Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Nursing: Programs, NCLEX and Requirements (2026)
Cincinnati State's Bethesda School of Nursing offers an ACEN-accredited ADN with an LPN-to-RN track, a Practical Nursing certificate, and an online-friendly RN-BSN completion program. This guide summarizes catalog admissions (including TEAS), official tuition estimates, and NCLEX disclosures. Confirm your cohort details with the college and the Ohio Board of Nursing.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
Cincinnati State stacks LPN → ADN → online RN-BSN on one Clifton campus footprint and publishes named clinical partners such as Cincinnati Children's and UC Health—useful if you want a single institution to ladder credentials while staying in Greater Cincinnati.
Overview & Why Students Choose Cincinnati State
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College sits on Central Parkway in Cincinnati, Ohio, and operates the Cincinnati State Bethesda School of Nursing alongside a Health and Public Safety division dedicated to workforce-focused health programs. Rather than offering a pre-licensure bachelor's on this campus, the college concentrates on a 65-credit ADN, a one-year Practical Nursing certificate, an LPN bridge into the ADN, and a post-licensure RN-BSN completion track designed for working RNs.
That mix appeals to local students who need affordability, clear clinical pipelines, and the option to ladder from STNA/LPN credentials to RN and eventually BSN without leaving the Cincinnati metro area.
Cincinnati State's public nursing recruitment page cites a 98.02% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for calendar year 2024, compared with 89.55% Ohio and 91.16% national averages that match the memo statistics in the Ohio Board of Nursing "Calendar Year 2024 NCLEX Pass Rates" PDF (March 11, 2025). Confirm the Bethesda ADN line item, cohort testing volumes, and any updated year in that report and with the college.
Reasons students choose Cincinnati State
Full ladder LPN → ADN → RN-BSN
Catalog and marketing pages describe a complete pathway from Practical Nursing through the Bethesda ADN to the online-friendly RN-BSN completion program—helpful if you want one college to coordinate prerequisites and transfer blocks.
Documented clinical partners
The college publishes representative affiliations including Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, TriHealth, UC Health, Mercy Health, and behavioral-health sites—strong exposure for a community college footprint.
Transparent cost worksheets
Official PDFs break down per-semester tuition, lab and web-course fees, uniforms, and books for ADN and RN-BSN tracks so you can budget beyond the per-credit headline rate.
ACEN oversight on the ADN
The associate program carries ACEN accreditation with a published "Continuing Accreditation" decision, plus Ohio Board of Nursing approval—pair that with selective admission checkpoints to gauge seriousness of preparation.
Selective but structured entry
Requirements such as Ohio STNA registry (or LPN license), biology/chemistry within seven years, 2.75 GPA thresholds, background screening, and TEAS testing create a predictable checklist—if demanding—before transitioning into clinical nursing courses.
Nursing Programs Offered
The following list mirrors Cincinnati State's official catalog Nursing Programs overview: pre-licensure ADN and PN offerings, an LPN acceleration option within the ADN, and a post-licensure RN-BSN completion track.
Pre-licensure
Cincinnati State Bethesda School of Nursing — Associate Degree in Nursing (NUR)
ACEN-accredited, Ohio Board of Nursing-approved AAS pathway (65 credits) culminating in NCLEX-RN eligibility. Students must be an Ohio STNA or LPN before clinicals, maintain at least a 2.75 GPA for selective progression, complete TEAS requirements, and satisfy immunization and background policies listed in the catalog.
Practical Nursing Certificate (PNC)
Certificate that prepares graduates for NCLEX-PN. Built for students who want to enter the workforce quickly and later bridge into the Bethesda ADN via the published LPN progression plan.
Progression / bridge
Nursing LPN-to-RN Progression (NURP)
For graduates who already hold an unencumbered Ohio LPN license: transition courses (for example NUR 105/106) replace early ADN semesters while awarding blocks of credit for prior practical education when chair-approved.
Post-licensure
RN to BSN Completion (NURB)
BSN completion for licensed RNs; curriculum sheets show completion in as little as three semesters with flexible pacing. As of December 9, 2024, the college lists the program as an ACEN candidate for initial accreditation (expires December 9, 2026). Candidacy is not full accreditation; confirm current status with ACEN and the college.
Candidacy is not full accreditation. Cincinnati State states candidacy effective December 9, 2024 with expiration December 9, 2026 and describes a planned ACEN site visit February 10-12, 2026. Confirm the program's current status with ACEN and Cincinnati State before you commit.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
For the Bethesda ADN, Cincinnati State's public nursing page reports a 98.02% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for calendar year 2024, citing the same 89.55% (Ohio) and 91.16% (national) averages contained in the Ohio Board of Nursing "Calendar Year 2024 NCLEX Pass Rates" memorandum dated March 11, 2025.
