NCLEX pass rates are the single most objective data point you have when evaluating nursing programs — but most applicants don’t know how to read them, where to find them, or what the numbers actually mean. This guide walks you through how state-level and school-level pass rate data works, what counts as a red flag, and how to fold this information into your program decision.
Key points
- First-time NCLEX pass rate is the gold standard metric — retake rates mask school quality.
- State nursing boards publish pass rate data publicly, usually annually. NCSBN aggregates national data.
- A school with a 75–80% first-time pass rate is borderline. Look for programs consistently above 90%.
- Pass rates alone don’t tell you everything — consider NCLEX-RN vs. NCLEX-PN, program type (ADN vs. BSN), and cohort size.
- Low pass rates at a state level can indicate regulatory pressure, changing exam content, or lower-resourced programs.
Why first-time pass rate is the metric that matters
Programs sometimes advertise “NCLEX pass rates” without specifying whether they’re counting first-time test-takers or everyone who eventually passed after retakes. These are very different numbers.
First-time pass rate (also called first-attempt pass rate): the percentage of graduates who pass NCLEX on their first attempt. This is what you want.
Overall pass rate: can include students who failed once, twice, or more before eventually passing. Some programs report this figure to make their numbers look better.
When comparing schools, always ask specifically for first-time NCLEX pass rate data. Most state boards publish this information by school, and the NCLEX pass rates by nursing school guide covers how to find school-specific data.
Where to find NCLEX pass rate data by state
State boards of nursing
Every state board of nursing is required to publish program pass rate data. The format varies: some post PDFs annually, others have searchable databases. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) maintains a directory of all state boards at ncsbn.org.
To find your state’s data:
- Search “[State] Board of Nursing NCLEX pass rates” or “[State] Board of Nursing program data”
- Look for a “Program Statistics” or “School Data” section
- Filter by year and credential type (RN vs. PN)
NCSBN national data
NCSBN publishes aggregate national pass rate statistics annually. Their reports break down pass rates by:
- Candidate type (US-educated, internationally educated)
- Credential (RN vs. PN)
- First-time vs. repeat attempts
- Education level (diploma, ADN, BSN)
The NCSBN data won’t show you individual school pass rates but gives you a reliable national benchmark to compare against.
State-level NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates: national context
Pass rates vary significantly across states. The variation reflects differences in program quality, state-level regulatory standards, cohort demographics, and how aggressively state boards enforce minimum pass rate thresholds.
| Category | First-time NCLEX-RN pass rate (approximate national range) |
|---|---|
| Top-performing states | 90–95% |
| Average range | 82–89% |
| Below-average states | 75–81% |
| States with regulatory concerns | Below 75% |
Note: These ranges reflect aggregate state-level data and shift year-to-year. Always check the most recent published data from NCSBN or your state board.
States with large numbers of nursing programs — California, Texas, Florida, New York — show more variation within their state data because they include everything from well-resourced university BSN programs to smaller community college ADN programs with fewer support resources.
How to compare pass rates across program types
Not all NCLEX results should be compared apples-to-apples. Several factors shape pass rates that have nothing to do with how well a school teaches.
ADN vs. BSN programs
Research consistently shows that BSN graduates pass NCLEX at slightly higher rates than ADN graduates on first attempt. This isn’t purely a school quality difference — BSN programs are longer, include more content, and often serve a slightly different student population.
When comparing a community college ADN program to a four-year BSN program, a 5–8 percentage point pass rate gap may be expected. What you’re looking for is underperformance relative to similar programs of the same type. The ADN vs. BSN comparison covers the program structure differences in detail.
Cohort size matters
A program that graduates 12 students per year and has a 75% pass rate has 3 students who didn’t pass. A program graduating 200 students with 80% has 40 who didn’t. Statistically, smaller cohorts produce more volatile year-to-year numbers. A single bad year for a small program looks catastrophic on paper.
Look at multi-year averages (3–5 years) rather than a single year’s data when evaluating small programs.
Regional accreditation vs. NCLEX accreditation
Accreditation by ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing) or CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education) is distinct from NCLEX pass rate performance, but accredited programs tend to have stronger support systems and more consistent outcomes. The nursing school accreditation guide explains what each accreditor covers.
