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2026 Best Nursing Schools in Ohio

85 Colleges in the United States
12,193 Nursing Degrees Awarded
$69,000 Avg Early-Career Salary

Nursing is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their nursing programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 118 schools to find the best for nursing students.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Nursing in Ohio

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Nursing

1

Leading the list is Ohio State University Main Campus, our #1 school for nursing. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 570 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $90,970 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,240. Read more about the nursing program at Ohio State University Main Campus

2

Case Western Reserve University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 194 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Case Western Reserve University earn around $112,484 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,580 to complete this degree. Get the full nursing details for Case Western Reserve University

3

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #3. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 1,014 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $109,491. Typical student debt for the program is $22,920. Get the full nursing details for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

4

Ohio University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #4. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. About 1,401 nursing degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $80,108 early in their careers. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,778 in student loans. Read more about the nursing program at Ohio University Main Campus

5

University Of Toledo came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. This large public university is located in the city of Toledo. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 340 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Toledo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $76,736. University Of Toledo graduates carry a median of $22,400 in student loans. See the full nursing program report for University Of Toledo

6
Xavier University crest
Xavier University
Cincinnati, OH

Xavier University earned the #6 position for nursing this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Xavier University graduates 68% of students within six years. Xavier University awarded about 333 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $78,516 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the nursing program at Xavier University

7

University Of Dayton earned the #7 position for nursing this year. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 15 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Dayton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $56,077. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete this degree. Read more about the nursing program at University Of Dayton

8

Kent State University At Kent came in at #8 for nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kent. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Kent State University At Kent awarded about 567 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $83,999 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,625 to complete this degree. See the full nursing program report for Kent State University At Kent

9
Franklin University crest
Franklin University
Columbus, OH

Franklin University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Franklin University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbus. Franklin University graduates 3% of students within six years. There were roughly 90 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Franklin University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Franklin University earn around $57,471 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $35,890. Read more about the nursing program at Franklin University

10
Otterbein University crest
Otterbein University
Westerville, OH

Otterbein University earned the #10 position for nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Westerville, Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 94 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Otterbein University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Otterbein University earn around $89,634 in the first couple years of their career. Otterbein University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in nursing from Otterbein University

11
Wittenberg University crest
Wittenberg University
Springfield, OH

Wittenberg University placed #11 among the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Wittenberg University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. There were roughly 17 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Wittenberg University in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Wittenberg University earn a median of $40,093 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full nursing program report for Wittenberg University

12

Ohio Northern University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Ada. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Ohio Northern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Ohio Northern University earn around $72,482 in the first couple years of their career. Ohio Northern University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in nursing from Ohio Northern University

13

Sinclair Community College came in at #13 for nursing this year. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. About 107 nursing degrees were awarded at Sinclair Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $69,403. Students borrow a median of $21,667 to complete this degree. Read more about the nursing program at Sinclair Community College

14
Cedarville University crest
Cedarville University
Cedarville, OH

Cedarville University came in at #14 for nursing this year. Set in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. Cedarville University awarded about 137 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Cedarville University earn around $86,430 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Read more about the nursing program at Cedarville University

15

Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned the #15 position for nursing this year. This large public university is located in the town of Bowling Green. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 98 nursing degrees were awarded at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $68,261 early in their careers. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,848 in student loans. More information about a degree in nursing from Bowling Green State University Main Campus

16

Columbus State Community College earned the #16 position for nursing this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public university. About 180 nursing degrees were awarded at Columbus State Community College in the most recent year. Typical student debt for the program is $9,041. More information about a degree in nursing from Columbus State Community College

17

Youngstown State University placed #17 among the best nursing schools. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 253 nursing degrees were awarded at Youngstown State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Youngstown State University generally make around $106,008. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in nursing from Youngstown State University

18

Chamberlain College Of Nursing Ohio landed the #18 spot for nursing this year. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Ohio is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 29% of students complete a degree within six years here. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Ohio awarded about 183 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $83,188 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $39,146 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in nursing from Chamberlain College Of Nursing Ohio

19

Mercy College Of Ohio came in at #19 for nursing this year. Set in the city of Toledo, Mercy College Of Ohio is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 263 nursing degrees were awarded at Mercy College Of Ohio in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Mercy College Of Ohio earn a median of $71,248 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $33,674. Get the full nursing details for Mercy College Of Ohio

20

Wright State University Main Campus placed #20 among the best nursing schools. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. There were roughly 153 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Wright State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Wright State University Main Campus generally make around $87,340. Wright State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,987 in student loans. Get the full nursing details for Wright State University Main Campus

21
Capital University crest
Capital University
Columbus, OH

Capital University came in at #21 for nursing this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Columbus. Capital University graduates 60% of students within six years. About 84 nursing degrees were awarded at Capital University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Capital University generally make around $70,365. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Get the full nursing details for Capital University

22

Mount Carmel College Of Nursing landed the #22 spot for nursing this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Columbus. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Mount Carmel College Of Nursing awarded about 326 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Mount Carmel College Of Nursing earn around $88,238 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in nursing from Mount Carmel College Of Nursing

23

Marion Technical College earned the #23 position for nursing this year. Set in the town of Marion, Marion Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 61 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Marion Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $67,265 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,990 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in nursing from Marion Technical College

24

Miami University Oxford placed #24 among the best nursing schools. This large public university is located in the town of Oxford. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Miami University Oxford awarded about 32 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Miami University Oxford earn around $71,404 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Get the full nursing details for Miami University Oxford

25

University Of Akron Main Campus placed #25 among the best nursing schools. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. University Of Akron Main Campus graduates 52% of students within six years. University Of Akron Main Campus awarded about 228 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $102,988. University Of Akron Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in nursing from University Of Akron Main Campus

Rest of the Top 50 Nursing Schools

These schools also placed among the best for nursing this year:

26
27
28
29
Stark State College crest
Stark State College
North Canton, OH
30
Owens Community College crest
Owens Community College
Perrysburg, OH
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
Walsh University crest
Walsh University
North Canton, OH
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
Ashland University crest
Ashland University
Ashland, OH
45
46
Lourdes College crest
Lourdes College
Sylvania, OH
47
Kettering College crest
Kettering College
Kettering, OH
48
49
50

Honorable Mentions

These schools earned honorable mentions for nursing:

View All Nursing Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 118 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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