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Most Popular Nursing Schools in Ohio

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2023 Most Popular Nursing Schools in Ohio

110 Colleges
$63,417 Avg Salary
$29,300 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing School for You

Nursing is the most popular major in Ohio with 13,973 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.

It's not easy to decide which nursing program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Nursing Degree Search has created the Most Popular Nursing Schools in Ohio to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 110 schools in Ohio to see which ones were the most popular programs for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Nursing program at each school on the list.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for nursing majors pursuing a .

Our 2023 rankings named Ohio University - Athens Campus the most popular school in Ohio for nursing students. Located in the town of Athens, OHIO Athens is a public school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from OHIO Athens carry an average student debt load of $27,632. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $180, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Cincinnati - Main Campus. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in Ohio list. UC is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Cincinnati.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at UC take out is $21,978. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $247.

Full Nursing at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Kent State University at Kent. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in Ohio list. Kent State is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent.

Nursing majors at Kent State take out an average of $28,565 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $222.

Full Nursing at Kent State University at Kent Report

The excellent programs at Ohio State University - Main Campus helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Ohio. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Ohio State take out is $26,028. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $277, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#5

Xavier University

Cincinnati, OH

Out of the 110 schools in Ohio that were part of this year’s ranking, Xavier University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Xavier is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Cincinnati.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Xavier accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $726.

Full Nursing at Xavier University Report

Mount Carmel College of Nursing landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular nursing programs. Located in the city of Columbus, Mount Carmel College of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

On average, nursing graduates from Mount Carmel College of Nursing take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $365, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at Mount Carmel College of Nursing

#7

University of Toledo

Toledo, OH

University of Toledo landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular nursing programs. Located in the city of Toledo, University of Toledo is a public college with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from University of Toledo carry an average student debt load of $21,938. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $141.

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Cuyahoga Community College District landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular nursing programs. Cuyahoga Community College District is a fairly large public school located in the city of Cleveland.

On average, nursing graduates from Cuyahoga Community College District take out $17,540 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Nursing at Cuyahoga Community College District Report

#9

Hondros College of Nursing

Westerville, OH

Hondros College of Nursing came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in Ohio ranking. Hondros College of Nursing is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Westerville.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Hondros College of Nursing carry an average student debt load of $43,140. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $125, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at Hondros College of Nursing

University of Akron Main Campus landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular nursing programs. Located in the city of Akron, University of Akron Main Campus is a public college with a large student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at University of Akron Main Campus take out is $26,050. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $209, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at University of Akron Main Campus Report

#11

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH

Cleveland State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list. Cleveland State University is a fairly large public school located in the city of Cleveland.

Nursing majors at Cleveland State University take out an average of $29,152 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $209, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at Cleveland State University Report

The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in Ohio ranking. Located in the city of Cincinnati, The Christ College is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at The Christ College take out is $32,385. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $226.

Full Nursing at The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences Report

Case Western Reserve University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in Ohio ranking. Case Western is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Cleveland.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Case Western carry an average student debt load of $24,201. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $272.

Full Nursing at Case Western Reserve University Report

#14

Mercy College of Ohio

Toledo, OH

Mercy College of Ohio ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in Ohio list. Mercy College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Toledo.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Mercy College accumulate an average of around $34,103 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $188.

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Galen College of Nursing - Cincinnati came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in Ohio ranking. Located in the large suburb of Cincinnati, Galen College of Nursing - Cincinnati is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

On average, nursing graduates from Galen College of Nursing - Cincinnati take out $41,365 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $117.

Read full report on Nursing at Galen College of Nursing - Cincinnati

#16

Owens Community College

Perrysburg, OH

Owens Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular nursing programs. Owens State Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the large suburb of Perrysburg.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Owens State Community College take out is $28,149.

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Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional popular schools for Nursing students in the state of Ohio that almost earned our Most Popular Nursing Schools in Ohio award.

Rank College Location
17 Ursuline College Pepper Pike, OH
18 Wright State University - Main Campus Dayton, OH
19 Central Ohio Technical College Newark, OH
20 Ashland University Ashland, OH
21 Cedarville University Cedarville, OH
22 Columbus State Community College Columbus, OH
22 Youngstown State University Youngstown, OH

Best Nursing Colleges in the Great Lakes Region

Explore all the Most Popular Nursing Colleges in the Great Lakes Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Michigan 7,345
Illinois 21,938
Indiana 7,922
Wisconsin 5,410

Nursing Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 266,651
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 16,104
Nursing Administration 9,838
Nursing Practice 7,992
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 5,092
Nursing Science 4,600
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 2,287
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 2,021
Nurse Anesthetist 1,936
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing 1,883
Critical Care Nursing 773
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing 563
School Nursing 553
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 509
Clinical Nurse Leader 444
Clinical Nurse Specialist 419
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing 331
Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing 181
Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing 57
Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing 53
Palliative Care Nursing 14
Forensic Nursing 14

Related Major Annual Graduates
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 84,274

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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