Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Athena Career Academy

Athena Career Academy produces nursing graduates who earn slightly above the state median, ranking in the 60th percentile among Ohio nursing programs—a solid outcome for a school where nearly two-thirds of students qualify for Pell grants. First-year earnings of $67,468 track closely with top performers in the state, though they trail programs like Ohio Institute of Allied Health by about $7,000. However, the standout feature here is debt: at $36,820, graduates carry significantly more than the Ohio median of $25,529, placing this program in the 95th percentile nationally for debt burden.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55 means graduates owe roughly seven months of their first year's salary—manageable in absolute terms and better than many career-training programs, but higher than necessary when peer Ohio nursing programs deliver similar earnings with $10,000 less debt. This gap matters when you're mapping out loan repayments on an entry-level nursing salary. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) suggests these numbers reflect actual program outcomes rather than statistical noise.

For families weighing this program, the question becomes whether the convenience or specific training approach justifies the extra borrowing. The earnings are respectable and the debt is serviceable, but Ohio offers multiple nursing programs that achieve comparable results without requiring students to take on as much financial risk upfront.