The Akron/Canton corridor has four accelerated nursing programs packed within roughly 20 miles of central Akron — a public university downtown, a private university in Kent with multiple cohort formats, a newer program in Alliance with an emphasis on simulation, and a hybrid program in North Canton designed around working adults.
- Three of the four complete in 15 months.
- Three of the four cost under $40,000 in program tuition.
- And the one designed for working students accepts a 2.0 GPA — the most accessible academic bar of any program in this guide.
For career changers in Summit, Stark, and Portage counties, the choice typically comes down to schedule, format, and whether cost or outcomes matter more.
Akron/Canton ABSN Programs at a Glance
| School | Location | Est. Cost | Duration | Min. GPA | NCLEX Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Akron | $36K | 15 months | 2.75 | Not published | |
Kent / Akron (E&W) | $37K | 15 months (Daytime); extended (E&W) | 2.75 | 92% avg | |
Alliance | $36K | 15 months | 3.0 (2.75 science) | Not published | |
North Canton | $65K | 24 months | 2.0 | Not published |
Best Akron/Canton ABSN Programs by Goal
- Lowest cost: University of Akron — ~$35,028 at a public university, the most affordable accelerated nursing option in the Akron/Canton market.
- Most scheduling flexibility: Kent State University (Daytime cohort) — three annual start dates (Fall, Spring, Summer), the most entry points of any program in the group.
- Lowest GPA floor: Walsh University — minimum 2.0 GPA, the most accessible academic bar in the Akron/Canton market and among the lowest in this entire series nationally.
- Keep working while enrolled: Walsh University (online lectures + evening/weekend clinicals) or Kent State (Akron Evening & Weekend cohort — Monday/Wednesday evenings + Saturday/Sunday clinicals; next start Fall 2026).
- Best published NCLEX outcomes: Kent State University — 92% average NCLEX-RN pass rate, the highest published figure among the four programs.
- Best job placement rate: Kent State University — 99% placement within six months of graduation, with named clinical partners including Cleveland Clinic Akron General and Akron Children’s Hospital.
- Simulation integrated into every course: University of Mount Union — simulation is embedded in every lab and clinical course in a new health and medical sciences facility, with EMR training throughout.
- Credit for prior learning / Military Friendly: Walsh University — accepts credit for prior learning, work experience, and professional training toward the degree; designated Military Friendly with payment-plan and deferment options.
- No application fee: Walsh University — the only program in the group with no application fee and no general fees beyond program costs.
Comparing ABSN Programs in the Akron Canton Area
TL;DR: Quick-Match Guide
Choose the University of Akron if in-state public-university pricing, a 2.75 GPA minimum, and access to 80+ regional clinical facilities define the right fit.
Choose Kent State University if scheduling flexibility, named clinical partners, and published outcomes are the priorities.
The Daytime cohort starts three times annually (Fall, Spring, Summer) and finishes in 15 months. A 92% average NCLEX rate and 99% job-placement within six months are the strongest published outcomes in this group.
Choose the University of Mount Union if you’re in the Alliance/Canton area and want a newer facility with simulation embedded across every lab and clinical course.
Mount Union’s new health and medical sciences facility, CCNE accreditation through 2030, and $500-per-credit tuition (~$36,000 for 72 credits, fees additional) make it a competitive option for students in Stark County who don’t want to commute to Akron. EMR system training is integrated throughout the curriculum.
Choose Walsh University if you need to keep working and carry a GPA or transcript that doesn’t meet the bar at the other three programs.
Walsh’s 2.0 GPA minimum, credit for prior learning and professional training, and evening/weekend clinical schedule make it the broadest-access option in the corridor.
Program Length and Format
15-month programs (in-person): The University of Akron, Kent State’s Daytime cohort, and Mount Union all finish in 15 months. Akron and Mount Union each admit one annual cohort; Kent State’s Daytime track admits three cohorts per year. All three are primarily in-person, though some components may be delivered online.
Work-compatible programs: Walsh University’s 24-month Fast Track BSN is the most explicitly designed for working adults — online lectures plus evening/weekend in-person labs and clinicals at partner facilities throughout Northeast Ohio.
Kent State’s Akron Evening & Weekend cohort offers a middle path: a five-semester sequence with Monday/Wednesday evenings (5–9 p.m.) at Kent and Saturday/Sunday clinicals primarily at Cleveland Clinic Akron General, designed so students can keep part-time employment. The Akron E&W cohort is offered every other fall in even years (next: Fall 2026).
