NCLEX Data

NCLEX Pass Rates by School (2025)

Q: What is a good NCLEX pass rate for a nursing school?

The national NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate is approximately 87.5% (NCSBN 2025). Programs consistently above 90% are considered strong performers. Programs below 80% warrant scrutiny — ask why and what the school is doing to improve.

Q: How are NCLEX pass rates calculated?

NCLEX pass rates reflect the percentage of first-time test-takers from a program who pass the exam within a given year. Schools with fewer than 25 candidates are often excluded from published reports to protect student privacy. Multi-year averages are more reliable than single-year snapshots.

Q: What is the difference between NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN?

NCLEX-RN is the licensure exam for Registered Nurses (RN) — required after completing an ADN or BSN program. NCLEX-PN is the exam for Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPN/LVN) — required after completing an LPN/LVN diploma or certificate program. The national NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate is 87.5%; the NCLEX-PN rate is 83.4%.

Q: Where does this pass rate data come from?

Pass rate data is sourced from state boards of nursing, which are required to publish institutional NCLEX pass rates annually. Data is compiled from the most recent available reporting year. Sources include the NCSBN annual report and individual state board publications.

Q: Can I filter NCLEX pass rates by state?

Yes — use the state filter links below the table, or browse any state-specific page. Each state board of nursing publishes pass rates for programs within their jurisdiction.

Q: Why do NCLEX pass rates vary so much between schools?

Pass rates are influenced by admissions selectivity, curriculum quality, NCLEX preparation resources, student support services, and the mix of full-time vs. part-time students. Smaller programs can show high variance year-to-year due to small cohort sizes. Always look at 3–5 year averages when evaluating a school.

Compare first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for accredited nursing schools nationwide. National average: 87.5%.

87.5%

National Avg (2025)

Schools in Database

Above 90%

Above National Avg

Key takeaways

National first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate: 87.5% (NCSBN 2025). Programs above 90% are considered strong performers.
NCLEX pass rates reflect first-time candidates only — multi-year averages are more reliable than single-year snapshots.
Programs below 80% for two consecutive years face mandatory state board review; verify current accreditation status before enrolling.
Small programs (<25 candidates) are often excluded from public reports — contact the school directly for outcome data.
Filtering by state shows only programs in that state's nursing board jurisdiction. State boards publish pass rates annually.

Exam:NCLEX-RN NCLEX-PN

Min rate:All 75%+85%+90%+95%+

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NCLEX-RN First-Time Pass Rates — 2025

