Ohio State College of Nursing: Programs, NCLEX Reporting & Requirements (2026)
The Columbus-based College of Nursing offers stacked pre-licensure pathways (traditional BSN, aBSN, Graduate Entry MS), an online RN-to-BSN, and CCNE-listed baccalaureate nursing alongside graduate MS/DNP/PhD options. This guide links Ohio State’s published cost tables and the Ohio Board of Nursing’s calendar year 2024 NCLEX report so you can verify program-specific pass rates and current tuition with primary sources.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
Ohio State anchors undergraduate clinical education along the university’s medical campus (Wexner Medical Center complex) and nearby tertiary partners such as Nationwide Children’s and Ohio State East Hospital—paired with high-fidelity simulation in the Technology Learning Complex and newer Jane E. Heminger Hall learning spaces.
Overview & Why Students Choose Ohio State Nursing
The Ohio State University College of Nursing sits on the Columbus health sciences corridor, minutes from Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. The college publicly describes multiple pre-licensure doors into nursing (direct freshman entry, second-year admission, LPN articulation, Accelerated BSN (aBSN), and a Graduate Entry Master of Science for career changers) plus online RN-to-BSN completion and a wide graduate portfolio reaching the DNP, PhD, and Doctor of Nursing Education.
Public materials emphasize a lock-step BSN curriculum, extensive simulation through the Technology Learning Complex, and clinical experiences that begin on the medical campus before branching to regional hospitals such as Nationwide Children’s and Ohio State East—details the college outlines in its BSN FAQ.
Ohio publishes first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates by approved pre-licensure program in its annual Board report (calendar-year data). For calendar year 2024, the memo reports an Ohio average of 89.55% for first-time RN candidates and a national average of 91.16%, using definitions tied to candidates who test within six months of completion (Rule 4723-5-23, OAC). Locate each Ohio State program’s exact percentage in the PDF linked below; confirm the newest calendar year with the Ohio Board of Nursing and the college.
Reasons students choose Ohio State Nursing
Medical-campus clinical footprint
BSN students routinely learn on Ohio State’s medical campus (Wexner complex, Ross Heart, James Cancer, Harding) before rotating to East Hospital, Nationwide Children’s, or Riverside Methodist as described in college FAQs.
Multiple pre-licensure pathways
Traditional BSN, second-year admission, LPN-to-BSN, aBSN, and Graduate Entry MS let applicants align prior education with an Ohio-approved route to NCLEX eligibility.
Simulation & innovation infrastructure
Jane E. Heminger Hall and Newton Hall house high-acuity sim labs, VR/XR spaces, and a student innovation maker space highlighted in college tour materials.
Accredited baccalaureate nursing
The BSN program is listed as CCNE-accredited on the college’s public BSN page—confirm specialty-specific status for graduate tracks.
Transparent university pricing tables
Ohio State publishes Columbus undergraduate tuition and graduate instructional fees—including graduate nursing program, technology, and distance-learning charges—through Undergraduate Admissions and the University Registrar.
Nursing Programs Offered
The following list mirrors the College of Nursing’s public Academics inventory (nursing-specific credentials). Non-nursing offerings hosted elsewhere at Ohio State (for example, the Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness) are outside this nursing guide.
Pre-licensure & BSN completion
Traditional BSN
Direct enrollment, second-year admission, and LPN-to-BSN options share the same BSN credential (minimum 122 semester hours on the college BSN overview).
Accelerated BSN (ABSN—aBSN)
Accelerated BSN for applicants who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s; completes pre-licensure preparation leading to NCLEX-RN eligibility.
RN to BSN
Online BSN completion for licensed RNs who enter with an associate degree in nursing.
Graduate Entry Master of Science
Second-career pathway that lists seven nurse-practitioner specialties and culminates in NCLEX-RN eligibility before advanced-practice graduate work.
Post-licensure graduate nursing
Traditional Master of Science in Nursing (MS)
Nine APRN specialties (e.g., Family NP, Psychiatric Mental Health NP) delivered in an online cohort model per the college course catalog page.
Post-Master’s Study Option
Adds specialty preparation or second certification options for nurses who already hold a master’s in nursing.
