2026 DataSource: state boards of nursing · National avg 86.7%
Best NCLEX Pass Rates 2026 — Top Nursing Schools Ranked
The top U.S. nursing schools ranked by first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate. All data sourced from state boards of nursing — no estimates, no fabricated rankings. For broader filtering, methodology, and per-state views, see all NCLEX pass rates or our ranking methodology.
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Top 50 Schools — First-Time NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2026)
Ranked by most recent reported first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate per school. Single-year figures for small programs can be volatile; treat multi-year trends as more reliable.
What counts as a “best” NCLEX pass rate?
Programs at or above 86.7% (the current NCSBN national first-time NCLEX-RN average) are above average. Programs above 95% are considered excellent, but small cohort sizes can cause year-to-year variance — always check at least three years of history before drawing conclusions.
Does a high NCLEX pass rate mean a school is the right fit?
Not by itself. Pass rate is one of several signals — admissions selectivity, clinical placement quality, cost, and program length matter too. Use this list to shortlist, then dig into each school's history and your own constraints.
Where does this ranking data come from?
State boards of nursing publish institutional NCLEX pass rates annually. We compile the most recent reporting year per school and rank by first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate.
How often is this list updated?
Daily. Underlying data refreshes when state boards publish new reports — typically once per year, after the prior NCLEX testing year closes. Current dataset year: 2026.