For our 2024 rankings of ADN programs, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac compiled an extensive database of student performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Aspiring registered nurses in the United States must pass this examination before they may commence practice. Thus, student performance on the NCLEX-RN exam provides an excellent benchmark for comparing the relative quality of associate degree programs.
We used our database to calculate each program’s NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers. This is the standard program assessment metric reported by the Ohio Board of Nursing and the test’s administrator, Pearson Vue. Whenever possible, we calculated this first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate over an extensive period of time, typically the past decade of student performance. We then used this metric to rank all of Ohio’s ADN programs accordingly.
#1: Washington State Community College
93.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate710 Colegate Drive
Marietta, Ohio 45750
https://www.wscc.edu93.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 31 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#2: Northwest State Community College
93.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate22600 State Route 34
Archbold, Ohio 43502
https://northweststate.edu93.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 52 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#3: Owens Community College
91.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate30335 Oregon Road
Perrysburg, Ohio 43551
https://www.owens.edu91.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 191 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#4: Edison State Community College
90.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate1973 Edison Drive
Piqua, Ohio 45356
https://www.edisonohio.edu90.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 65 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#5: Terra State Community College
88.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate2830 Napoleon Road
Fremont, Ohio 43420
http://www.terra.edu88.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 33 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#6: Lakeland Community College
87.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate7700 Clocktower Drive
Kirtland, Ohio 44094
https://www.lakelandcc.edu87.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 118 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#7: Mercy College of Ohio
87.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate2221 Madison Avenue
Toledo, Ohio 43604
https://www.mercycollege.edu87.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 135 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#8: East Ohio College
87.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate15258 State Route 170
East Liverpool, Ohio 43920
https://www.eastohio.edu87.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 26 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#9: Aultman College
86.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate2600 Sixth Street SW
Canton, Ohio 44710
https://www.aultmancollege.edu86.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 65 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#10: Columbus State Community College
86.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate550 East Spring Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
https://www.cscc.edu86.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 175 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#11: Galen College of Nursing - Cincinnati
86.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate100 East Business Way, Suite 200
Cincinnati, Ohio 45241
https://www.galencollege.edu86.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 167 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#12: Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
86.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate3520 Central Parkway
Cincinnati, Ohio 45223
https://www.cincinnatistate.edu86.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 106 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#13: North Central State College
85.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate2441 Kenwood Circle
Mansfield, Ohio 44901
https://www.ncstatecollege.edu85.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 69 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#14: Kent State University
85.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate1375 University Esplanade
Kent, Ohio 44242
https://www.kent.edu85.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 223 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#15: Lorain County Community College
85.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate1005 North Abbe Road
Elyria, Ohio 44035
https://www.lorainccc.edu85.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 196 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#16: Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science
84.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate375 Dixmyth Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45220
https://www.gscollege.edu84.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 95 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#17: Marion Technical College
84.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate1467 Mount Vernon Avenue
Marion, Ohio 43302
https://www.mtc.edu84.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 58 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#18: Cuyahoga Community College
84.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate2900 Community College Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
https://www.tri-c.edu84.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 337 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#19: Stark State College
84.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate6200 Frank Avenue NW
North Canton, Ohio 44720
https://www.starkstate.edu84.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 124 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#20: Central Ohio Technical College
83.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate1179 University Drive
Newark, Ohio 43055
https://www.cotc.edu83.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 223 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#21: Hocking College
83.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate3301 Hocking Parkway
Nelsonville, Ohio 45764
https://www.hocking.edu83.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 89 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#22: Herzing University - Akron
83.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate1600 South Arlington Street, Suite 100
Akron, Ohio 44306
https://www.herzing.edu83.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 39 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#23: Sinclair College
83.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate444 West Third Street
Dayton, Ohio 45402
https://www.sinclair.edu83.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 146 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#24: Southern State Community College
83.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate100 Hobart Drive
Hillsboro, Ohio 45133
https://www.sscc.edu83.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 51 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#25: Ohio University
82.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate53 Richland Avenue
Athens, Ohio 45701
https://www.ohio.edu82.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 184 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#26: Rhodes State College
81.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate4240 Campus Drive
Lima, Ohio 45804
https://www.rhodesstate.edu81.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 128 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#27: Clark State College
79.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate570 East Leffel Lane
Springfield, Ohio 45501
https://www.clarkstate.edu79.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 121 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#28: Eastern Gateway Community College
79.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate101 East Federal Street
Youngstown, Ohio 44503
https://www.egcc.edu79.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 44 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2014 through 2021
#29: Bryant & Stratton College - Solon
78.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate33001 Solon Road
Solon, Ohio 44139
https://www.bryantstratton.edu78.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 80 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#30: Fortis College - Cuyahoga Falls
78.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate2545 Bailey Road
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44221
https://www.fortis.edu78.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 52 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#31: Shawnee State University
77.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
https://www.shawnee.edu77.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 57 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#32: University of Rio Grande
76.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate218 North College Avenue
Rio Grande, Ohio 45674
https://www.rio.edu76.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 104 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#33: Belmont College
72.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate68094 Hammond Road
Saint Clairsville, Ohio 43950
https://www.belmontcollege.edu72.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 59 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#34: Fortis College - Columbus
71.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate4151 Executive Parkway, Suite 120
Westerville, Ohio 43081
https://www.fortis.edu71.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 82 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#35: Hondros College of Nursing
70.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate4140 Executive Parkway
Westerville, Ohio 43081
https://www.hondros.edu70.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 307 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#36: Fortis College - Centerville
70.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate555 East Alex Bell Road
Centerville, Ohio 45459
https://www.fortis.edu70.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 87 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#37: University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College
69.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate9555 Plainfield Road
Blue Ash, Ohio 45236
https://www.ucblueash.edu69.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 79 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#38: Bryant & Stratton College - Akron
64.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate190 Montrose West Avenue
Akron, Ohio 44321
https://www.bryantstratton.edu64.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 23 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2014 through 2021
#39: Fortis College - Cincinnati
62.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate11499 Chester Road, Suite 200
Cincinnati, Ohio 45246
https://www.fortis.edu62.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 34 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#40: Ross College
54.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate4300 Munson Street NW
Canton, Ohio 44718
https://www.rosseducation.edu54.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 22 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2014 through 2021
#41: Ohio Medical Career College
47.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate1133 South Edwin C. Moses Boulevard, Suite 110
Dayton, Ohio 45417
http://www.omcc.edu47.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
One Plus One Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
Average of 7 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2016 through 2021
#42: ATA College - Cincinnati
40.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 200
Cincinnati, Ohio 45246
https://www.ata.edu40.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 31 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2014 through 2021
#43: American Institute of Alternative Medicine
32.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate6685 Doubletree Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43229
https://www.aiam.edu32.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 77 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#44: Felbry College
30.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate6055 Cleveland Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43231
https://www.felbrycollege.edu30.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 15 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021