BSN-to-DNP & Post-Master’s DNP
Practice doctorates including APRN-focused tracks; registrar tables note additional graduate nursing technology and program fees.
PhD in Nursing
Research doctorate for nurse scientists; housed with other college doctoral programs.
Doctor of Nursing Education (DNE)
Online doctoral preparation focused on nursing education leadership.
Certificates & micro-credentials
Ohio State also lists school-nurse licensure preparation, nurse educator, primary care, palliative care, clinical research, and leadership certificates on its Academics page. Confirm admission eligibility—several certificates require current RN or graduate standing.
Nursing sub-plans (especially DNP specialties and certificate pairings) rotate with workforce demand. Always verify the current bulletin, plan codes, and cohort deliverables with an admissions liaison.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
According to the Ohio Board of Nursing calendar year 2024 NCLEX pass rate memorandum (dated March 11, 2025), the statewide first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for Ohio-educated candidates was 89.55% compared with a national average of 91.16%; Ohio’s regulatory benchmark equals 95% of the national average (86.60% in 2024) under Rule 4723-5-23, OAC.
For Ohio State’s individual pre-licensure programs, open the Board’s 2024 Pass Rate Report PDF and locate each program name tied to the college. Copy the exact row (Delivered/Pass/Fail) for your pathway, then confirm newer calendar years when the Board posts them.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Ohio State program-specific first-time NCLEX-RN % | See program row in the Ohio Board of Nursing 2024 Pass Rate Report PDF. |
| Ohio statewide context (CY 2024) | 89.55% first-time pass rate for Ohio testers; national average 91.16% (OBN memo citing NCSBN). |
| Source | Ohio Board of Nursing 2024 NCLEX Pass Rate Report · nursing.ohio.gov. Confirm current cohort data with the Board and Ohio State College of Nursing. |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort. Always confirm the latest pass rates with the Ohio Board of Nursing and Ohio State College of Nursing.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Requirements for international students and internationally educated nurses vary by institution and state. Use the points below as a checklist; verify everything with Ohio State University College of Nursing and the Ohio Board of Nursing.
- English-language proficiency: TOEFL, IELTS, or other requirements and minimum scores for this school.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: WES, CGFNS, or other evaluators required by the school.
- Ohio Board of Nursing: For RN licensure (with or without a U.S. degree), confirm NCLEX eligibility and document requirements with the Board.
- Immigration & visa: Program eligibility for F-1 or other visa types and impact on clinical placements.
Policies change frequently. Verify with Ohio State Office of International Affairs, the College of Nursing admissions team, and the Ohio Board of Nursing.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
Ohio State’s BSN pathways are capacity-limited: students must earn admission to the nursing major before taking clinical nursing courses. The college publishes separate instructions for direct enrollment, second-year (traditional) admission, aBSN, and Graduate Entry MS.
