Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Fortis College-Centerville

Fortis College-Centerville's practical nursing program earns graduates around $48,000 in their first year—beating both the Ohio median ($43,200) and the national median ($44,100). At the 60th percentile among Ohio's 77 practical nursing programs, it's solidly above average for the state, though it trails nearby Cincinnati State by about $6,000. The earnings trajectory looks healthy too, with graduates seeing 12% income growth by year four, reaching $53,500.

The debt picture strengthens the case considerably. At $22,945, loans here fall at just the 5th percentile nationally for practical nursing programs—meaning 95% of comparable programs leave students with more debt. While that's higher than Ohio's median debt of $16,400, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 keeps payments manageable on a practical nurse's salary. For context, over 70% of students here receive Pell grants, suggesting the program serves working-class students who need credentials that pay off quickly.

The value proposition is straightforward: you're paying somewhat above the state average in debt but getting reliably above-average earnings in return, with room for growth. That tradeoff works, especially given practical nursing's immediate job placement potential. It's not the cheapest path to an LPN credential in Ohio, but the outcomes justify the investment.