Kent State Nursing: Programs, NCLEX & Requirements (2026)
Kent State University College of Nursing sits in northeast Ohio between Akron, Cleveland, and Youngstown, with Traditional BSN sites across the region plus online RN-to-BSN and graduate pathways through the DNP and Ph.D. This guide summarizes official program offerings, school-published BSN NCLEX outcomes, and 2025–2026 tuition snapshots; confirm every deadline and requirement with the college and the Ohio Board of Nursing.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
Kent State runs one of the largest public nursing programs in the U.S., with pre-licensure BSN instruction on five northeast Ohio campuses, an accelerated second-degree BSN sequence (about 15 months), nationally promoted online RN-to-BSN completion, and CCNE-accredited graduate APRN leadership—not a generic template school.
Overview & Why Students Choose Kent State
Located in Kent, Ohio, the college brands itself as one of the nation’s largest nursing schools, with multiple BSN campus sites across northeast Ohio so students can pursue pre-licensure training closer to home while still accessing the same curriculum framework. Beyond the Traditional BSN, Kent State markets flexible bridge and completion options—Accelerated Second Degree BSN, LPN & Allied Health to BSN, and 100% online RN-to-BSN—plus graduate concentrations that span nurse administration, education, clinical nurse specialist practice, and six nurse practitioner specialties.
The college is approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing for pre-licensure RN education and publishes CCNE accreditation for its baccalaureate, master’s, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs on the public nursing homepage.
Kent State’s Board and Licensure Pass Rates PDF lists BSN NCLEX-RN results across five reporting columns; the rightmost column shows 349 of 383 candidates passing (91%, school-reported). The Ohio Board of Nursing’s calendar-year 2024 summary reported an Ohio average first-time RN pass rate of 89.55% (national 91.16%)—use OBN reports when you need the same methodology the Board applies to program oversight.
Reasons students choose Kent State University College of Nursing
Multi-campus BSN footprint
Marketing materials highlight Traditional BSN instruction on five northeast Ohio campuses, expanding access to clinical rotations and simulation without assuming everyone relocates to Kent full time.
Accelerated & bridge pathways
The Accelerated Second Degree BSN is pitched as roughly 15 months for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree; LPN and allied-health bridges target working professionals with prior credentials.
Large-scale online RN-to-BSN
Kent promotes a 100% online RN-to-BSN completion track for diploma- or associate-prepared RNs—useful for nurses who need schedule flexibility.
Broad graduate menu
MSN concentrations include 100% online administration, educator, and adult-gerontology CNS options plus six NP tracks; doctoral students can choose DNP or Ph.D. trajectories.
Innovation spotlight
Recent Kent State news features highlight AI-supported VR simulation work inside the nursing program—confirm lab access and curriculum integration with the college.
Nursing Programs Offered
Programs below mirror the College of Nursing programs page and advanced-degree descriptions on kent.edu. Kent State also operates other health-related degrees outside this college; this page focuses on the College of Nursing catalog.
Pre-licensure & undergraduate completion
Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Four-year pre-licensure BSN preparing graduates for RN licensure; Kent State advertises BSN delivery on five northeast Ohio campuses with simulation and diverse clinical rotations.
Accelerated Second Degree BSN (ABSN)
Accelerated BSN (ABSN)—Kent State’s accelerated sequence for applicants who already hold a bachelor’s degree; the college cites completion in as few as 15 months with intensive on-campus and hospital experiences centered in northeast Ohio.
LPN & Allied Health to BSN
Bridge BSN route for LPNs and select allied health professionals (PTA, OTA, RT, paramedic/EMT, combat medic, etc.) who need a flexible path to the BSN.
RN to BSN
100% online BSN completion for registered nurses who enter with a diploma or associate degree in nursing.
Graduate nursing
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Concentrations include Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (100% online), Nursing Administration & Health Systems Leadership (100% online), Nurse Educator (100% online), and six nurse practitioner tracks: AGACNP, AGPCNP, FNP, Pediatric Primary Care NP, PMHNP, and Women’s Health NP (WHNP is described as 100% online).
Post-Master’s Certificates
Certificates for nurses who already hold graduate preparation and want to add advanced practice or leadership specialties.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Terminal practice doctorate; Kent State advertises multiple progression options, including pathways for MSN-prepared nurses moving toward the DNP.
Ph.D. in Nursing
Research doctorate for careers in scholarship, teaching, and health-system leadership.
Kent State’s Board and Licensure Pass Rates hub also links NCLEX data for a Nursing ADN AAS housed under the College of Applied and Technical Studies—not the College of Nursing BSN programs summarized above. If you are evaluating associate-level options, review that program’s materials separately.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
Pre-licensure BSN NCLEX-RN performance is published in Kent State’s Board and Licensure Pass Rates PDF (College of Nursing). The BSN row lists five consecutive reporting columns; reading left-to-right, the pass rates shown are 89%, 89%, 82%, 91%, and 91%, with candidate counts 405/362, 444/393, 450/368, 391/354, and 383/349 (took exam / passed). We cite the rightmost 91% (349 of 383 passed) as the newest column in that table—confirm the printed year labels on the PDF because they can differ from Ohio Board of Nursing calendar-year reports.
