NCLEX Data

NCLEX Pass Rates by School (86.7% National, 2025)

Compare first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for accredited nursing schools nationwide. National average: 86.7%.

86.7%
National Avg (2026)
454
Schools in Database
50
Above 90%
50
Above National Avg

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Key takeaways

  • National first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate: 86.7% (NCSBN 2025).
  • 454 display-eligible RN rows in this verified board-sourced directory.
Exam:NCLEX-RNNCLEX-PN
Min rate:All75%+85%+90%+95%+

Programs accepting applications

Find nursing programs with strong NCLEX pass rates

Pass rates start with the program. Compare accredited ADN and BSN programs, the pre-licensure paths to the NCLEX-RN, then check each school's outcomes in the data below.

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NCLEX-RN First-Time Pass Rates — 2025

Showing 50 of 454 schools (75%+ filter)

#SchoolPass Ratevs National AvgAccreditation
51Mott Community College
Michigan
99.1%+12.4%
Excellent
ACENView School
52University of Wisconsin–Madison – School of Nursing
Wisconsin
99.0%+12.3%
Excellent
CCNEView School
53Gonzaga University
Washington
98.9%+12.2%
Excellent
CCNEView School
54Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida
98.9%+12.2%
Excellent
CCNEView School
55Chattanooga State Community College
Tennessee
98.8%+12.1%
Excellent
ACENView School
56Mesa Community College
Arizona
98.8%+12.1%
Excellent
ACENView School
57Saddleback College
California
98.8%+12.1%
Excellent
ACENView School
58Pellissippi State Community College
Tennessee
98.8%+12.1%
Excellent
ACENView School
59Northcentral Technical College
Wisconsin
98.5%+11.8%
Excellent
ACENView School
60Cypress College
California
98.5%+11.8%
Excellent
ACEN Accredited — associate (Cypress, California). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23.View School
61Texas A&M International University – Nursing
Texas
98.4%+11.7%
Excellent
ACENView School
62Madison College (Madison Area Technical College)
Wisconsin
98.4%+11.7%
Excellent
ACENView School
63Motlow State Community College
Tennessee
98.3%+11.6%
Excellent
ACENView School
64Reading Area Community College
Pennsylvania
98.3%+11.6%
Excellent
ACENView School
65Spartanburg Community College
South Carolina
98.3%+11.6%
Excellent
ACENView School
66Blinn College
Texas
98.3%+11.5%
Excellent
—View School
67Lansing Community College
Michigan
98.1%+11.4%
Excellent
ACENView School
68Westchester Community College
New York
98.0%+11.3%
Excellent
ACEN Accredited — associate (Valhalla, New York). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23.View School
69Glendale Community College
California
98.0%+11.3%
Excellent
ACEN Accredited — associate (Glendale, California). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23.View School
70Waubonsee Community College
Illinois
98.0%+11.3%
Excellent
ACENView School
71SAMPSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
North Carolina
98.0%+11.3%
Excellent
ACEN Accredited — associate, practical (Clinton, North Carolina). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23.View School
72University of South Carolina – College of Nursing
South Carolina
98.0%+11.3%
Excellent
CCNEView School
73Rowan College of South Jersey
New Jersey
98.0%+11.3%
Excellent
ACENView School
74Gordon State College
Georgia
97.9%+11.2%
Excellent
ACENView School
75Ozarks Technical Community College
Missouri
97.9%+11.2%
Excellent
ACENView School
76Victoria College
Texas
97.8%+11.1%
Excellent
ACENView School
77Concordia University Texas – Nursing
Texas
97.8%+11.1%
Excellent
ACENView School
78Houston Christian University
Texas
97.8%+11.1%
Excellent
—View School
79Stanly Community College
North Carolina
97.7%+11.0%
Excellent
ACENView School
80McNeese State University
Louisiana
97.6%+10.9%
Excellent
ACENView School
81Sandhills Community College
North Carolina
97.6%+10.9%
Excellent
ACENView School
82Felician University
New Jersey
97.6%+10.9%
Excellent
CCNEView School
83College of Southern Idaho
Idaho
97.5%+10.8%
Excellent
ACENView School
84Augustana University
South Dakota
97.5%+10.8%
Excellent
CCNEView School
85Kirkwood Community College
Iowa
97.4%+10.7%
Excellent
ACENView School
86University of Michigan – School of Nursing
Michigan
97.4%+10.7%
Excellent
CCNEView School
87Robeson Community College
North Carolina
97.4%+10.7%
Excellent
NLN CNEAView School
88POLK STATE COLLEGE
Florida
97.3%+10.6%
Excellent
ACEN Accredited — associate, baccalaureate (Winter Haven, Florida). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23.View School
89East Carolina University – College of Nursing
North Carolina
97.3%+10.6%
Excellent
CCNEView School
90Abilene Christian University
Texas
97.2%+10.5%
Excellent
—View School
91Whatcom Community College
Washington
97.2%+10.5%
Excellent
ACENView School
92Eastern Arizona College
Arizona
97.2%+10.5%
Excellent
ACENView School
93Del Mar College
Texas
97.1%+10.4%
Excellent
ACENView School
94Cisco College
Texas
97.1%+10.4%
Excellent
—View School
95Texas Christian University
Texas
97.1%+10.4%
Excellent
—View School
96Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing
New York
97.1%+10.4%
Excellent
ACENView School
97Grand Canyon University
Arizona
97.0%+10.3%
Excellent
CCNEView School
98Maricopa Nursing – Gateway Community College
Arizona
97.0%+10.3%
Excellent
ACENView School
99Oakton Community College
Illinois
97.0%+10.3%
Excellent
ACENView School
100University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Tennessee
97.0%+10.3%
Excellent
CCNEView School
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Data sourced from state boards of nursing and NCSBN annual reports. National average 86.7% (NCLEX-RN) and 86.6% (NCLEX-PN) per NCSBN 2025 report. Pass rates are first-time, first-attempt for graduates from accredited programs. Researchers and journalists: download the full dataset — free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with attribution.

NCLEX Pass Rates by State

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

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
What is a good NCLEX pass rate for a nursing school?
The national NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate is approximately 86.7% (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 86.7%; the NCLEX-PN rate is 86.6%.
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 — choose your state at the top of this page, or use the state list below the table. 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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