NCLEX pass rates are the clearest objective signal you have when comparing nursing programs. They tell you what percentage of graduates passed their licensing exam — which is, after all, the whole point of nursing school. A program can have impressive marketing, updated simulation labs, and enthusiastic alumni testimonials, yet still produce graduates who struggle to get licensed.
This guide explains where to find NCLEX pass rate data, what the numbers mean in practice, how to compare schools fairly, and what other signals to look at alongside pass rates when making your decision.
NCLEX pass rates at a glance
| Metric | Benchmark | What it signals |
|---|---|---|
| National first-attempt RN pass rate | ~85% (NCSBN 2024) | Floor expectation for any accredited program |
| National first-attempt PN pass rate | ~83% (NCSBN 2024) | Same benchmark for LPN/LVN programs |
| State scrutiny threshold | Below 80% for 2+ years | Program may face probation or closure review |
| Strong program indicator | 90%+ first-attempt | Graduates consistently prepared above the bar |
| Red flag zone | Below 75% | Look carefully before enrolling |
Where to find official NCLEX pass rate data
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) publishes annual pass rate data. The most reliable sources, in order of authority:
1. Your state board of nursing website. Every state board is required to publish NCLEX pass rates for programs within the state, usually annually. Search “[your state] board of nursing NCLEX pass rates” — most boards have a public report in PDF or table format. This is the most granular source because it shows school-by-school data for your specific state.
2. NCSBN annual reports. The NCSBN publishes national-level pass rate breakdowns at ncsbn.org. These aggregate totals are useful for understanding national averages, but don’t give you school-specific data.
3. The program directly. Accredited programs are required to report pass rates to their accrediting body and often publish them on their website or in program materials. If a program won’t share their most recent NCLEX pass rate when you ask, that’s informative.
4. ACEN and CCNE program directories. Both major nursing accreditors — the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) — maintain public program directories. Some include pass rate data or link to state board data.
First-attempt vs. overall pass rates
Most published figures report first-attempt pass rates — the percentage of graduates who passed on their very first try. This is the most meaningful number.
Some programs report “overall” or “cumulative” pass rates, which include graduates who passed on a second or third attempt. An overall rate will always be higher than a first-attempt rate. When comparing schools, confirm you’re looking at the same metric. First-attempt rates are the industry standard.
The NCLEX also has two separate exams: NCLEX-RN (for registered nurses) and NCLEX-PN (for practical/vocational nurses). A program may offer one or both. Compare RN rates with RN rates and PN rates with PN rates — they’re assessed against different standards.
What pass rate thresholds actually mean
The 80% threshold matters because most state boards use it as a minimum standard for program approval. A program that falls below 80% for two consecutive years will typically trigger a state review, which can lead to provisional approval, required corrective action, or — in serious cases — loss of approval to admit new students.
This means the 80% floor is not a mark of quality — it’s the minimum to stay operational. A program hovering at 81-82% is technically compliant but barely so, and its graduates face meaningfully higher risk of exam failure.
Programs consistently above 90% are worth noting. That level of pass rate doesn’t happen by accident. It reflects strong content delivery, active NCLEX preparation support, and rigorous student readiness tracking throughout the program.
How to interpret pass rate data fairly
Raw pass rates can mislead if you don’t account for context:
Cohort size matters. A program with 12 graduates that shows a 91% pass rate (11 of 12 students) is not necessarily comparable to a program with 200 graduates at 88%. Small cohort rates swing wildly year to year — one student failing drops a 10-person cohort by 10 points. Look for multi-year trends, not single-year snapshots.
Attrition rates affect the calculation. Some programs maintain high pass rates by washing out struggling students before graduation. If a program admits 40 students and graduates 20, the 20 who remain are a self-selected group. Ask about both graduation rates and pass rates — a program with 95% pass rates and 50% attrition has a different story than 90% pass rates and 90% graduation rates.
Program type changes outcomes. ADN programs and BSN programs test to the same NCLEX-RN standard, but BSN graduates have historically passed at slightly higher rates — the gap narrowed considerably after the 2023 Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) transition. LPN programs (NCLEX-PN) are measured separately.
What to look at alongside NCLEX pass rates
Pass rates are the primary signal, but they shouldn’t be the only factor:
Accreditation status. A program must be accredited by the state board of nursing to operate, but voluntary accreditation by ACEN or CCNE signals an additional layer of external review. See our guide to nursing school accreditation for what each accreditor covers and why it matters for graduate school admissions and hospital hiring.
NCLEX prep support. Does the program include ATI, Hesi, or Kaplan as part of the curriculum? Do they require students to pass predictor assessments before allowing graduation? Programs with active readiness tracking tend to produce stronger first-attempt pass rates.
Clinical placement quality. Classroom instruction matters less than clinical hours in terms of real skill development. Ask where students do their clinicals — community hospital, Level I trauma center, outpatient only, or a mix. A broad clinical exposure builds the decision-making capacity the NCLEX tests.
Employment outcomes. A program’s job placement rate tells you something different from pass rates but equally important. What percentage of graduates have nursing employment within six months of licensure?
Building your school comparison
When you’re evaluating two or three programs, build a side-by-side comparison using this framework:
| Factor | What to ask / find | Source |
|---|---|---|
| First-attempt NCLEX-RN pass rate | Rate for each of the last 3 years | State board of nursing website |
| Graduation rate | % of admitted students who graduate | Program, IPEDS database |
| Accreditation | ACEN, CCNE, or state approval only | ACEN.org, CCNEaccreditation.org |
| NCLEX prep tools | ATI, Hesi, Kaplan included in curriculum? | Program curriculum overview |
| Clinical placement sites | Types of facilities, hours required | Program clinical coordinator |
| Total program cost | Tuition + fees + books | Program financial aid office |
A program that scores well across all six rows — even if it’s not the highest pass rate in absolute terms — is a stronger choice than one with a headline 93% rate but thin clinical exposure and no structured NCLEX prep.
When to walk away
Walk away from a program — or at minimum ask very hard questions — if:
- NCLEX pass rates are unavailable or the program is reluctant to share them
- The most recent published rate is below 80%
- Pass rates have declined for two or more consecutive years
- The program is on state probation or conditional approval
- The graduation rate is below 70% (suggesting the pass rate is inflated by attrition)
High enrollment demand means nursing programs don’t always have strong accountability pressure from applicants. If you don’t ask, many programs won’t volunteer unflattering data.
Making the decision
NCLEX pass rates are the closest thing nursing school selection has to an outcome metric. Use them as a floor — filter out programs below 80% first — then use the fuller picture of accreditation, clinical placement, cost, and location to make your final call.
For the full context on how programs compare across other dimensions, see our guides on how to get into nursing school and nursing school prerequisites. If you’re weighing an ADN at a community college against a BSN program, our ADN vs BSN comparison covers the career and cost trade-offs in detail.