NCLEX-PN (Practical Nursing)
Cincinnati State's Practical Nursing promotional page references a 96% pass outcome without identifying the cohort year or whether the statistic is limited to first-time testers in a single calendar period. For official NCLEX-PN rates by program and year, use the Ohio Board of Nursing pass-rate publications and confirm methodology with the college.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate (school-reported) | 98.02% (calendar year 2024, per Cincinnati State "Best RN program" page, compared to OBN-published Ohio and national averages). |
| NCLEX-PN | 96% referenced on Cincinnati State Practical Nursing page (cohort/year/method not stated on that page); confirm with Ohio BON PDF tables. |
| Source | Ohio Board of Nursing — CY 2024 NCLEX Pass Rate Report (PDF); nursing.ohio.gov. Confirm program-level figures and newer years with the Board and Cincinnati State. |
Pass rates differ by cohort and test type (RN vs PN). Always confirm the latest program outcomes with the Ohio Board of Nursing and Cincinnati State before choosing where to enroll.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Requirements for international applicants and internationally educated nurses change often. Use the checklist below as a starting point, then confirm every item with Cincinnati State's admissions/international offices and the Ohio Board of Nursing.
- English-language proficiency: Ask Cincinnati State for current TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo rules (if any) for the Nursing major and for institution-wide admission.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: Confirm whether WES, CGFNS, or other evaluations are required for prerequisite coursework earned outside the United States.
- Ohio Board of Nursing: For licensure by examination or endorsement, review the Board's instructions on transcripts, criminal-history questions, and NCLEX eligibility.
- Immigration & visa status: Clinical courses require background checks and U.S.-based placements; confirm whether your visa category allows participation before committing to a start term.
This section is general guidance only—not legal advice. Verify policies with Cincinnati State and nursing.ohio.gov.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
Cincinnati State admits students to the college separately from admitting students into clinical nursing courses. Nursing (NUR), Practical Nursing (PN), and other Health & Public Safety programs use selective progression: you must satisfy GPA, science, registry, background, immunization, and testing checkpoints before each clinical cohort.
Application timeline
| Resource | Where to look | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NUR / NURP selective calendar | NUR & NURP Selective Admission Process Calendar PDF | Lists application windows and TEAS-related steps by entry term; download the newest revision on the Nursing (NUR) page. |
| Health selective admission hub | Health & Public Safety Selective Admission | Explains progression, TEAS registration, and advising expectations for health majors. |
| College admission | Cincinnati State Admissions | Complete institutional admission before nursing selective paperwork. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate (nursing clinical seats) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Minimum GPA (clinical progression) | The public NUR program page cites a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 to enter nursing clinical courses (plus a 2.75 minimum in math/science for progression language on the overview page). |
| TEAS / HESI | The Nursing program page links to selective admission information naming the TEAS. Confirm minimum scores and retake policies with your advisor. |
| Prerequisites | High school or college biology and chemistry with grades of C or better within seven years; active Ohio STNA registry or LPN license prior to clinical nursing courses. |
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
Use both the all-student tuition grid and the nursing-specific estimated-cost PDFs—the latter include high lab/course fees, clinical supplies, parking, and health requirements that generic per-credit math omits.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Tuition per credit (2025–2026) | $193.64 Ohio resident; $382.28 out-of-state. Kentucky and Indiana residents may qualify for in-state rates when reciprocity applies (per catalog tuition page). |
| ADN (NUR) total estimate | College PDF "NUR Estimated Costs 2025-26" shows about $20,036 grand total for a representative in-state student including tuition, mandatory fees estimate, textbooks, uniforms, immunizations, and parking assumptions. |
| RN-BSN (NURB) total estimate | "NURB Tuition and Fees 2025 (estimated)" lists roughly $11,401.52 for in-state completion costs including web-course fees, books, and health clearances. |
| Source | Cincinnati State catalog — Tuition and Fees; NUR Estimated Costs 2025–26 (PDF); NURB Tuition & Fees 2025 estimated (PDF). |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
The Cincinnati metro area hosts large multi-hospital health systems, so graduates of Cincinnati State nursing programs typically find clinical exposure and employer demand—but individual job offers depend on licensure, performance, and timing.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN (ADN) | Cincinnati State reports 98.02% first-time pass rate for calendar year 2024 (school page citing Ohio/national averages from the Ohio BON CY2024 memo). Confirm current cohort data via the Ohio BON PDF and the college. |
| NCLEX-PN | College promotional copy references 96% without cohort detail; verify with Ohio BON tables. |
| Employment / salary marketing figures | Promotional pages repeat BLS-style projections and salary ranges. For example, the RN page cites BLS projections for RN employment growth and a $86,070 median wage statement attributable to BLS. Treat marketing figures as orientation only—confirm methodology and year at bls.gov. |
| Program-level outcomes PDFs | Download the NUR/NURP and RN-BSN annual outcomes documents linked on the official program pages for completion or retention metrics when published. |
Is Cincinnati State the Right Fit for You?
