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Hocking College
Nelsonville, Ohio · Public community college
Address: 3301 Hocking Parkway, Nelsonville, OH 45764 · Phone: (740) 753-3591 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Hocking College is a public trade school in Nelsonville, Ohio, offering heavy equipment operation, dental hygiene, and medical assistant programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Hocking College's completion rate is 37.2%, below the state average of 68.8%, with median graduate debt of $11,584 and median earnings of $37,791 ten years after entry.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Hocking College; the school participates in Title IV federal financial aid, and about 45.6% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators | $46,850 | $64,940 | $92,930 |
| Dental hygienists | $76,260 | $88,990 | $97,210 |
| Medical assistants | $36,050 | $42,810 | $46,270 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $38,990 | $50,340 | $59,510 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $38,370 | $53,990 | $74,130 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $50,030 | $61,950 | $65,900 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $34,110 | $48,710 | $63,840 |
| Medical records specialists | $38,060 | $50,990 | $63,510 |
| Massage therapists | $40,340 | $55,990 | $60,880 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $34,940 | $40,220 | $47,490 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Ohio (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate degree | 18 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 13 | $32,666 | $38,289 | $13,234 |
| Ground Transportation | Associate degree | 13 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 12 | not reported | $24,035 | not reported |
| Ground Transportation | Certificate, 1–2 years | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 10 | $29,413 | not reported | $16,540 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | $25,194 | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 4 | $32,666 | $38,289 | $13,234 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Hocking College is a public trade and career school in Nelsonville, Ohio, located in a fringe rural setting. The college participates in federal financial aid (Title IV), so students who qualify can use FAFSA-based aid, including Pell Grants, to help pay for their education. It carries accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, along with program-specific accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation. Across its 14 program families, the campus most frequently awards credentials in heavy equipment operation, dental hygiene, and medical assisting, with smaller offerings in welding, culinary arts, LPN training, auto mechanics, medical billing and coding, massage therapy, and EMT training.
Federal data show a completion rate of 37.2%, which is below the state average of 68.8%. Graduates who took on debt carried a median of $11,584, and median earnings ten years after entry were $37,791. About 45.6% of students receive Pell Grants, pointing to a substantial share of lower-income enrollment. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
With 1,311 undergraduates and 111 trade program completers reported, Hocking College offers a mix of shorter career-training programs and more clinically intensive programs such as dental hygiene, which typically require longer, structured coursework. The range of programs suggests options for both quick entry into a trade and longer-term allied health training, though program length details are not reported here. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status directly with the listed accreditors and review official outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Hocking College offers 14 program families, most notably heavy equipment operator schools, dental hygiene programs, and medical assistant programs, with additional offerings in welding, culinary arts, LPN, auto mechanics, medical billing and coding, massage therapy, and EMT training.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, Hocking College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with additional program-specific accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, Hocking College participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so eligible students can use FAFSA-based aid including Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 37.2%, which is below the Ohio state average of 68.8%, per federal data.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $11,584, according to federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings ten years after entry are $37,791, per federal data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (740) 753-3591 or visit its website for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Hocking College is a public institution, which often means lower published tuition rates for state residents compared to private for-profit schools, though exact costs are not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported in the data provided; contact the school directly to ask about specific program schedules.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation status with the Higher Learning Commission and view federal outcome data on the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?203155.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The mix of shorter trade programs and longer allied-health programs like dental hygiene may suit different needs, but specific fit for career changers is not detailed in federal data; contact the school to discuss your situation.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing or certification requirements are not reported in this data; check with the specific program (for example, dental hygiene or EMT training) and relevant state licensing board.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Hocking College at (740) 753-3591 or visit https://www.hocking.edu/ for application details.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with other nearby schools is not reported in this dataset; use the College Scorecard link to compare completion rates, debt, and earnings across institutions.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.