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

Fortis College-Columbus charges nearly double the typical debt load for practical nursing programs—$28,378 versus a national median of $14,803—yet graduates earn $49,956 within a year, putting them in the 75th percentile nationally and 60th percentile among Ohio's 77 nursing programs. That's roughly $6,700 more than the typical Ohio graduate and $5,800 above the national median. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57 means your child would owe about seven months of gross salary, which is manageable in nursing where job security tends to be strong. However, with two-thirds of students receiving Pell grants, it's worth noting that this premium price point hits hardest for families already stretching financially.

The concerning pattern is the earnings decline—graduates actually make $2,000 less after four years than they did in year one. This downward trajectory is unusual for healthcare and suggests possible credential limitations or local market dynamics that constrain advancement. Compare this to Cincinnati State, where practical nursing graduates earn $53,900 and presumably maintain steadier growth trajectories, all while carrying far less debt (Ohio's state median is $16,364).

The math works if your child needs the program's flexibility or geographic location and can minimize borrowing through grants or family support. But if you're financing most of this through loans, Cincinnati State or Central Ohio Technical College offer similar or better earning outcomes at roughly half the cost—a significant difference that compounds over a career.