Cincinnati State is strongest for students who want an affordable public-college pathway with transparent checklists—but it is still selective within clinical majors.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Plan to work locally in Greater Cincinnati and value named partnerships with major health systems.
- Want to start as an STNA/LPN or accelerate from LPN to RN without hunting for a new college each step.
- Prefer structured progression (GPA thresholds, TEAS, uniform clinical expectations) over an open-admission model.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need a traditional four-year BSN on a residential campus without transferring elsewhere first.
- Cannot commit to daytime/weekend clinical schedules common in associate-level programs.
- Require a fully ACEN-accredited RN-BSN immediately; the RN-BSN track remains in ACEN candidacy as of late 2024—confirm status before enrolling if that is a hard requirement.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Cincinnati State Bethesda School of Nursing rotates students through large tertiary centers and community partners across Greater Cincinnati. The college's public Nursing (NUR) materials name representative affiliates such as Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Drake Center, IKRON, Mercy Health partners of southwest Ohio, TriHealth, UC Health, and St. Elizabeth Healthcare Summit Behavioral Center—typical of a metro clinical network with children's hospitals, behavioral health, rehabilitation, and multi-hospital systems.
| Facility / system | Role for students |
|---|---|
| Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center | Pediatric acute and specialty exposure; flagship Children's affiliate commonly cited on Cincinnati State nursing pages. |
| UC Health | Academic health system clinical sites; part of the Cincinnati academic medical center corridor. |
| TriHealth | Multi-hospital faith-based system serving Hamilton County and northern Kentucky. |
| Mercy Health (southwest Ohio partners) | Regional acute-care and community settings for adult medical-surgical and specialty rotations. |
| Drake Center | Long-term acute and rehab-style care referenced among Cincinnati State partnership examples. |
| IKRON Corporation | Community behavioral-health partner listed in Cincinnati State clinical materials. |
| St. Elizabeth Healthcare — Summit Behavioral Health Center | Behavioral-health site type frequently paired with adult psych clinical objectives. |
Clinical assignments shift by cohort, capacity, and preceptor availability. Confirm current contracts and travel expectations with the program office before you commit to a start term.
Student Experience & Campus Life
Nursing courses and advising for the Clifton footprint are centered in the Health Professions Building (Health & Public Safety division office in Room 312). Expect a commuter-oriented campus: students often balance work and family while completing dense science and nursing theory courses before clinicals.
The division publishes a Health & Public Safety student handbook (PDF) covering professionalism expectations, uniforms, documentation, and progression policies—use it alongside each program's selective-admission checklist. Student experience also includes college-wide services (tutoring, accessibility, veterans resources) reachable through the main Welcome Center on Central Parkway.
For co-curricular involvement, pre-licensure students sometimes connect with state or national nursing student associations; ask the program office or advisor which active chapters or service projects align with your cohort year.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Campus location
- Cincinnati, OH (Clifton / Central Parkway)
- Main address
- 3520 Central Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45223, US
- General information
- (513) 569-1500
- Health & Public Safety division
- Room 312, Health Professions Building — (513) 569-1670
- Admissions email
- adm@cincinnatistate.edu (general college admission)
- Website
- cincinnatistate.edu
Official links
Your "Next 7 Days" checklist
- Download the current NUR/NURP selective admission calendar (PDF) and the Health & Public Safety selective admission overview for your entry term.
- Compare your transcripts to the catalog Nursing Programs prerequisites and contact Health & Public Safety advising if you need a course-by-course plan.
- Register for the TEAS if you are targeting a selective clinical start; confirm minimum scores and retake rules on the official progression pages.
- Budget using the NUR estimated cost sheet or NURB tuition PDF plus the catalog per-credit table.
- Read the Health & Public Safety student handbook for clinical dress, conduct, and compliance expectations.
- If you are comparing RN-BSN options, pull the current ACEN status language from the NURB program page and verify whether candidacy meets your employer or graduate-school requirements.
- Bookmark the Ohio Board of Nursing for licensure and pass-rate publications you will use after graduation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What nursing programs does Cincinnati State Technical and Community College offer?
