Where does NCLEX pass rate data come from?

Every state Board of Nursing publishes annual first-time pass rates for every approved nursing program in the state. Rates typically release twice per year, in April (for the prior year) and October (for the first half of the current year). The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) aggregates state data into national statistics. All the data on this page is compiled from these official Board of Nursing reports.

Does the school with the highest pass rate always win?

No. A very high first-time pass rate can indicate strong education, but it can also indicate a program that filters out struggling students before they take the exam. Look at both first-time pass rate AND overall pass rate (which includes repeat attempts). A school with 95% first-time pass rate and 60% enrollment-to-graduation rate has essentially screened out the students who would have failed. A school with 82% first-time pass rate and 85% graduation rate has actually helped more students succeed.

How does the NCLEX-RN work?

The NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses) is a computer-adaptive test administered by Pearson VUE. It contains between 75 and 145 questions and takes up to five hours. Question difficulty adjusts based on your answers. The exam ends when the algorithm determines whether you have passed or failed with 95% confidence. Content covers safe and effective care, health promotion, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity. Registration fee is $200. Results release within six weeks (usually two).

How long do I have to take the NCLEX after graduation?

Timing varies by state. Most states require you to take the NCLEX within one year of graduation, though some allow longer windows. You must first apply for RN licensure through your state Board of Nursing, complete a criminal background check, and be approved to test. Once approved, you receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) valid for 90 days. Schedule your exam through Pearson VUE. Most graduates test within 4 to 12 weeks of graduation.

Can I retake the NCLEX if I fail?

Yes. You can retake the NCLEX-RN after 45 days from your previous attempt, up to 8 times per year. Most states impose a lifetime limit or require additional education after multiple failures. If you fail, review your Candidate Performance Report (CPR) to identify weak content areas, invest in additional NCLEX prep resources (Kaplan, UWorld, Saunders), and take a diagnostic assessment before scheduling the retake. Roughly 45% of first-time failers pass on their second attempt.

What is the NCLEX-PN?

NCLEX-PN is the licensure exam for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) or Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs). It covers the narrower LPN scope of practice: basic patient care under RN or physician supervision. First-time pass rates for the NCLEX-PN typically run around 85% nationally. LPN candidates take the exam after completing a state-approved practical nursing program, usually a 12-to-18-month diploma.

Does the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) change anything?

The NGN launched in April 2023. It replaced multiple-choice-only formats with new question types including extended multiple response, matrix grid, and clinical judgment case studies. The content remains the same but the format tests clinical reasoning more heavily than the previous version. Passing standards were adjusted to match. Programs report similar overall pass rates post-NGN launch, suggesting the exam is comparably difficult in the new format.

Federal data · Board of Nursing reports

NCLEX Pass Rates by State

First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for every US state, compiled from state Board of Nursing annual reports. Sort by rate to see where the strongest programs cluster. National average currently sits around 82 percent.

			Notes on program leaders
Arizona	89.3%	82.5%	Above national avg. ASU, U of A, Grand Canyon University all above 90%.
Virginia	89.1%	82.5%	UVA, VCU, George Mason lead. Very consistent state performance.
North Carolina	88.7%	82.5%	Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill, ECU lead. Strong statewide performance.
Colorado	88.4%	82.5%	CU-Denver, Colorado State, University of Northern Colorado lead.
Texas	88.1%	82.5%	UT Austin and Baylor lead state rates. Community college ADN programs vary widely.
North Dakota	87.9%	82.5%	UND and North Dakota State lead. Small state, high program quality.
Missouri	87.8%	82.5%	Washington University, University of Missouri lead.
Kentucky	87.5%	82.5%	UK, University of Louisville lead. Strong community college network.
Ohio	87.4%	82.5%	Above national average. Strong performance from Ohio State, Cleveland Clinic Fnd, Case Western.
Nevada	86.9%	82.5%	UNLV and UNR lead. Rapid program growth to meet Las Vegas hospital demand.
South Carolina	86.8%	82.5%	MUSC and USC lead. Community college programs consistently above national avg.
Florida	86.2%	82.5%	UF, University of Miami, and USF lead. Wide variation among for-profit programs.
West Virginia	85.6%	82.5%	WVU leads. Rural community colleges vary significantly by year.
Arkansas	85.1%	82.5%	UAMS leads. Rural community colleges have improved dramatically since 2020.
Mississippi	84.2%	82.5%	Below national average. University of Mississippi Medical Center leads state.

Rates reflect the most recent Board of Nursing annual reports. Data updates in April and October at each board release cycle.

How to read the numbers

What NCLEX pass rate actually tells you

First-time pass rate is the percent of a program's graduates who pass the NCLEX-RN on their first attempt within a given year. It is the single most-cited quality signal for nursing programs because it directly measures how well the school prepared students to practice as an RN.

A very high pass rate can indicate excellent education. It can also indicate aggressive filtering. Some programs delay struggling students from graduating or fail them out of the program before they take the exam. This inflates the first-time pass rate at the cost of student retention. When comparing programs, always look at:

First-time NCLEX pass rate (published by state Board of Nursing)
Program completion rate (published by IPEDS, shown in our program listings)
Program size (a 95% pass rate on 12 graduates is less meaningful than 88% on 200)
Trend over 3 to 5 years (single-year spikes can be noise)

A program that graduates 85% of enrolled students and posts an 88% first-time NCLEX pass rate has helped more nurses reach licensure than a program with 60% graduation and 95% NCLEX pass. Do not compare pass rates in isolation.

FAQ

Common questions about the NCLEX-RN

The national first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate hovers around 82 to 88 percent, varying year to year. Any accredited program with a first-time pass rate above 85% is performing at or above national average. Above 90% is excellent. Below 75% is a warning sign and worth investigating before enrolling. Some programs post lower first-time rates because they admit students with weaker prerequisite grades then support them through the exam over multiple attempts.

Find programs with the pass rates that fit your goal.

Fifteen state pages with every accredited program, sortable tables, and completion data from the U.S. Department of Education.

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