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Chamberlain University opened its new Cincinnati nursing campus in Sycamore Township on Aug. 20. The first BSN students will begin classes Aug. 31 as Greater Cincinnati hospitals report a 5.6 percent registered nurse vacancy rate and about 1,500 vacant nursing positions across regional employers. The campus offers a three-year BSN program with hybrid instruction and hands-on clinical training.
Chamberlain University has opened its 25th campus nationwide in the Cincinnati area as local healthcare employers continue to face workforce shortages.
The new campus is located at 5905 E. Galbraith Road, Suite 3000, inside the Kenwood Collection.
The school will offer a three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or BSN, program. The first group of students is scheduled to begin classes Aug. 31.
The opening comes as Greater Cincinnati continues working to expand its nursing workforce. A 2026 workforce report from The Health Collaborative found that regional hospitals had a 5.6 percent registered nurse vacancy rate. The organization estimated about 1,500 nursing positions remained vacant across Greater Cincinnati employers.
Cincinnati nursing school opens in Sycamore Township
The Cincinnati nursing school held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 20 to mark the campus opening. Chamberlain President Amelia Manning and Executive Campus Director Priya Shastri joined local officials and healthcare representatives for the event. Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus also declared Aug. 20 “Chamberlain University Day” in Hamilton County.
The campus represents Chamberlain’s second Ohio location. The university already operates a nursing campus in Columbus and offers an online BSN option across Ohio. Chamberlain said the Cincinnati location will provide another pathway for students in Greater Cincinnati to pursue nursing education locally.
The program uses a hybrid learning model with classroom instruction, online coursework and hands-on training. Students will practice clinical skills in a SIMCARE CENTER before moving into clinical rotations with local partners. The university said the program also uses flexible scheduling designed to accommodate working students and career changers.
The three-year BSN program does not require prerequisite coursework, according to Chamberlain. The university also says students can transfer qualifying credits from previous college work. The Cincinnati program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, or CCNE.
Cincinnati nursing school targets a workforce gap
The new Cincinnati nursing school enters a market with significant healthcare employment demand. Chamberlain reported that employers across the Cincinnati metropolitan area posted nearly 50,000 healthcare job openings last year. The university also cited data showing six open healthcare jobs for every healthcare graduate in the region.
The Health Collaborative provides a more specific picture of nursing demand. Its 2026 Employer Workforce Report found that Greater Cincinnati has more than 27,000 registered nurses. The report also identified more than 1,200 active registered nurse job postings as of May 2026.
The report found that registered nurses had an unemployment rate of 1.4 percent in the region. It also placed the median regional RN wage at about $88,000, with entry-level wages exceeding $76,000.
The Health Collaborative said the region’s RN vacancy rate has improved from previous years. Its latest data shows a 5.6 percent vacancy rate, down from 7.7 percent at the end of 2024. Despite that improvement, the organization said nurses remain in high demand among Greater Cincinnati health systems.
That workforce picture follows years of efforts to expand nursing education in Southwest Ohio. The Health Collaborative previously identified nursing education capacity as a key factor in addressing regional healthcare workforce shortages. Its 2023 nursing workforce analysis called for more education pathways and faster routes into nursing careers.
Cincinnati nursing school adds another education pathway
Chamberlain’s arrival adds another option to an established Cincinnati nursing education market. The University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State and The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences already offer nursing education programs in the region.
The new campus does not replace those existing programs. Instead, Chamberlain says it aims to expand access for students who may need different scheduling options or a direct-entry pathway. The university specifically highlights working adults and career changers as part of its target student population.
A recent report from the Montgomery-Blue Ash Courier said the campus is designed in part to reach working parents and other students who may face challenges with traditional daytime college schedules. The publication also reported that the University of Cincinnati expects first-year nursing enrollment to increase by about one-third this fall, adding roughly 100 students.
The Cincinnati nursing school also plans to connect its education efforts with local workforce initiatives. Chamberlain and Covista announced a three-year partnership with The Health Collaborative alongside the campus opening. The partnership includes a $150,000 donation and programs designed to introduce middle and high school students to healthcare careers.
The Health Collaborative brings together healthcare, government and community partners across Southwest Ohio. Its workforce programs focus on developing the pipeline of workers needed by regional healthcare employers.
Cincinnati nursing school begins classes Aug. 31
The first Cincinnati cohort will begin classes Monday, Aug. 31. Students will follow a three-year path toward a BSN and receive hands-on training through simulation before clinical experiences.
Chamberlain said the Cincinnati campus offers flexible scheduling, no application fee and no prerequisite courses. The university’s website lists the program’s starting tuition at $89,670 for 122 credit hours, before additional books, fees and potential financial assistance. The listed estimated total for tuition, books and fees is $97,420.
The university is also offering financial assistance for eligible students. Chamberlain’s Cincinnati campus advertises a Founders’ Grant worth up to $15,000 toward a BSN. The school also announced a full-cost Future Healthcare Hero BSN Scholarship for a Cincinnati resident and three additional scholarship opportunities.
The campus opening comes at a time when Cincinnati healthcare employers continue to recruit nurses despite improving vacancy rates. The Health Collaborative’s data suggests the regional shortage has eased from its pandemic-era peak but has not disappeared.
The new program could therefore add capacity to an existing pipeline rather than serve as a standalone solution. Chamberlain officials have said addressing the shortage will require nursing schools, health systems and community organizations to work together.
For more context, The Cincinnati Exchange previously reported on Cincinnati hospital staffing challenges, including workforce shortages affecting nurses and other healthcare workers.
The publication has also covered Cincinnati hospital wait times and the broader pressures facing local healthcare systems.
The new campus gives prospective nurses another local education option as Greater Cincinnati continues building its healthcare workforce. Its first students will enter the program just days after the Aug. 20 ribbon-cutting ceremony.
FAQs
What is the new Cincinnati nursing school?
Chamberlain University opened a new nursing campus at 5905 E. Galbraith Road in Sycamore Township. The campus offers a three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
When does the Cincinnati nursing school start classes?
The first cohort is scheduled to begin classes Aug. 31, 2026. The campus held its official ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 20.
Why is Chamberlain opening a nursing school in Cincinnati?
The campus comes as Greater Cincinnati continues to experience demand for healthcare workers. The Health Collaborative reported about 1,500 vacant nursing positions across regional employers.
How long does Chamberlain’s Cincinnati BSN program take?
Chamberlain’s Cincinnati BSN program takes three years for students entering the direct-entry pathway. The program includes classroom learning, simulation training and clinical experiences.
How many nurses are needed in Greater Cincinnati?
The Health Collaborative estimates about 1,500 nursing positions are vacant across Greater Cincinnati employers. The region employs more than 27,000 registered nurses and had more than 1,200 active RN job postings in May 2026.
Is the Chamberlain Cincinnati nursing program accredited?
Yes. Chamberlain states that its nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The university also holds institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
