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

Fortis College-Cincinnati's nursing program commands significantly higher debt than typical for this field—$28,378 compared to Ohio's median of $16,364—but delivers earnings that land in the 60th percentile statewide. The question is whether that premium price yields enough benefit for a 78% Pell-eligible student body that typically can't afford financial missteps.

The first-year earnings of nearly $50,000 beat both state and national medians, placing graduates among the top quarter nationally. However, the debt load is concerning: at 0.57 times first-year earnings, it's substantially higher than most nursing certificate programs manage. More troubling is the 4% earnings decline by year four, suggesting graduates may be hitting their ceiling quickly. Compare this to Cincinnati State Technical, where students earn $54,000 with presumably lower community college costs, and the value equation gets harder to justify.

For families paying roughly double the typical debt load, this program needs to deliver exceptional outcomes—and it doesn't quite reach that bar. The earnings are solid but not outstanding enough to offset the financial burden. If Cincinnati State or another lower-cost Ohio option is accessible, those represent safer bets. This program might work for students who've been denied admission elsewhere, but it shouldn't be the first choice given the debt premium and stagnant earnings trajectory.