
Akron, OHprivate nonprofitherzing.edu
Herzing University-Akron is a career-focused institution where nearly everyone gets in (95% acceptance rate) but not everyone sticks around (19% graduation rate). Its suburban Akron campus leans hard into healthcare training, with nursing and medical assisting as flagship programs, while offering flexible evening classes for working adults. Expect small classes (13:1 student-faculty ratio) and early-career salaries around $30K—modest outcomes that still beat expectations for this niche.
Herzing-Akron operates with near-open admissions, accepting 94-95% of applicants—one of the highest rates in Ohio. The school doesn't require SAT/ACT scores, and its admissions team emphasizes flexibility for working students, with evening coursework options. Of the 126 admitted students in a recent cycle, 87 enrolled, suggesting modest YieldThe share of admitted students who actually choose to enroll. Colleges watch it closely, which is why some weigh how interested you seem. for this commuter-focused campus.
This is a healthcare-heavy trade school at heart: nursing, medical assisting, and medical billing/coding dominate the curriculum. Other notable programs include paralegal studies and criminal justice, but the campus identity revolves around fast-track career training. Small classes (13:1 ratio) and hands-on labs cater to students seeking practical skills over theoretical exploration.
With just 502 students in a suburban Akron office park, this isn't a traditional college experience—no dorms, no football team. But Herzing cultivates community through groups like the Asian Student Alliance and eco-friendly campus events. The vibe is commuter-friendly, with the Center for Student Success offering career-focused support. Instagram shows students in scrubs far more often than sweatshirts.
The numbers are sobering: just 19% of students graduate (Herzing's own data), though early-career salaries average $30K—better than expected for the programs offered. For context, the median salary six years out is comparable to Herzing's Wisconsin campus ($35K). Most students here are betting on the healthcare job market's stability rather than academic prestige.
After aid, Herzing-Akron costs $20,429 annually—high for a two-year school but mitigated by $19M+ in annual scholarships. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator suggests many students pay below sticker thanks to grants. Still, it's pricier than Ohio's community colleges, trading affordability for healthcare program speed.
Herzing-Akron is unapologetically niche: a no-frills healthcare trade school where you can go from GED to RN faster than most colleges take to grade midterms. Its high acceptance/low graduation rates reflect its mission—serving non-traditional students who might flounder elsewhere. The calculus is simple: if you complete the program, you'll likely land a steady healthcare job, albeit not a lucrative one. For career-switchers in Akron's medical ecosystem, that's enough.