Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Ohio State University-Main Campus

The small sample size demands caution here, but these numbers tell a troubling story: Ohio State's nursing post-bacc certificate graduates earn $67,921 in their first year—barely more than half what the typical Ohio nursing certificate holder makes ($98,544). Ranking in the 10th percentile statewide means 90% of comparable Ohio programs produce better outcomes. University of Cincinnati's nursing certificates lead to $129,166 in first-year earnings, nearly double what Ohio State grads see. That's not a small gap you can explain away by local job markets or specialization differences.

The debt burden itself isn't outrageous at $27,317, sitting near the national median for nursing certificates. But paired with those below-average earnings, the 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio looks worse than it should for a healthcare credential that typically offers strong financial returns. Most nursing certificates quickly pay for themselves; this one takes longer than expected. Given that fewer than 30 students completed this program in the measured cohort, there's a real possibility these numbers don't represent the typical experience—perhaps this particular year's graduates pursued lower-paying specializations or part-time work.

If your child is specifically interested in Ohio State's nursing program, investigate whether they'd have better outcomes through the undergraduate BSN route or a different credential path. The post-bacc certificate shouldn't be anyone's first choice based on these returns.