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)
475
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).
  • 475 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 475 schools

#SchoolPass Ratevs National AvgAccreditation
101South University
Florida
96.9%+10.2%
Excellent
CCNEView School
102Medical University of South Carolina – College of Nursing
South Carolina
96.8%+10.1%
Excellent
CCNEView School
103Central Texas College
Texas
96.8%+10.1%
Excellent
—View School
104Skagit Valley College
Washington
96.8%+10.1%
Excellent
ACENView School
105Anoka-Ramsey Community College
Minnesota
96.7%+10.0%
Excellent
ACENView School
106Northwestern State University – College of Nursing
Louisiana
96.7%+10.0%
Excellent
ACENView School
107Santa Barbara City College
California
96.7%+10.0%
Excellent
ACEN Accredited — associate (Santa Barbara, California). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23.View School
108Peninsula College
Washington
96.7%+10.0%
Excellent
ACENView School
109Riverside City College
California
96.6%+9.9%
Excellent
ACEN Accredited — associate, practical (Riverside, California). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23.View School
110Kennesaw State University
Georgia
96.5%+9.8%
Excellent
CCNEView School
111Angelina College
Texas
96.5%+9.8%
Excellent
—View School
112JAMES A RHODES STATE COLLEGE
Ohio
96.5%+9.8%
Excellent
ACEN Accredited — associate, baccalaureate (Lima, Ohio). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23.View School
113Duquesne University School of Nursing
Pennsylvania
96.4%+9.7%
Excellent
CCNEView School
114WESTERN PIEDMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
North Carolina
96.3%+9.6%
Excellent
ACEN Accredited — associate (Morganton, North Carolina). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23.View School
115Everett Community College
Washington
96.3%+9.6%
Excellent
ACENView School
116Walters State Community College
Tennessee
96.3%+9.6%
Excellent
ACENView School
117North Idaho College
Idaho
96.3%+9.5%
Excellent
ACENView School
118Trident Technical College
South Carolina
96.2%+9.5%
Excellent
ACENView School
119James Madison University
Virginia
96.2%+9.5%
Excellent
—View School
120Stephen F. Austin State University
Texas
96.2%+9.5%
Excellent
—View School
121Angelo State University
Texas
96.2%+9.5%
Excellent
—View School
122Baylor University – Louise Herrington School of Nursing
Texas
96.1%+9.4%
Excellent
CCNEView School
123Grossmont College
California
96.0%+9.3%
Excellent
ACEN Accredited — associate (El Cajon, California). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23.View School
124Nevada State University
Nevada
96.0%+9.3%
Excellent
CCNEView School
125Vanderbilt University
Tennessee
96.0%+9.3%
Excellent
CCNEView School
126Georgia Highlands College
Georgia
96.0%+9.3%
Excellent
ACENView School
127Liberty University
Virginia
96.0%+9.3%
Excellent
ACENView School
128LSU Health New Orleans – School of Nursing
Louisiana
96.0%+9.3%
Excellent
CCNEView School
129PASCO-HERNANDO STATE COLLEGE
Florida
95.9%+9.2%
Excellent
ACEN Accredited — associate (New Port Richey, Florida). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23.View School
130Tacoma Community College
Washington
95.9%+9.2%
Excellent
ACENView School
131Gavilan College
California
95.8%+9.1%
Excellent
ACENView School
132Shenandoah University
Virginia
95.8%+9.1%
Excellent
—View School
133Midlands Technical College
South Carolina
95.8%+9.1%
Excellent
ACENView School
134Mercer University
Georgia
95.7%+9.0%
Excellent
CCNEView School
135St. Philip's College
Texas
95.7%+9.0%
Excellent
—View School
136Flathead Valley Community College
Montana
95.7%+9.0%
Excellent
NLN CNEAView School
137Three Rivers College
Missouri
95.5%+8.8%
Excellent
ACENView School
138Sam Houston State University
Texas
95.5%+8.8%
Excellent
—View School
139Texas A&M University-Texarkana
Texas
95.5%+8.8%
Excellent
—View School
140ATA COLLEGE
Florida
95.5%+8.8%
Excellent
ACEN Accredited — associate (Fort Myers, Florida). Source: ACEN program directory https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs retrieved 2026-09-23.View School
141McLennan Community College
Texas
95.3%+8.6%
Excellent
—View School
142Wake Technical Community College
North Carolina
95.3%+8.6%
Excellent
ACENView School
143St. John Fisher University – Wegmans School of Nursing
New York
95.3%+8.6%
Excellent
CCNEView School
144University of the Incarnate Word
Texas
95.3%+8.6%
Excellent
—View School
145Alvin Community College
Texas
95.3%+8.6%
Excellent
ACENView School
146Coastal Bend College
Texas
95.2%+8.5%
Excellent
—View School
147Midland College
Texas
95.2%+8.5%
Excellent
—View School
148Austin Community College
Texas
95.2%+8.5%
Excellent
—View School
149Bucks County Community College
Pennsylvania
95.2%+8.5%
Excellent
ACENView School
150Mount Mercy University
Iowa
95.2%+8.5%
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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