Highlights from public BSN materials (confirm on live pages)
| Pathway | Published criteria snapshot | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Direct enrollment | Recruitment materials reference competitive high-school rank and standardized math scores for freshmen who enter nursing courses immediately; pull the live direct-enrollment page for the cohort you want. | Exact thresholds and deadlines update annually. |
| Second-year BSN | College BSN FAQs reference a cumulative 3.2 GPA, ≥30 semester credits, and seven science/prerequisite courses at C+ or higher prior to nursing coursework. | Autumn 2026 FAQs also note ~50% of seats may go to second-year applicants after direct admits. |
| Other routes | aBSN, LPN-to-BSN, RN-to-BSN, and graduate programs each maintain separate checklists. | Use the pathway-specific admissions page and nursing@osu.edu for document questions. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate (BSN) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Entrance exams (BSN) | ACT/SAT benchmarks described for direct enrollment; TEAS/HESI not emphasized on the public BSN overview reviewed for this guide—confirm for your cohort. |
| Deadlines | Term-specific; register for an overview session or email nursing@osu.edu. |
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
Ohio State publishes estimated billed expenses for undergraduates, including Columbus-campus tuition and general fees. The figures below come from the university’s “Basic costs” table for incoming students; nursing courses may trigger additional program, laboratory, or distance-learning assessments summarized on the Registrar fee pages.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Columbus undergraduate tuition & general fees | Ohio resident: $13,641 per academic year · Nonresident: $42,423 per academic year — 2025-2026 estimates, Undergraduate Admissions basic costs table. |
| Housing & food (typical plan) | $15,252 per academic year for the most common Columbus housing/dining bundle (same source). |
| International undergraduate subtotal (published) | Tuition & general fees listed at $45,526 including the international student fee line item on the same table. |
| Graduate nursing (per-credit illustration) | The 2025-26 graduate fee book lists, for example, Master of Science in Nursing instructional fees of $829.75/credit hour (Columbus) plus general and union fees, and notes that graduate nursing students also pay a Learning Technology fee ($239.04 at 6+ credits) and a $2,000 program fee, with distance-learning students swapping certain campus charges for Ohio State Online distance fees. |
| Source | Ohio State — Basic costs (2025-26) · College of Nursing BSN tuition overview · Registrar — Graduate tuition & fees |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Outcome metrics should always be tied to a source, program, and cohort year. The Ohio Board of Nursing’s published tables are the authoritative place to confirm NCLEX performance by approved program; for employment or salary statements, request the college’s consumer information or career survey disclosures.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN pass rate | Program-level percentage(s): see the Ohio Board of Nursing 2024 pass rate report; Ohio statewide first-time average 89.55% (2024). |
| Job placement / employment | Not publicly disclosed in the materials compiled for this guide; consult Ohio State career outcomes or the college’s student affairs office. |
| Source / next step | Confirm every outcome with the Ohio Board of Nursing and Ohio State College of Nursing. |
Is Ohio State Nursing the Right Fit for You?
Choose Ohio State when you want a large public research environment with deep integration into an academic medical center—and you can thrive in a prescribed, full-time clinical schedule.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Want early exposure to Ohio State Wexner Medical Center facilities and neighboring pediatric/behavioral hospitals cited in college FAQs.
- Prefer a college that publishes clear Columbus tuition guarantees and graduate nursing fee breakdowns for financial planning.
- Value extensive simulation infrastructure (Newton Hall TLC, Heminger Hall innovation labs).
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need a fully asynchronous pre-licensure option (Ohio State’s BSN remains largely campus-based with set clinical blocks).
- Prefer a very small private program; cohorts here are sized for a major research university.
- Expect to accelerate or slow down the traditional BSN lock-step plan—the college states that nursing course sequence is fixed once admitted.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Columbus anchors one of Ohio’s largest hospital markets. Ohio State BSN students rotate through the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center complex on the same medical campus as the College of Nursing; college FAQs also reference Ohio State East Hospital, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Ohio State Harding Hospital, and Ohio State Riverside Methodist Hospital for select experiences.
| Facility / system | Student relevance |
|---|---|
| Ohio State Wexner Medical Center | Academic medical center hosting many introductory nursing rotations within walking distance of Heminger/Newton halls. |
| Nationwide Children’s Hospital | Pediatric tertiary partner named in college BSN FAQ for pediatric-focused clinical experiences. |
| Ohio State East & Riverside campuses | Community and specialty hospitals cited for additional adult health placements per college FAQ distances (~7–10 minutes by car). |
| OhioHealth / other systems | Students may encounter additional contracted agencies throughout central Ohio as the college updates clinical agreements—confirm current partners with student affairs. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
Nursing students split time between Jane E. Heminger Hall and Newton Hall, linked by the three-story wellness atrium showcased in the college’s self-guided tour. Simulation suites mimic ICU, med–surg, OB, and neonatal environments, while maker and VR labs support innovation coursework.
Beyond facilities, the college advertises student organizations, global engagement opportunities, BSN honors research, and centralized career services—explore the “Student experience” navigation on nursing.osu.edu for the latest clubs and wellness programming.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Campus location
- Columbus, OH
- Address
- 1585 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, US
- Telephone
- +1-614-292-4041
- Contact email
- nursing@osu.edu
- Website
- nursing.osu.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Visit the official Ohio State University College of Nursing nursing website and download the current program brochure or student handbook if available.
