University — the only Ohio-eligible program that builds anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and statistics into the curriculum; no prerequisite phase required

Which Program Length Is Right for You?

Need the fastest finish in Ohio?

Mount Carmel College of Nursing (SDAP-13) — 13 months, starting each January; the fastest ABSN in the state, running at roughly 40 hours per week; working during enrollment is not realistic

Want to finish in 15 months?

Ashland University — Mansfield; 1:8 clinical ratio; 93.15% NCLEX (2024)
Kent State University (Daytime cohort) — Kent; three annual starts (Fall, Spring, Summer); 92% NCLEX average
Kettering College — Kettering; clinicals begin Semester 1; 100% NCLEX; Kettering Health pipeline
Mercy College of Ohio — Toledo; debt-free pathway for Mercy Health employees; long-weekend clinical schedule for working students
University of Akron — Akron; ~$35,028; 80+ clinical facilities; most affordable in-person option in Northeast Ohio
University of Mount Union — Alliance; new health sciences facility; simulation in every lab and clinical course

Want 16 months with the most affordable online-primary option?

Cleveland State University — primarily online with two Cleveland residencies; ~$21,684 in-state tuition; dedicated clinical placement team; the most remote-compatible program with dedicated Ohio enrollment
Xavier University — Cincinnati, Cleveland, or Columbus; hybrid; 850+ clinical hours; three annual starts; AHNCC holistic nursing endorsement

Need more time — or need to keep working?

Ohio State University — 18 months; Wexner Medical Center; #1 public nursing program nationally; one cohort per year starting each summer
Mount Carmel College of Nursing (SDAP-18) — 18 months; same curriculum as the 13-month track but spread across four part-time terms; evenings and weekends weighted for working students; August start
Capital University — 20 months; Columbus; hybrid track designed for full-time workers (Wednesday evenings + Thursday/Saturday clinicals); 100% NCLEX; 3 embedded MSN credits
Joyce University — ~20 months; fully asynchronous online with local Ohio clinical placements and Utah simulation immersions; no prerequisites required

Need maximum flexibility and the longest runway?

Walsh University — 24 months; North Canton; online lectures with evening/weekend in-person clinicals; 2.0 GPA minimum; credit for prior learning; fall and spring starts; the most schedule-accessible program in Ohio

Want to keep working and still finish in 15 months?

Kent State University (Evening & Weekend cohorts) — Monday/Wednesday evening classes plus weekend clinicals; Akron cohort starts Fall 2026; Cleveland cohort starts Fall 2027; same 92% NCLEX outcomes as the Daytime track
Mercy College of Ohio — clinical and lab sessions grouped over 4–5 long weekends per semester; may keep working the rest of the week; debt-free for Mercy Health employees

Most Affordable Programs

Cleveland State University — ~$21,684 in-state tuition (~$30,116 with fees): CSU’s per-credit rate of $301–$339 in-state produces the lowest nursing tuition in Ohio. A dedicated clinical placement team arranges local rotations, no application fee is charged, and 734 clinical hours plus 201 lab hours are among the highest totals in the state.

University of Akron — ~$35,028: At roughly $447 per credit for 64 nursing credits, Akron is the most affordable in-person public-university ABSN in Northeast Ohio. The 2.75 GPA floor, 80+ clinical facility network, and May cohort start (December 1 deadline) make it a strong value anchor for Akron/Summit County-based career changers who need in-person training.

Mount Union (~$36,000 for 72 credits at $500/credit, fees additional) is competitive for students in the Alliance/Canton corridor.

Note on Mercy College: While Mercy College’s published tuition is ~$40,675, students who secure employment within Mercy Health while enrolled can cover program costs entirely through employer support — and final-semester students receive a paid clinical immersion. For qualifying students in Northwest Ohio, the effective cost can be zero.

Prerequisite Course Patterns

All Ohio programs require Anatomy & Physiology I and II, Microbiology, and Chemistry. Statistics, Psychology, and Nutrition appear across most checklists.

Joyce University is the only program that builds these into its curriculum rather than requiring them up front. Prerequisite recency windows vary from five years (Capital, Kettering, Ashland, Walsh) to seven years (Mercy) to ten years (Cleveland State) to no stated limit (Akron, OSU).

OSU requires a B− or better in every prerequisite — the strictest per-course grade floor in Ohio.

Walsh requires a B or better for prerequisites completed at community college, while other institutions require only a C — an unusual transfer distinction to verify before choosing where to take outstanding prerequisites.

Several Ohio programs have distinctive prerequisites worth noting.

Kent State requires Human Genetics, Nutrition, and Sociology alongside the core sciences.

Kettering requires Pathophysiology as a standalone prerequisite — not just as integrated content — alongside the standard sciences.

Cleveland State adds Healthcare Ethics (a philosophy course) to its list, unique among Ohio programs. No Ohio program requires a TEAS or HESI as a universal admission requirement; OSU does not list an entrance exam.

Walsh accepts credit for prior learning and professional training toward prerequisite requirements — a meaningful advantage for career changers with relevant work experience.

