Reviewed and edited by Carol Lokare, RN, NP
Registered Nurse and Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with 45+ years of clinical experience across acute care, community health, geriatric practice, and school nursing.
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The national first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate is 87.51% (NCSBN 2023). Here is what that benchmark means, how to find any school's pass rate, and what a good rate looks like for ADN vs. BSN programs.
The national first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for 2023 was 87.51% across all U.S. nursing programs, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). The NCLEX-PN first-time pass rate was 82.34%. These are the benchmarks every accredited nursing program is measured against — and the figures prospective students should use to evaluate program quality.
A nursing school's NCLEX pass rate is the single most objective quality indicator available to prospective students. It reflects how well a program prepares graduates to meet entry-level nursing competency standards, and it has direct consequences: programs consistently falling below 80% first-attempt pass rates face mandatory remediation plans and potential loss of state board approval.
The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is the standardized examination used in the United States and Canada to determine whether a candidate is competent to practice safely as an entry-level nurse. Two versions exist: NCLEX-RN for Registered Nurse licensure and NCLEX-PN for Practical Nurse licensure.
The NCLEX transitioned to a new adaptive format — NCLEX Next Generation (NGN) — in April 2023. The NGN assesses clinical judgment in addition to knowledge recall, using case studies and clinical scenarios. National first-time pass rates declined slightly during the NGN transition year before stabilizing at current levels.
A program's NCLEX pass rate matters because:
| Exam | First-Attempt Pass Rate | Repeat-Attempt Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN (all candidates) | 87.51% | 44.29% |
| NCLEX-RN (US-educated candidates) | 88.31% | 43.42% |
| NCLEX-PN (all candidates) | 82.34% | 51.22% |
| NCLEX-PN (US-educated candidates) | 84.17% | 51.08% |
Source: National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), 2023 NCLEX Examination Statistics, published 2024. Available at ncsbn.org.
A program with a first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate of 88–92% is performing at or above the national average. Rates above 93% are exceptional and typically associated with rigorous admission standards, integrated NCLEX prep curricula (ATI, Hesi, Kaplan), and strong clinical partnerships.
NCLEX pass rates are reported at the program level by each state board of nursing. The NCSBN aggregates national data annually. State boards publish individual program pass rates on their websites, typically with a 6–18 month lag from the examination year.
When evaluating a school's pass rate:
| Rate | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 95%+ | Excellent — top-quartile program nationally |
| 90–94% | Strong — above national average |
| 85–89% | At or near the national average |
| 80–84% | Below average — watch closely, ask about remediation |
| Below 80% | Concerning — state remediation plans likely in place |
| Below 75% | Red flag — risk of program probation or closure |
Programs below 80% are not automatically poor choices, but students should ask program directors directly about:
Programs with lower NCLEX pass rates are not uniformly low-quality. Several factors correlate with lower pass rates beyond curriculum quality:
Student population factors:
Program structure factors:
Data timing factors:
This context is important: a 83% pass rate at a community college serving low-income students with strong support services may reflect a more challenging educational context than an 88% rate at a selective private university with a highly screened applicant pool.
The two major nursing accreditors — the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) — each monitor NCLEX pass rates as a component of continued accreditation.
ACEN standard: Programs must maintain a first-attempt NCLEX pass rate at or above the national average for the same degree level, averaged over an 8-year accreditation cycle. Programs falling below the national average must submit a remediation plan.
CCNE standard: CCNE uses NCLEX pass rates as one of several outcome measures under its standards. Sustained poor performance triggers enhanced monitoring.
State boards of nursing independently establish their own pass rate thresholds. Most states set 80% as the minimum acceptable first-attempt pass rate before triggering mandatory program review. Some states, including California, have stricter standards.
To look up pass rates for specific programs:
NCSBN Annual Statistics Report — Published each year at ncsbn.org. Provides national, state, and program-level data.
Your state board of nursing website — Every state board publishes annual pass rate data for programs operating in that state. Links for each state's board are available on the NCSBN member board directory.
Program websites — Reputable programs publish their current NCLEX pass rates on their websites. If a program does not prominently display this data, ask admissions directly.
ACEN and CCNE program directories — Both accreditors publish searchable directories of accredited programs at acenursing.org and ccneaccreditation.org.
| Degree | Typical First-Attempt NCLEX-RN Pass Rate Range |
|---|---|
| Traditional BSN (4-year university) | 88–94% |
| Accelerated BSN (ABSN) | 90–96% |
| ADN (community college) | 82–90% |
| RN Diploma (hospital-based) | 85–92% |
ABSN programs tend to achieve higher pass rates in part because they admit applicants who already hold a bachelor's degree and have demonstrated academic persistence. ADN programs serve a broader student population, and their pass rate range reflects that diversity.
Importantly: the NCLEX-RN exam is identical for ADN and BSN graduates. Pass rates by degree type reflect program rigor and student selectivity, not an inherent advantage of one credential over another.
NCLEX pass rates should be one of several criteria you evaluate, not the only one. Use them alongside:
The strongest programs combine competitive NCLEX pass rates with strong clinical partnerships, embedded NCLEX prep tools, and robust student support services.
What is the NCLEX pass rate for first-time test takers? The national first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for U.S.-educated candidates in 2023 was 88.31%, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). The first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate for U.S.-educated candidates was 84.17%.
What NCLEX pass rate is considered good for a nursing program? A first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate above 90% is considered strong and above the national average of approximately 88%. Rates above 95% are exceptional. Rates below 80% are concerning and typically trigger state board remediation requirements.
Where can I find a nursing school's NCLEX pass rate? NCLEX pass rates are published annually by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing at ncsbn.org and by individual state boards of nursing on their websites. You can also request current pass rate data directly from a nursing program's admissions office.
Does the NCLEX pass rate differ between ADN and BSN programs? Yes. BSN programs average slightly higher first-attempt pass rates (88–94%) than ADN programs (82–90%) nationally, reflecting differences in student selectivity and program rigor. Both degree types lead to the same NCLEX-RN exam and the same RN license.
What happens to a nursing school with a low NCLEX pass rate? Programs with first-attempt NCLEX pass rates below 80% are typically required to submit remediation plans to their state board of nursing. Sustained rates below national benchmarks can result in enhanced monitoring, probationary status, or loss of state approval — preventing graduates from obtaining licensure.
How often are NCLEX pass rate data updated? The NCSBN publishes annual NCLEX examination statistics, typically released 6–12 months after the close of the examination year. State board of nursing websites update their program-level data on similar timelines. Always verify you are reviewing the most current available data.
Reviewed and edited by Carol Lokare, RN, NP
Registered Nurse and Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with 45+ years of clinical experience across acute care, community health, geriatric practice, and school nursing.
Helping nursing students find accredited programs across the US since 2026.