- Review the prerequisite course list in the school catalog and compare it to your transcripts.
- If required, register for the TEAS, HESI, or other entrance exam. Confirm on the admissions page which test and minimum scores apply for your target semester.
- Draft a list of questions for an admissions counselor or the nursing program advising office.
- Reach out to current nursing students or alumni (e.g. via LinkedIn) to ask about clinical experiences and satisfaction.
- Begin outlining your personal statement (graduate programs) or prepare interview talking points (pre-licensure applicants).
- Check the application deadline for your target term and set reminders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ohio State University College of Nursing offer an accelerated BSN?
Yes. Ohio State brands the pathway as the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (aBSN); it is described on the college Academics page for career changers who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Confirm prerequisites and start dates on the official aBSN admissions materials.
What is the difference between Ohio State’s Graduate Entry MS and the traditional BSN?
The Graduate Entry Master of Science is a graduate-level, pre-licensure route for students who already completed a prior bachelor’s, while the traditional BSN admits first- or second-year undergraduates (plus LPN articulation) into the 122-credit baccalaureate plan. Each has distinct prerequisites—compare the Graduate Entry and BSN admissions pages.
How do I read Ohio State’s NCLEX pass rate on the Ohio Board of Nursing report?
Download the Board’s calendar year 2024 PDF, search for each Ohio State program name, and note the Delivered/Pass/Fail columns. Benchmark context (89.55% Ohio average vs. 91.16% national in 2024) is summarized in the memo header.
What tuition numbers should Columbus nursing undergraduates budget?
For academic year 2025-26, Ohio State lists Columbus tuition and general fees of $13,641 (Ohio resident) and $42,423 (nonresident), plus a commonly quoted $15,252 housing/food bundle—see the Basic Costs page linked from the college’s BSN tuition overview.
Are there extra fees for Ohio State graduate nursing (MSN/DNP)?
The University Registrar’s graduate fee tables show instructional rates for Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice, and they explicitly add a graduate nursing Learning Technology fee (up to $239.04 at six or more credits) plus a $2,000 program fee for most currently enrolled cohorts. Distance learners pay alternate distance fee bundles.
Where do Ohio State BSN students complete clinicals?
College BSN FAQs describe rotations at Ohio State’s medical campus, including the Wexner inpatient complex, Ross Heart Hospital, James Cancer Hospital, and Harding Hospital, plus Ohio State East, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and Riverside Methodist for some assignments.
Is there a lock-step curriculum for the traditional BSN?
Yes. Public FAQs describe a lock-step plan in which admitted students receive a curriculum map and cannot rearrange nursing courses to graduate early or late without college approval.
What accreditations should I verify for Ohio State nursing?
The BSN page states CCNE accreditation for the baccalaureate program; graduate programs should be checked individually against CCNE or other recognized accreditors and against the Ohio Board of Nursing approved-program list.
How can I contact Ohio State College of Nursing admissions?
Email nursing@osu.edu, call 614-292-4041, or register for overview sessions hosted by outreach and recruitment.
References
- Ohio State University College of Nursing — Academicsnursing.osu.edu/academics
- Ohio State — BSN overview & CCNE statementBachelor of Science in Nursing
- Ohio State — BSN tuition / cost linksBSN tuition
- Ohio State — Undergraduate basic costs (2025-26)undergrad.osu.edu/cost-and-aid/basic-costs
- Ohio State Registrar — Graduate tuition & fees (2025-26)Graduate tuition & fees
- Ohio Board of Nursing — NCLEX pass rate report (CY 2024 PDF)2024 Pass Rate Report
- Ohio Board of Nursing — homenursing.ohio.gov
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)ncsbn.org
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Registered Nursesbls.gov/ooh
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, for alignment with Ohio State College of Nursing program listings, 2025-26 Ohio State tuition disclosures, and Ohio Board of Nursing 2024 NCLEX memorandum figures.
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and policies change; always verify with the institution and the Ohio Board of Nursing.
Published: 2026-03-31 · Last reviewed: March 31, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy