NCLEX Data

NCLEX Pass Rates by School (2026)

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

87.5%

National Avg (2026)

375

Schools in Database

Above 90%

Above National Avg

Key takeaways

National first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate: 87.5% (NCSBN 2024). Programs above 90% are considered strong performers.
375 display-eligible RN rows in this verified board-sourced table.
NCLEX pass rates reflect first-time candidates only — multi-year averages are more reliable than single-year snapshots.
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%+

FILTER BY STATE:

All AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY

Based on your location

See NCLEX pass rates for schools in Ohio

View OH programs

Partner Programs

Find Nursing Programs With Strong NCLEX Pass Rates

Pass rates start with the program. Compare accredited partner programs accepting applications now — by degree, format, and location — then check each school's outcomes in the data below.

Find Schools With 90%+ NCLEX Pass Rates Near You

Answer 3 questions and get matched with top-performing accredited nursing programs in your state.

NCLEX-RN First-Time Pass Rates — 2026

Showing 50 of 375 schools (75%+ filter)

#	School	Pass Rate	vs National Avg	Accreditation
51	Saddleback College California	98.8%	+11.3% Excellent	ACEN	View School
52	Pellissippi State Community College Tennessee	98.8%	+11.3% Excellent	ACEN	View School
53	Northcentral Technical College Wisconsin	98.5%	+11.0% Excellent	ACEN	View School
54	Florida Gulf Coast University Florida	98.4%	+10.9% Excellent	CCNE	View School
55	Madison College (Madison Area Technical College) Wisconsin	98.4%	+10.9% Excellent	ACEN	View School
56	Reading Area Community College Pennsylvania	98.3%	+10.8% Excellent	ACEN	View School
57	Motlow State Community College Tennessee	98.3%	+10.8% Excellent	ACEN	View School
58	Spartanburg Community College South Carolina	98.3%	+10.8% Excellent	ACEN	View School
59	Vernon College Texas	98.2%	+10.7% Excellent	—	View School
60	South Texas College Texas	98.1%	+10.6% Excellent	—	View School
61	Lansing Community College Michigan	98.1%	+10.6% Excellent	ACEN	View School
62	Blinn College Texas	98.1%	+10.6% Excellent	—	View School
63	Waubonsee Community College Illinois	98.0%	+10.5% Excellent	ACEN	View School
64	University of South Carolina – College of Nursing South Carolina	98.0%	+10.5% Excellent	CCNE	View School
65	Rowan College of South Jersey New Jersey	98.0%	+10.5% Excellent	ACEN	View School
66	Ozarks Technical Community College Missouri	97.9%	+10.4% Excellent	ACEN	View School
67	Gordon State College Georgia	97.9%	+10.4% Excellent	ACEN	View School
68	Laredo College Texas	97.8%	+10.3% Excellent	—	View School
69	Stanly Community College North Carolina	97.7%	+10.2% Excellent	ACEN	View School
70	McNeese State University Louisiana	97.6%	+10.1% Excellent	ACEN	View School
71	Houston Christian University Texas	97.6%	+10.1% Excellent	—	View School
72	Sandhills Community College North Carolina	97.6%	+10.1% Excellent	ACEN	View School
73	Lamar University – Department of Nursing Texas	97.6%	+10.1% Excellent	ACEN	View School
74	Lamar University Texas	97.6%	+10.1% Excellent	—	View School
75	Felician University New Jersey	97.6%	+10.1% Excellent	CCNE	View School
76	College of Southern Idaho Idaho	97.5%	+10.0% Excellent	ACEN	View School
77	Tyler Junior College Texas	97.5%	+10.0% Excellent	—	View School
78	Augustana University South Dakota	97.5%	+10.0% Excellent	CCNE	View School
79	Lee College Texas	97.4%	+9.9% Excellent	—	View School
80	Kirkwood Community College Iowa	97.4%	+9.9% Excellent	ACEN	View School
81	University of Michigan – School of Nursing Michigan	97.4%	+9.9% Excellent	CCNE	View School
82	Robeson Community College North Carolina	97.4%	+9.9% Excellent	NLN CNEA	View School
83	East Carolina University – College of Nursing North Carolina	97.3%	+9.8% Excellent	CCNE	View School
84	Whatcom Community College Washington	97.2%	+9.7% Excellent	ACEN	View School
85	Concordia University Texas Texas	97.2%	+9.7% Excellent	—	View School
86	Texas Woman's University – College of Nursing Texas	97.2%	+9.7% Excellent	CCNE	View School
87	Concordia University Texas – Nursing Texas	97.2%	+9.7% Excellent	ACEN	View School
88	Texas Woman's University Texas	97.2%	+9.7% Excellent	—	View School
89	Eastern Arizona College Arizona	97.2%	+9.7% Excellent	ACEN	View School
90	Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing New York	97.1%	+9.6% Excellent	ACEN	View School
91	Grand Canyon University Arizona	97.0%	+9.5% Excellent	CCNE	View School
92	Maricopa Nursing – Gateway Community College Arizona	97.0%	+9.5% Excellent	ACEN	View School
93	Oakton Community College Illinois	97.0%	+9.5% Excellent	ACEN	View School
94	University of Tennessee at Knoxville Tennessee	97.0%	+9.5% Excellent	CCNE	View School
95	Midland College Texas	97.0%	+9.5% Excellent	—	View School
96	Alvin Community College Texas	96.9%	+9.4% Excellent	ACEN	View School
97	Texas A&M International University Texas	96.9%	+9.4% Excellent	—	View School
98	Texas A&M International University – Nursing Texas	96.9%	+9.4% Excellent	ACEN	View School
99	North Central Texas College Texas	96.9%	+9.4% Excellent	ACEN	View School
100	Skagit Valley College Washington	96.8%	+9.3% Excellent	ACEN	View School

← PreviousPage 2 of 8Next →

Data sourced from state boards of nursing and NCSBN annual reports. National average 87.5% (NCLEX-RN) and 83.4% (NCLEX-PN) per NCSBN 2024 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.

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

Compare Ohio nursing programs by pathway

Pass rates start with the program. Compare accredited Ohio options by credential, format, and cost.

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

The national NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate is approximately 87.5% (NCSBN 2024). 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.

Free Program Matching

Get Matched with Accredited Nursing Programs

Tell us your zip code and program preference, and we’ll connect you with top nursing schools that match your goals — tuition budget, schedule, and location.

Takes 30 seconds — completely freeCompare tuition, accreditation, and program lengthNo spam — only programs that fit your criteria

Find Programs Near You

Enter your details to see matching programs.