Format spectrum: Akron and Kent State Daytime are the most in-person-intensive. Mount Union uses simulation throughout and trains in a new dedicated health facility in Alliance. Walsh delivers lectures fully online with clinical days scheduled around a working schedule. Kent State Akron E&W concentrates all campus time into two weekday evenings, with weekend rotations at a single primary clinical site.
Most Affordable Programs
University of Akron — ~$35,028: At approximately $447 per credit for 64 nursing credits, Akron is the most affordable in-person accelerated nursing option in the Akron/Canton corridor.
Kent State University — ~$36,343: Kent State’s public-university pricing is competitive with Akron across a comparable 15-month program. The published estimate covers tuition across the program; the Akron and Cleveland E&W cohorts may carry slightly different cost structures given their extended five-semester timeline — confirm directly.
Note on Walsh: Walsh’s published estimate (~$64,260 for 120 credits) reflects the full-degree cost. Actual cost for second-degree students can be significantly lower through transfer credit evaluation and prior-learning credit — confirmed through an enrollment manager at the time of application.
For applicants with substantial transferable credit or professional training credentials, Walsh’s effective cost may narrow the gap with Akron and Kent State meaningfully.
Prerequisite Course Patterns
All four programs require Anatomy & Physiology I and II, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Statistics.
Kent State has the most expansive prerequisite list — adding Human Genetics, Developmental Psychology, Nutrition, Sociology, and an Introduction to Nursing course.
Akron adds Ethics, Nutrition, and Developmental Psychology to the core sciences.
Mount Union keeps the list lean — just the five core sciences plus Statistics, with no social science or ethics requirement.
Walsh adds Nutrition and a Nursing Theoretical Foundations course (NURS 220PL), available at Walsh in its hybrid accelerated format at the reduced program tuition rate.
Start Dates and Cohort Availability
| School / Cohort | Start Date(s) | Application Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Kent State — Daytime | Fall, Spring, Summer | Contact program | Three annual starts; 15-month track |
Fall and Spring | Rolling; no application fee | Credit for prior learning; 21+ age req. | |
Kent State — Akron E&W | Every-other-fall (even years); next: Fall 2026 | Contact program | Mon/Wed evenings + Sat/Sun clinicals; work-compatible |
May | December 1 | One annual cohort; sequential curriculum | |
Contact program | Contact program | One annual cohort; confirm with program |
Kent State Akron E&W timing: The Fall 2026 Akron Evening & Weekend cohort is the next available entry point for students who need work-compatible scheduling at Kent State in the Akron market.
After Fall 2026, the next Akron E&W cohort won’t start until Fall 2028 — making Fall 2026 a meaningful deadline for applicants on that track. Students targeting the Cleveland E&W cohort should note it runs in odd years (next: Fall 2027).
Akron’s single annual window: The December 1 deadline for Akron’s May cohort means prerequisites must be substantially complete in the fall before enrollment. Students who miss the December 1 window wait a full year for the next cohort — there’s no second-chance entry within the same academic year.
Clinical Training Structure
All four programs place students in Northeast Ohio healthcare facilities, but the clinical network scope, named partners, and scheduling model differ meaningfully by program.
Named clinical partners: Kent State names the most specific clinical partners in the group — Cleveland Clinic Akron General (primary for the Akron E&W cohort, with pediatrics at Akron Children’s Hospital) and University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic for the Cleveland cohort. The Daytime cohort rotates across facilities in Summit, Cuyahoga, Mahoning, Stark, Trumbull, and Portage counties.
Walsh names Cleveland Clinic, Summa Health, and Akron Children’s as representative regional partners.
Broadest clinical network: University of Akron lists 80+ affiliated healthcare facilities across Summit, Stark, and Cuyahoga counties — the largest stated clinical network in the group. Rotations span hospitals, community agencies, and long-term care facilities, giving students exposure to settings beyond acute care.
Simulation depth: Mount Union is the most systematic in its simulation integration — every lab and clinical course includes simulation components in the new health and medical sciences facility. This course-by-course threading is more extensive than programs that reserve simulation for specific dedicated courses. EMR system training is woven throughout, preparing graduates for the documentation realities of clinical practice.
Kent State supports all cohorts with state-of-the-art simulation laboratories at the Kent campus and concludes with a dedicated Senior Competency Laboratory course in the final term.
NCLEX review integration: Kent State is the only program in this group with a dedicated NCLEX review course embedded in the final semester (NURS 45060 or NURS 45075) — a structured exam-readiness step that directly supports its 92% average pass rate and that most programs leave to students to arrange independently.