Start Dates and Cohort Availability

School	Start Date(s)	Application Deadline / Window	Notes
Xavier University	January, May, August	Rolling	Three Ohio sites (Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus)
Walsh University	Fall and Spring	Contact program; rolling	No application fee; credit for prior learning
Cleveland State University	Fall and Spring	Contact program; no application fee	No application fee; primarily online
Capital University	Fall	December 1 (priority); May 1 (final)	Daytime (25–50 students) and hybrid (32 students) tracks
Kent State University	Daytime: Fall, Spring, Summer; Akron E&W: Fall 2026; Cleveland E&W: Fall 2027	Contact program	Three cohort types; E&W cohorts alternate years
Mount Carmel College	January (SDAP-13); August (SDAP-18)	Rolling; competitive	60–70 students; two format tracks
Kettering College	August	Contact program	One annual cohort; Kettering Health integration
Mercy College of Ohio	May	January 15 (priority)	One annual cycle; Mercy Health debt-free pathway
University of Akron	May	December 1	One annual cohort; sequential curriculum
Ashland University	Contact program	May 15	Choose Ohio First scholarship eligible
University of Mount Union	Contact program	Contact program	New health/medical sciences facility
Ohio State University	Summer	January 9, 2026 (for Summer 2026)	One annual cohort; applications open October 15
Joyce University	Contact program	Contact program	Hybrid; multiple annual starts; OH eligible

Most scheduling flexibility: Xavier offers the most entry points — three annual starts at three Ohio sites — making it the easiest program to time around prerequisite completion. Kent State’s Daytime cohort also starts three times per year, though the Evening & Weekend cohorts alternate annually and seats for the Akron cohort (next: Fall 2026) and Cleveland cohort (next: Fall 2027) are limited.

OSU’s application window: Ohio State’s October 15–January 9 window for a Summer start requires prerequisites complete by the application deadline — one of the most demanding lead times in the state. International students and non-OSU applicants should plan accordingly.

Clinical Training Structure

Ohio’s programs collectively represent the widest clinical range in this series — from a hospital-system-embedded model where clinicals begin in the first course, to a primarily online program with 734 clinical hours arranged near each student’s home.

Programs with published clinical hour counts: Xavier University publishes 850+ clinical hours — the highest stated count in Ohio.

Cleveland State delivers 734 clinical hours and 201 lab hours, with a dedicated placement team arranging sites near each student’s home.

Joyce University completes 517.5 supervised local hours arranged statewide.

Named clinical partner networks: Capital University names 80+ Central Ohio partners including OhioHealth, OSU Wexner and The James, Nationwide Children’s, and Mount Carmel — the most comprehensive published partner list in Central Ohio.

Ashland University names Cleveland Clinic, Nationwide Children’s, Akron Children’s, OhioHealth, University Hospitals, and OSU Wexner as graduate employers.

Kent State’s Akron Evening & Weekend cohort trains at Cleveland Clinic Akron General; its Cleveland cohort uses University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic.

System-embedded clinical models: Kettering College is the most deeply integrated program in Ohio — clinicals begin in the very first nursing course and run exclusively within Kettering Health hospitals and affiliated community facilities, creating an immediate employer relationship.

Mount Carmel feeds into the Trinity Health System.

Ohio State places students at Wexner Medical Center; many aBSN students already work there as patient care associates and are pursuing the BSN as an internal credential pathway.

Work-friendly clinical scheduling: Mercy College groups all clinical and lab obligations into 4–5 long weekends per semester — the most work-compatible in-person clinical schedule in Ohio.

Walsh University and Capital’s hybrid track schedule clinicals on Thursdays/Saturdays; Kent State’s Evening & Weekend cohorts focus on Saturdays and Sundays for clinical rotations.

Simulation depth: Mount Union integrates simulation into every single lab and clinical course — the most systematic simulation threading among Ohio programs.

Ashland includes a standalone Advanced Simulation course (NUR 430) dedicated to high-fidelity decision-making practice for complex medical-surgical patients.

OSU trains in nationally recognized simulation environments within Wexner Medical Center.

Ohio ABSN Program Summaries

Ashland University ABSN Program

Ashland | $44,000 | 15 Months

Ashland University delivers a 15-month accelerated BSN at its Mansfield campus, posting NCLEX results above both Ohio and national averages. Small clinical groups and a strong Ohio employer network round out the program.

Highlights

93.15% first-time NCLEX pass rate (2024), above state and national
Employer pipeline: Cleveland Clinic, Nationwide Children's, OSU Wexner
Choose Ohio First scholarship: $3,000/year for eligible students
CCNE accredited

Capital University ABSN Program

Columbus | $53,341 | 20 Months

Capital University offers an accelerated BSN in the Columbus area with two formats — a full-time daytime cohort and a work-friendly hybrid track. A 100% recent NCLEX rate and a deep Central Ohio clinical network anchor the program.

Highlights

100% NCLEX-RN pass rate (2024)
Two tracks: full-time daytime or work-friendly hybrid
80+ Central Ohio partners (OhioHealth, OSU Wexner, Nationwide Children's)
CCNE accredited

Cleveland State University ABSN Program

Cleveland | $21,684 | 16 Months

Cleveland State University runs one of the most affordable online accelerated BSNs in the country, with in-state tuition near $21,684. Coursework is primarily online, paired with clinicals placed near each student's home and two on-campus residencies.

Highlights

Among the most affordable online ABSNs nationally (~$21,684 in-state)
Primarily online, with clinicals placed near the student's home
90.91% first-time NCLEX pass rate (2025)
CCNE accredited (69 credits)

Xavier University offers a top-ranked Jesuit accelerated BSN (#6 in Ohio) delivered across three enrollment sites in the Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus areas. The 16-month hybrid program stands out for its rare AHNCC holistic-nursing endorsement and 850+ hours of clinical practice.

Highlights

Ranked #6 undergraduate BSN in Ohio, U.S. News (2025)
One of only 17 U.S. institutions AHNCC-endorsed for holistic nursing
Three enrollment sites (Cincinnati, Cleveland/Independence, Columbus); three starts/year
850+ clinical hours (Cleveland Clinic, Nationwide Children's)
CCNE accredited; 2.70 GPA entry bar