Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences is a private, not-for-profit institution located in Canton, check this site out Ohio. Founded in 1894 as the Aultman Hospital Training School for Nurses, it is northeast Ohio’s only health system-affiliated college of higher learning. With a total enrollment of fewer than 300 students, Aultman specializes exclusively in healthcare education, offering associate and bachelor’s degrees in nursing, radiography, sonography, and health sciences, along with a medical assisting certificate.

History and Legacy

The college’s story begins with the founding of Aultman Hospital, Stark County’s first hospital, which opened on January 17, 1892. Recognizing the need for a skilled healthcare workforce, the Aultman Hospital Training School for Nurses was established later that same year. The program launched with just three students, and only one would graduate: Emma Lupher, who sewed her own uniform and became Aultman’s first nursing graduate on May 2, 1894.

The school gained state approval in 1916 as the Aultman Hospital School of Nursing, and over the following decades, thousands of nurses earned their diplomas there. In 2004, the institution evolved into Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences, becoming an incorporated college. A year later, the Ohio Board of Regents authorized it to offer its first degree: the Associate of Science in Nursing. By 2009, Aultman College had earned accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

Expansion followed steadily. The college added radiography in 2010, health sciences and RN-to-BSN completion in 2015, the pre-licensure BSN program in 2017, and medical assisting in 2019. In fall 2025, the college welcomed its first class into the Associate of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.

Academic Programs

Aultman College offers a focused slate of healthcare programs across three main areas:

Nursing includes three pathways: the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN), the pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and the RN-to-BSN completion program. The ASN is a direct-entry, five-semester program requiring 73 credit hours. The BSN is a four-year program requiring 120 credit hours, with direct entry upon acceptance—unlike institutions where students must compete for limited seats after a “pre-nursing” period. The RN-to-BSN is offered 100% online.

Imaging programs include Radiography (Associate of Applied Science) and Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Associate of Applied Science).

Health Sciences and Medical Assisting include the Associate of Science in Health Sciences, designed for students exploring healthcare careers or seeking advancement, and a Medical Assisting certificate.

Every program is built on a foundation of liberal arts, humanities, mathematics, and natural sciences, ensuring graduates develop critical thinking, information literacy, ethical responsibility, and effective communication skills alongside their technical expertise.

Accreditation and Outcomes

Aultman College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Its nursing programs hold accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), with initial accreditation granted in October 2007 and the next review scheduled for Fall 2028. The radiography program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), which awarded an 8-year accreditation cycle.

Outcome data for the radiography program (2020–2024) is strong: an 86.4% five-year credentialing exam pass rate, a 100% job placement rate, and a 100% program completion rate in 2024. For nursing graduates, the college reports that 100% of students found jobs within one year of graduating, with 50–60% securing positions within the Aultman Health System.

Admissions and Costs

Aultman College maintains a selective admissions process. about his The acceptance rate is approximately 41–46%, with an average high school GPA of 3.41 and an average ACT score of 19. The college is test-optional, though applicants may submit ACT or SAT scores. There is no application fee.

Tuition for 2026–27 is $10,150 per semester for most programs (12–18 credit hours) or $865 per credit hour for fewer than 12 credits. The RN-to-BSN completion program is offered at a reduced rate of $324 per credit hour. College Credit Plus students pay no tuition.

Additional fees include a $100 general fee and $175 technology fee per semester, a $50 lab fee per lab course, and program-specific costs such as background checks, physical examinations, uniforms, and supplies. The average net price for federal loan recipients is approximately $20,173.

Student Body and Campus

Aultman College enrolls just under 300 students, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1. The student body is predominantly female (over 90%) and predominantly White (approximately 85%). The college does not offer campus housing.

The campus is located at 2600 Sixth Street SW in Canton, sharing a campus with Aultman Hospital, Stark County’s largest hospital and employer and the area’s only Magnet-designated facility. This proximity means students gain hands-on clinical experience in real healthcare environments from early in their education. Clinical placements include Aultman Health System facilities, Akron Children’s Hospital, and various community agencies.

Student organizations include the Aultman College Student Nurse Association, Radiography Club, Campus Ministry, Veterans Association, and Men in Nursing Association.

Conclusion

Aultman College occupies a distinct niche in Ohio higher education: a small, specialized institution embedded within a major health system. Its strengths lie in direct clinical access, high job placement rates, and focused healthcare training. For students certain about a career in nursing, radiography, or sonography, Aultman offers an intensive, hands-on pathway into the healthcare workforce. The trade-offs are limited program breadth, no campus housing, and a cost structure that requires careful financial planning. my latest blog post As northeast Ohio’s only health system-affiliated college, it remains a compelling option for those seeking direct entry into healthcare careers.