What counts as a red flag
Below 80% first-time pass rate
The NCSBN doesn’t set a mandatory minimum pass rate, but many state boards do — typically around 80% over a rolling period. Programs that fall below this threshold face scrutiny, conditional approval, or in serious cases, loss of state approval.
If a school you’re considering has published first-time pass rates below 80% in recent years, investigate further:
- Was the low rate a one-off year (small cohort, unusual circumstances)?
- Is the program currently on conditional approval with the state board?
- What is the program’s response? Has leadership changed? Have curriculum changes been made?
Declining trend over 3+ years
A program whose pass rate has dropped from 92% to 86% to 79% over three years is showing a structural problem, not a blip. A single-year dip followed by recovery is normal. A consistent downward trend is not.
No published data
Any accredited nursing program is required to make pass rate data available. If a program cannot produce this data when you ask, or directs you to vague marketing materials instead of actual numbers, treat that as a significant warning. You can also request this information directly from your state board — the school doesn’t control what the board publishes.
How to use pass rate data in your application decision
Pass rates should be one input among several. A school with a 94% pass rate and no clinical placement support, punishing attrition rates, or serious accreditation issues may not be the right choice. The how to choose a nursing school guide covers the full evaluation framework.
That said, here’s how to weight pass rate data practically:
Use it as a filter, not a ranking. First, eliminate any programs with consistently poor pass rates (below 80% first-time over 3 years). Then evaluate the remaining programs on other dimensions.
Ask programs directly. Most nursing school admissions pages publish pass rate data. If they don’t, email the program director and ask for first-time pass rate figures for the past three years. Their willingness to share — and the actual numbers — are both informative.
Request state board data as a cross-check. Schools control what they publish on their websites. State board data is independently verified. Cross-check the numbers.
Consider your own NCLEX preparation separately. Your school’s pass rate is a population-level measure. Your outcome depends on how you prepare. A strong NCLEX study plan matters regardless of which program you attend.
NCLEX pass rate by education level: national averages
NCSBN tracks pass rates by candidate education level. Historically, the pattern has been consistent:
| Education level | Approximate first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate |
|---|---|
| BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) | 88–92% |
| ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) | 82–86% |
| Diploma programs | 84–88% |
| MSN/Entry-level master’s programs | 90–94% |
Source: NCSBN annual pass rate summaries. Figures shift year-to-year; consult the most recent NCSBN publication for current data.
These figures reflect national aggregates. Individual programs within each category range widely.
What changed with the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)
The NCLEX transitioned to the Next Generation NCLEX format in 2023, introducing new item types focused on clinical judgment. This shift caused a temporary dip in pass rates nationally as both candidates and programs adjusted to the new format.
When reviewing historical pass rate data, note whether you’re looking at pre-2023 or post-2023 figures. The two aren’t directly comparable. Programs that invested early in clinical judgment education and updated their curricula ahead of the transition tended to maintain stronger pass rates through the change.
If a program’s pass rate dropped sharply in 2023–2024 but has since recovered, that may reflect the NGN transition rather than underlying program quality problems. A program that was still struggling by 2025 has had time to adapt — continued low performance at that point is a stronger signal.
Checklist: evaluating NCLEX pass rate data for a school
Use this list when researching any program:
- Located first-time (not overall) pass rate data
- Reviewed at least 3 consecutive years of data
- Compared pass rates to state average and national benchmark for same program type
- Checked whether program is currently on conditional approval with state board
- Confirmed accreditation status (ACEN or CCNE)
- Cross-referenced school-published data with state board published data
- Noted cohort size (small cohort = more variable year-to-year)
- Reviewed school’s NCLEX first attempt strategy resources or equivalent support offerings
Bottom line
NCLEX pass rates are the most transparent, externally verified measure of program outcomes you have access to as an applicant. A consistently strong first-time pass rate (above 90%, sustained over multiple years) is a meaningful positive signal. A weak or declining rate warrants serious investigation before you commit.
Don’t accept marketing language in place of actual data. Request the numbers, compare them to state board records, and put them in context alongside program type, cohort size, and accreditation status. Used correctly, this data is one of the most useful filters in your program evaluation process.
Lindsay Smith is an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP). Clinical data in this article is sourced from NCSBN publications and state board of nursing annual reports.