Per the college catalog Nursing Programs overview, Cincinnati State offers: (1) the Cincinnati State Bethesda School of Nursing associate degree nursing program (ADN, NUR) for NCLEX-RN; (2) Practical Nursing Certificate (PNC) for NCLEX-PN; (3) Nursing LPN-to-RN Progression (NURP) for licensed practical nurses; and (4) RN to BSN Completion (NURB) for licensed RNs seeking a BSN.
What NCLEX-RN pass rate does Cincinnati State report for recent graduates?
On its 2026 nursing recruitment page, Cincinnati State states a first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate of 98.02% for calendar year 2024, noting it exceeded Ohio (89.55%) and national (91.16%) averages published in the Ohio Board of Nursing Calendar Year 2024 NCLEX pass rate report memo. Confirm the official program-level rate and cohort size in that Ohio BON PDF and with the college.
Does Cincinnati State require TEAS for nursing admission?
Cincinnati State's public Nursing (NUR) program page links to Health and Public Safety selective admission information and explicitly references the TEAS test. Nursing students must meet selective admission steps, including a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 for clinical entry (as stated for the Nursing program), and an admissions test for progression into clinical courses. Confirm deadlines and minimum TEAS scores for your cohort with the nursing program and admissions.
What are Cincinnati State's tuition rates for nursing students?
The college catalog lists 2025–2026 tuition at $193.64 per credit hour for Ohio residents and $382.28 for out-of-state students, with Kentucky and Indiana residents eligible for Ohio in-state tuition where reciprocity applies. Program-specific estimated cost sheets further break down nursing totals—for example, the NUR Estimated Costs 2025–26 PDF lists a grand total estimated cost of about $20,036 for in-state ADN students including fees and typical expenses; the NURB Tuition and Fees 2025 (estimated) PDF lists about $11,401.52 for in-state RN-BSN completion. Charges can change; verify with the Bursar and your program advisor.
Is the Cincinnati State ADN program accredited?
Cincinnati State states on its Nursing (NUR) program page that the Associate Degree Nursing program is accredited by ACEN with the most recent decision described as Continuing Accreditation, and is approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing. Confirm current ACEN and board status using official sources.
Is Cincinnati State's RN-BSN program fully accredited?
The college's RN-BSN program page states that effective December 9, 2024, the RN-BSN Completion Program is a candidate for initial accreditation by ACEN, with candidacy expiring December 9, 2026. Candidacy is not the same as full accreditation; confirm current status with ACEN and Cincinnati State before enrolling if program accreditation status is a priority for you.
Where do Cincinnati State nursing students complete clinicals?
The college's Nursing (NUR) program page lists representative clinical and partnership sites that include Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Drake Center, IKRON, Mercy Health partners of southwest Ohio, TriHealth, UC Health, St. Elizabeth Healthcare Summit Behavioral Center, and others. Actual assignments vary by semester and capacity; confirm current affiliation agreements and site availability with the program.
Does Cincinnati State offer an LPN-to-RN pathway?
Yes. The catalog describes the Nursing LPN-to-RN Progression program (NURP), allowing Ohio-licensed LPNs with an unencumbered license to complete the associate nursing degree through transition courses such as NUR 105 and NUR 106, with possible advanced standing (for example NUR 150). Meet with the Nursing Program Chair or a nursing advisor for individualized planning.
What NCLEX-PN information is available for Cincinnati State Practical Nursing?
Cincinnati State's Practical Nursing promotional page references a reported 96% Practical Nursing pass outcome without publishing a cohort year or methodology on that page. For official NCLEX-PN program pass rates by calendar year, use the Ohio Board of Nursing Calendar Year NCLEX pass rate reports and confirm details with the college.
References
- Cincinnati State — Catalog, Nursing Programscatalog.cincinnatistate.edu (Health & Public Safety / Nursing)
- Cincinnati State — Associate Degree Nursing (NUR)cincinnatistate.edu (NUR)
- Cincinnati State — Practical Nursing Certificate (PNC)cincinnatistate.edu (PNC)
- Cincinnati State — RN to BSN Completion (NURB)cincinnatistate.edu (NURB)
- Cincinnati State — Tuition & fees (catalog)catalog — Tuition and Fees
- Cincinnati State — Health & Public Safety selective admissionHealth & Public Safety Selective Admission
- Ohio Board of Nursing — NCLEX pass rates (CY 2024 PDF used on page)2024 Pass Rate Report (PDF) · nursing.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 Cincinnati State program scope (ADN, PN, LPN-RN, RN-BSN), TEAS/selective-admission language, catalog tuition and nursing cost PDFs, and NCLEX disclosures tied to Ohio BON publications.
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: March 31, 2026 · Last reviewed: March 31, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy