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
Pass rates in your state
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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)
| # | School | Pass Rate | vs National Avg | Accreditation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 151 | Pima Community College Arizona | 95.1% | +8.4% Excellent | ACEN | View School |
| 152 | Old Dominion University Virginia | 95.1% | +8.4% Excellent | — | View School |
| 153 | Lee College Texas | 95.1% | +8.4% Excellent | — | View School |
| 154 | CAROLINAS COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES North Carolina | 95.1% | +8.4% Excellent | ACEN Accredited — associate (Charlotte, North Carolina). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23. | View School |
| 155 | Santa Ana College California | 95.1% | +8.4% Excellent | ACEN Accredited — associate (Santa Ana, California). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23. | View School |
| 156 | Ambria College of Nursing (Judson University) Illinois | 95.0% | +8.3% Excellent | ACEN | View School |
| 157 | Pomeroy College of Nursing at Crouse Hospital New York | 95.0% | +8.3% Excellent | ACEN Accredited — associate (East Syracuse, New York). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23. | View School |
| 158 | Hartnell College California | 95.0% | +8.3% Excellent | ACEN Accredited — associate, practical (Salinas, California). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23. | View School |
| 159 | Northampton Community College Pennsylvania | 94.9% | +8.2% Above avg | ACEN | View School |
| 160 | American Career College California | 94.8% | +8.1% Above avg | ACEN | View School |
| 161 | Golden West College California | 94.8% | +8.1% Above avg | ACEN Accredited — associate (Huntington Beach, California). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23. | View School |
| 162 | Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia | 94.8% | +8.1% Above avg | — | View School |
| 163 | Wharton County Junior College Texas | 94.7% | +8.0% Above avg | ACEN | View School |
| 164 | University of Kentucky College of Nursing Kentucky | 94.7% | +8.0% Above avg | CCNE | View School |
| 165 | Seminole State College of Florida Florida | 94.7% | +8.0% Above avg | ACEN | View School |
| 166 | Collin College Texas | 94.7% | +8.0% Above avg | ACEN | View School |
| 167 | Daytona State College Florida | 94.6% | +7.9% Above avg | ACEN | View School |
| 168 | Odessa College Texas | 94.6% | +7.9% Above avg | ACEN | View School |
| 169 | Southwestern Adventist University Texas | 94.6% | +7.9% Above avg | — | View School |
| 170 | Purdue University – School of Nursing Indiana | 94.5% | +7.8% Above avg | CCNE | View School |
| 171 | Norfolk State University Virginia | 94.4% | +7.7% Above avg | — | View School |
| 172 | Rose State College Oklahoma | 94.4% | +7.7% Above avg | ACEN | View School |
| 173 | Rio Grande Valley College Texas | 94.4% | +7.7% Above avg | — | View School |
| 174 | Panola College Texas | 94.4% | +7.7% Above avg | — | View School |
| 175 | Yakima Valley College Washington | 94.3% | +7.6% Above avg | ACEN | View School |
| 176 | Alverno College Wisconsin | 94.3% | +7.6% Above avg | CCNE | View School |
| 177 | Grand Valley State University Michigan | 94.3% | +7.6% Above avg | CCNE | View School |
| 178 | Emory University Georgia | 94.2% | +7.5% Above avg | CCNE | View School |
| 179 | University of South Florida Florida | 94.2% | +7.5% Above avg | CCNE | View School |
| 180 | Drexel University Pennsylvania | 94.2% | +7.5% Above avg | CCNE | View School |
| 181 | Harford Community College Maryland | 94.1% | +7.4% Above avg | ACEN | View School |
| 182 | University of South Dakota – Department of Nursing South Dakota | 94.1% | +7.4% Above avg | CCNE | View School |
| 183 | Bakersfield College California | 94.0% | +7.3% Above avg | ACEN Accredited — associate (Bakersfield, California). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23. | View School |
| 184 | Mennonite College of Nursing – Illinois State University Illinois | 94.0% | +7.3% Above avg | CCNE | View School |
| 185 | York Technical College South Carolina | 93.9% | +7.2% Above avg | ACEN | View School |
| 186 | Surry Community College North Carolina | 93.9% | +7.2% Above avg | ACEN | View School |
| 187 | Columbus State Community College Ohio | 93.9% | +7.2% Above avg | ACEN | View School |
| 188 | Augusta University Georgia | 93.8% | +7.1% Above avg | CCNE | View School |
| 189 | DES MOINES AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE Iowa | 93.8% | +7.1% Above avg | ACEN Accredited — associate (Ankeny, Iowa). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23. | View School |
| 190 | Truckee Meadows Community College Nevada | 93.8% | +7.0% Above avg | ACEN | View School |
| 191 | Palomar College California | 93.7% | +7.0% Above avg | ACEN Accredited — associate (San Marcos, California). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23. | View School |
| 192 | Florida International University Florida | 93.6% | +6.9% Above avg | CCNE | View School |
| 193 | Southern Utah University – Department of Nursing Utah | 93.6% | +6.9% Above avg | CCNE | View School |
| 194 | Harding University – Carr College of Nursing Arkansas | 93.6% | +6.9% Above avg | CCNE | View School |
| 195 | Northeast Texas Community College Texas | 93.6% | +6.9% Above avg | ACEN | View School |
| 196 | Pacific Lutheran University – School of Nursing Washington | 93.5% | +6.8% Above avg | CCNE | View School |
| 197 | TAYLOR COLLEGE Florida | 93.4% | +6.7% Above avg | ACEN Accredited — associate, practical (Ocala, Florida). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23. | View School |
| 198 | Arkansas State University – School of Nursing Arkansas | 93.4% | +6.7% Above avg | ACEN | View School |
| 199 | Finger Lakes Community College New York | 93.3% | +6.6% Above avg | ACEN | View School |
| 200 | Macomb Community College Michigan | 93.3% | +6.6% Above avg | ACEN | View School |
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
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 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.