Top Online (Hybrid) LPN Programs in Ohio: How to Compare & Choose

Personalizing Your Ohio LPN Program Search

From community and junior colleges to private career schools, Ohio is home to a number of practical nursing programs that provide solid training and prepare graduates for licensure. However, because each student has unique educational and career needs, finding the right program becomes critical.

• Cost-conscious students may want a more affordable LPN program to save money along the way.
• Leadership-focused students may want a program that leads to RN training down the road.

To find a program that best meets your needs, select the student profile below that seems the most like you.

Select a Student

The Recent HS Grad

The Career Changer

The Budget Watcher

The Future RN

The Local Student

The Relocator

The Recent HS Grad

You’ve graduated high school and want to start a nursing career close to home in Ohio, beginning with an LPN program instead of a long degree.

Best programs for you: Look for programs below with these characteristics.

No Prior Experience State Approved Hybrid Format

Why these programs:

Starting right after high school, you’ll want a program that expects no prior experience and is approved to prepare Ohio students for licensure. Hybrid delivery handles theory online and reserves campus time for hands-on clinical practice.

Relevant EduMed Resources

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LPN Training Options in Ohio

Ohio’s LPN programs fall into three groups, and each has a different mix of price, pace, and flexibility. Adult education programs at career and technical centers are often the most direct route, running about a year on a clock-hour schedule. Community colleges award credit-bearing certificates, and several add evening and weekend tracks. Private colleges such as Fortis and Hondros offer multiple campuses, part-time schedules, and in Fortis’s case, hybrid delivery. Here’s how they compare side-by-side.

What Makes LPN Training in Ohio Unique

Ohio stands out for its sheer number of LPN programs, and for how openly its Board reports on their performance. That transparency is important, because results can vary widely from school to school and program to program. Keep these points in mind as you research and compare Ohio LPN programs.

Ohio PN Programs with Published NCLEX-PN Results

The Ohio Board of Nursing doesn’t publish a pass rate for every PN program. Instead, its annual report names the programs with perfect results and the ones that fell below its benchmark of 95% of the national average. The table below lists every PN program named in the 2024 report, the most recent one available, so you can see the state’s strongest and weakest performers side-by-side. Programs not listed fell somewhere in between, and you can ask any school for its own recent results.

Source: Ohio Board of Nursing, 2024 NCLEX Pass Rate Report (March 11, 2025). The 100% list counts all first-time candidates in 2024; below-benchmark rates count candidates who tested within six months of finishing. Ohio’s 2024 PN average was 82.54%, compared with 88.38% nationally. Fortis’s format comes from its campus page; “Not stated” means we couldn’t confirm the delivery format on the school’s site.

How Online/Hybrid LPN Programs in Ohio Actually Work

While online learning is available to LPN students, LPN programs include hands-on training that needs to be done in person. However, that doesn’t mean you’ll always have to go to campus. You’re likely to find that many required general education classes, like English, are offered online.

As you consider whether an LPN program is right for you, take a close look at the curriculum. Compared with certified nursing assistant (CNA) classes, you’ll find LPN classes are more focused on medical care and less focused on personal care. If you’re already a CNA, bridge programs are designed to help you make the jump to an LPN.

The programs featured below are great options to launch or advance your healthcare career and get the hands-on experience you need to succeed as an LPN in Ohio.

How to Become an LPN in Ohio

Ohio’s licensing process runs through the Ohio Board of Nursing’s eLicense system, and you can start your application while you’re still in high school. You’ll need two criminal background checks: one state and one federal. Plan for about a year of full-time training, or longer on a part-time track. These are the steps to becoming an LPN in Ohio:

Paying for LPN School in Ohio

The price of LPN school in Ohio depends heavily on the type of school. A community college certificate can cost under $10,000 in tuition and fees for in-county students, while a career center program like Columbus City Schools charges $18,000 in tuition alone. Private colleges generally don’t publish their prices, but make sure to request a written estimate before you enroll.

As you get a good sense of the cost you’ll face, start to line up your financing as soon as possible. The quicker you get your LPN finances in order, the better. Here are five of the most common (and helpful) funding sources for LPN students:

• Federal aid. Pell Grants and federal loans are available at Title IV schools, which include most community colleges, many career centers, and private colleges.
• Ohio state aid. The Ohio Department of Higher Education runs need-based grants and the Nurse Education Assistance Loan Program for nursing students. Ask your financial aid office which ones apply to your program.
• Employer support. Ohio hospitals and long-term care facilities often pay for LPN training for state-tested nursing assistants (STNAs) and other staff in exchange for a work commitment.
• Workforce funding. Local OhioMeansJobs centers may cover training costs for eligible adults through federal workforce programs.
• Licensing costs. Budget $75 for the Board application, the BCI and FBI background check fees, and $200 for the NCLEX-PN ($350 starting February 1, 2027).

LPN Salary and Job Outlook in Ohio

LPN Licensing Requirements in Ohio

Getting your practical nursing license in Ohio involves a process similar to what you’d find in most states. The Ohio Board of Nursing lays out all the steps in a convenient checklist to help you keep track.

Your first step is to complete your LPN training at a program in Ohio that’s approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing. Ideally, the program will also be accredited by an organization such as the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation.

Completing a board-approved LPN program allows you to sit for the NCLEX-PN and apply for licensure as a practical nurse in Ohio. Administered by Pearson VUE, the NCLEX-PN exam ensures LPN applicants possess sufficient knowledge to work as practical nurses. You’ll register for the NCLEX-PN in the second half of your LPN program.

After you pass the NCLEX-PN, you can then apply for your practical nursing license from the Ohio Board of Nursing. The application process must be completed through the Ohio eLicense System. In addition to completing this application and paying the $75 fee, students must also arrange for their LPN program completion letters to be emailed to the Ohio Board of Nursing. During the licensing process, applicants complete two criminal history checks, one with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the other with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Background checks require in-state applicants to submit fingerprints electronically. Once you get your license, you’ll renew every two years, in even-numbered years.

Ranking the Best Online LPN Programs in Ohio