For Ohio-level context, the Board’s March 11, 2025 memorandum summarizing calendar year 2024 data reported an Ohio average first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate of 89.55% (national average 91.16%; benchmark 95% of national average 86.60%). Use that memorandum when you need the same definitions the Board applies in program oversight.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| BSN NCLEX-RN (latest column, school table) | 91% — 349 of 383 first-time candidates passed (Kent State disclosure PDF) |
| Prior columns (same KSU table) | 91% (354/391), 82% (368/450), 89% (393/444), 89% (362/405), left to right |
| Ohio average (calendar 2024, first-time) | 89.55% — Ohio Board of Nursing 2024 pass rate memorandum |
| Source | Kent State Board and Licensure Pass Rates (College of Nursing BSN); Ohio Board of Nursing 2024 Pass Rate Report (PDF). Confirm current cohorts with Kent State and the Ohio Board of Nursing. |
Marketing pages sometimes highlight a single NCLEX headline (for example older Freshman pages referenced a 96% figure). Trust the pass-rate PDF and the Ohio Board of Nursing for auditable outcomes. NCLEX performance varies by cohort—always verify the latest data.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
International applicants and internationally educated nurses must satisfy both Kent State requirements and Ohio Board of Nursing rules for RN licensure and clinical placement. Start with the checklist below, then confirm details on the College of Nursing international admissions page and nursing.ohio.gov.
- 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 Kent State international student services and the Ohio Board of Nursing. This is guidance, not legal advice.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
Kent State splits nursing admissions by audience—new freshmen, undergraduate transfers and degree-completion paths, and graduate applicants. Many pre-licensure tracks are capacity-limited, so expect prerequisite coursework, GPA thresholds, and possible entrance testing even when the exact percentile acceptance rate is not published.
Application timeline
| Entry Term | Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Varies by program | See NursingCAS / graduate app | Undergraduate pre-licensure applicants typically apply via NursingCAS; accelerated, bridge, RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP, and Ph.D. applicants each have pathway-specific instructions on kent.edu. |
| Information forums | Seasonal | The college hosts information forums for prospective students—check dates each cycle. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate (Nursing) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Minimum GPA / prerequisites | Program-specific; confirm in the pathway handbook and NursingCAS sections for your cycle |
| TEAS / HESI | Not confirmed on the high-level admissions hub summarized here—check NursingCAS requirements for your intended term |
| Next step | Call 330-672-7911 (admissions) or email via the contact page |
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
Kent State publishes 2025–2026 Tuition Guarantee figures for new first-year and transfer undergraduates alongside separate tables for graduate students. Nursing majors pay the same instructional/general tuition tier as other majors but may owe program, clinical, or course fees from the University Fee Register.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate tuition (Kent Campus, 2025–26 guarantee cohort, 12–18 cr / academic year) | $13,445.20 Ohio resident instructional & general tuition; $23,590.40 non-Ohio resident. Additional $610.75 per credit for credits above 18 per term. |
| Published COA example (same table) | Illustrative food & housing allowance $13,920 (standard double + Blue meal plan)—actual housing costs vary. |
| Graduate tuition snapshot (cost-at-a-glance, 11–18 cr / yr) | $13,448.72 Ohio resident; $25,091.38 non-Ohio resident; $612.62 per credit above 18. |
| Regional campus coursework | If you split credits between Kent and regional sites, guarantee pricing rules cap combined tuition—see regional tables. |
| Source | Kent State Tuition & Fees; 2025–2026 Tuition Guarantee Rates. Confirm cohort rules with the Bursar. |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Use the licensure tables for hard outcomes. MSN rows in the same Kent State PDF report national certification exam percentages by specialty (for example, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP cells show 94% to 97% across the years printed in that row—school-reported); sample sizes are smaller than BSN cohorts, so treat year-to-year swings carefully.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN (BSN) | See § NCLEX; latest column 91% (349/383), Kent State PDF |
| APRN certification (MSN row examples) | Vendors and exam types differ by specialty—use the same Board and Licensure Pass Rates PDF for NP/CNS cohorts |
| Job placement / salary | Not publicly disclosed on the pages summarized here; check the college’s career services or alumni outcomes materials if published |
| Source | Kent State Board and Licensure Pass Rates. Confirm current reports with the college. |
Is Kent State University College of Nursing the Right Fit for You?
Kent State fits applicants who want a large public program with multiple campus footprints, deep online graduate options, and transparent licensure reporting—but you should still weigh cost, commute, and pathway-specific admissions rules.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Want Traditional BSN proximity options across northeast Ohio rather than a single-site program.
- Need an accelerated or bridge plan (second-degree ABSN, LPN/allied-health bridge, or online RN-to-BSN).
- Plan to pursue MSN or DNP concentrations with substantial online delivery.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Prefer a very small cohort model without the logistics of a large public college.