Showing 44 of 44 schools

#	School	Pass Rate	vs National Avg	Accreditation
1	Regis College	100.0%	+12.5% Excellent	CCNE	View School
2	Georgetown University	100.0%	+12.5% Excellent	CCNE	View School
3	Marquette University	100.0%	+12.5% Excellent	CCNE	View School
4	Texas A&M University	98.3%	+10.8% Excellent	CCNE	View School
5	Sacred Heart University	98.0%	+10.5% Excellent	CCNE	View School
6	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	98.0%	+10.5% Excellent	CCNE	View School
7	Boston College	98.0%	+10.5% Excellent	CCNE	View School
8	University of Florida	98.0%	+10.5% Excellent	CCNE	View School
9	Liberty University	97.9%	+10.4% Excellent	ACEN	View School
10	Seton Hall University	97.4%	+9.9% Excellent	CCNE	View School
11	University of Pittsburgh	97.2%	+9.7% Excellent	CCNE	View School
12	University of Tennessee at Knoxville	97.0%	+9.5% Excellent	CCNE	View School
13	Vanderbilt University	97.0%	+9.5% Excellent	CCNE	View School
14	DePaul University	97.0%	+9.5% Excellent	CCNE	View School
15	University of South Florida	97.0%	+9.5% Excellent	CCNE	View School
16	University of Alabama at Birmingham	96.7%	+9.2% Excellent	CCNE	View School
17	University of Colorado — Anschutz Medical Campus	96.7%	+9.2% Excellent	CCNE	View School
18	Loyola University Chicago	96.4%	+8.9% Excellent	CCNE	View School
19	Grand Canyon University	95.6%	+8.1% Excellent	CCNE	View School
20	Villanova University	95.6%	+8.1% Excellent	CCNE	View School
21	University of Cincinnati	95.1%	+7.6% Excellent	CCNE	View School
22	Case Western Reserve University	95.0%	+7.5% Excellent	CCNE	View School
23	Arizona State University	95.0%	+7.5% Excellent	CCNE	View School
24	Duke University	95.0%	+7.5% Excellent	CCNE	View School
25	Emory University	95.0%	+7.5% Excellent	CCNE	View School
26	University of Texas at Arlington	93.3%	+5.8% Above avg	CCNE	View School
27	University of Michigan — Flint	93.0%	+5.5% Above avg	CCNE	View School
28	Western Governors University	91.8%	+4.3% Above avg	CCNE	View School
29	Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences	91.2%	+3.7% Above avg	CCNE	View School
30	Michigan State University	89.9%	+2.4% Above avg	CCNE	View School
31	Indiana State University	89.0%	+1.5% Above avg	CCNE	View School
32	Arizona College of Nursing	88.3%	+0.8% Above avg	CCNE	View School
33	Galen College of Nursing	85.3%	-2.2% Below avg	CCNE	View School
34	Unitek College	83.6%	-3.9% Below avg	ACEN	View School
35	Ameritech College of Healthcare	83.5%	-4.0% Below avg	ACEN	View School
36	West Coast University	83.1%	-4.4% Below avg	CCNE	View School
37	Keiser University	82.4%	-5.1% Below avg	CCNE	View School
38	Rasmussen University	82.1%	-5.4% Below avg	ACEN	View School
39	Simmons University	80.0%	-7.5% Below avg	CCNE	View School
40	Denver College of Nursing	79.8%	-7.7% Below avg	CCNE	View School
41	Chamberlain University	79.8%	-7.8% Below avg	CCNE	View School
42	ECPI University	79.2%	-8.3% Below avg	ACEN	View School
43	Brookline College	78.6%	-8.9% Below avg	ACEN	View School
44	Concorde Career College	76.3%	-11.2% Below avg	ACEN	View School

Data sourced from state boards of nursing and NCSBN annual reports. National average 87.5% (NCLEX-RN) and 83.4% (NCLEX-PN) per NCSBN 2025 report. Pass rates are first-time, first-attempt for graduates from accredited programs.

NCLEX Pass Rates by State

Each state board of nursing publishes pass rates for programs in their jurisdiction.

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

What is a good NCLEX pass rate for a nursing school?

The national NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate is approximately 87.5% (NCSBN 2025). Programs consistently above 90% are considered strong performers. Programs below 80% warrant scrutiny — ask why and what the school is doing to improve.

How are NCLEX pass rates calculated?

NCLEX pass rates reflect the percentage of first-time test-takers from a program who pass the exam within a given year. Schools with fewer than 25 candidates are often excluded from published reports to protect student privacy. Multi-year averages are more reliable than single-year snapshots.

What is the difference between NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN?

NCLEX-RN is the licensure exam for Registered Nurses (RN) — required after completing an ADN or BSN program. NCLEX-PN is the exam for Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPN/LVN) — required after completing an LPN/LVN diploma or certificate program. The national NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate is 87.5%; the NCLEX-PN rate is 83.4%.

Where does this pass rate data come from?

Pass rate data is sourced from state boards of nursing, which are required to publish institutional NCLEX pass rates annually. Data is compiled from the most recent available reporting year. Sources include the NCSBN annual report and individual state board publications.

Can I filter NCLEX pass rates by state?

Yes — use the state filter links below the table, or browse any state-specific page. Each state board of nursing publishes pass rates for programs within their jurisdiction.

Why do NCLEX pass rates vary so much between schools?

Pass rates are influenced by admissions selectivity, curriculum quality, NCLEX preparation resources, student support services, and the mix of full-time vs. part-time students. Smaller programs can show high variance year-to-year due to small cohort sizes. Always look at 3–5 year averages when evaluating a school.

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