- Require every portion of their program inside one micro-region with no travel between Kent and affiliate hospitals.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Kent sits along the I-76 corridor between Akron and Cleveland, giving nursing students access to major integrated delivery networks, community hospitals, long-term care systems, and outpatient networks across Summit, Portage, Cuyahoga, Stark, and adjacent counties. Program materials emphasize diverse clinical experiences throughout northeast Ohio; your assigned sites depend on cohort, campus, and partnership availability.
| Facility / system type | Details |
|---|---|
| Akron / Canton corridor | Community and specialty hospitals, pediatric centers, and ambulatory surgical networks feed nursing workforce demand south of Cleveland. |
| Greater Cleveland | Academic medical centers, safety-net hospitals, and magnet-designated organizations provide high-acuity learning environments within driving distance of Kent. |
| Youngstown / Warren region | Eastern Ohio health systems add rural and urban mix settings for clinical exposure. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
College communications highlight Henderson Hall on the Kent Campus as the nursing hub alongside high-fidelity simulation laboratories. Students can tap into Kent State’s broader student organizations, research events, and the college’s information forums and convocation ceremonies. Recent university news has spotlighted VR-enhanced simulation projects within nursing—ask admissions how those tools appear in your intended cohort.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Campus location
- Kent, OH
- Address
- 1375 University Esplanade, Kent, OH 44242, US
- Main telephone
- 330-672-7930
- Admissions telephone
- 330-672-7911
- Contact
- College of Nursing contact page (form + phones)
- Website
- kent.edu/nursing
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Visit the official Kent State College of Nursing hub and download any public handbooks or FAQs for your pathway.
- Compare your transcripts to the Kent State / NursingCAS prerequisite tables for Traditional vs. Accelerated vs. RN tracks.
- Open a NursingCAS account (if required) and note whether supplemental exams (TEAS/HESI) appear for your term.
- Save the licensure pass-rate PDF and Ohio Board PDF so you can track annual updates.
- Call 330-672-7911 with questions about campus placement for the Traditional BSN locations you prefer.
- Attend an information forum if one is scheduled before you apply.
- Review the tuition guarantee sheet to see how regional coursework might blend with Kent Campus charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What NCLEX-RN data does Kent State University College of Nursing publish for its BSN program?
Kent State’s Board and Licensure Pass Rates PDF lists five columns for the BSN NCLEX table; the newest column shows 349 of 383 testers passing (91%, school-reported). Confirm cohort labels on the PDF and compare with Ohio Board of Nursing calendar-year reporting when you need regulatory definitions.
What undergraduate nursing pathways does Kent State advertise on kent.edu?
The programs page lists Traditional BSN, Accelerated Second Degree BSN (~15 months for eligible second-degree students), LPN and Allied Health to BSN, and 100% online RN-to-BSN.
What MSN concentrations does Kent State offer?
Advanced-degree pages reference Adult-Gerontology CNS, Nursing Administration and Health Systems Leadership, Nurse Educator (each described as 100% online) plus NP tracks in AGACNP, AGPCNP, FNP, Pediatric Primary Care, PMHNP, and WHNP (WHNP described as 100% online).
What tuition does Kent State publish for Kent Campus undergraduates in 2025–2026?
The Tuition Guarantee tables list $13,445.20 per academic year for Ohio residents and $23,590.40 for non-Ohio residents covering 12–18 semester hours across two terms, before program-specific fees.
What graduate tuition figures appear on Kent’s public cost snapshot?
Kent’s graduate cost-at-a-glance lists roughly $13,448.72 for Ohio residents and $25,091.38 for non-Ohio residents when enrolled 11–18 graduate credits per year (non-guarantee table), plus per-credit charges above 18.
Is Kent State’s College of Nursing CCNE-accredited?
The college website states CCNE accreditation for the baccalaureate, master’s, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs and lists CCNE’s Washington, DC contact information. Confirm nursing Ph.D. scope separately with CCNE and Kent State.
Where is the College of Nursing located—and who answers admissions calls?
The contact page lists 1375 University Esplanade, Kent, OH 44242, general phone 330-672-7930, and admissions 330-672-7911.
Does Kent State offer both DNP and Ph.D. nursing doctorates?
Yes—the college advertises a practice DNP and a research Ph.D. in Nursing via its doctoral program pages.
Where should internationally educated nurses start for Ohio licensure?
Pair Kent State’s international nursing admissions guidance with Ohio Board of Nursing instructions for NCLEX eligibility and documentation. Policies change—this is guidance, not legal advice.
References
- Kent State University College of Nursinghttps://www.kent.edu/nursing
- Kent State nursing programs overviewhttps://www.kent.edu/nursing/programs
- Kent State Board and Licensure Pass Rates (College of Nursing)https://www.kent.edu/node/1007953
- Kent State Tuition & Feeshttps://www.kent.edu/tuition
- Kent State 2025–2026 Tuition Guarantee Rateshttps://www.kent.edu/bursar/2025-2026-tuition-guarantee-rates
- Ohio Board of Nursinghttps://nursing.ohio.gov/
- Ohio Board of Nursing — 2024 NCLEX Pass Rate Report (PDF)2024_Pass_Rate_Report.pdf
- 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, with emphasis on Kent State program listings, CCNE disclosure language, 2025–2026 tuition tables, and alignment between the college’s licensure PDF and Ohio Board of Nursing reporting.
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