How to Find NCLEX Pass Rates of Nursing Schools: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

by | Apr 21, 2025 | Nursing Degrees and Programs | 0 comments

Choosing a nursing program isn’t just about the vibes of the campus or how close it is to your favorite coffee shop (although… those things matter too). It’s about setting yourself up for success—especially when it comes to that all-important NCLEX exam.

A program’s NCLEX pass rate tells you how well their students are prepared to crush the exam on the first try. It’s one of the best clues you’ll get into whether a school walks the walk or just talks the talk. So, let’s break down how to actually find this info without going down a Google rabbit hole. 👇

nclex pass rates

Why NCLEX pass rates matter

Think of NCLEX pass rates as the Yelp reviews of nursing programs—but instead of brunch recommendations, they show you whether students are passing the biggest exam of their career.

When you look at nursing school NCLEX pass rates, you’re getting a real-world snapshot of how effective their teaching, clinicals, and support systems truly are.

High pass rates = likely solid instruction, strong academic support, quality clinical experiences, and maybe even some NCLEX prep integrated into the curriculum.

Low pass rates? That could be a red flag. It might suggest gaps in instruction, poor support, or high faculty turnover—none of which you want to be dealing with while trying to pass one of the hardest exams of your life.

Also, it’s worth mentioning that consistently low NCLEX pass rates can actually put a nursing program at risk of losing accreditation in some states. So this isn’t just a vanity metric—it can impact the long-term stability of the program itself.

👀 Psst… looking for an accredited nursing school near you? Use our free search tool below to find one in your area! 👇

Where to find NCLEX pass rates (without losing your mind)

Here’s the good news: NCLEX pass rates are publicly available. Each state’s Board of Nursing (BON) tracks and reports this data every year.

If you’d like to see a video walkthrough of this, click play below! 👇

This means you don’t have to rely on random Reddit threads or take a school’s word for it. You can go straight to the source.

Here’s how to find them:

Step 1: Search “[Your State] Board of Nursing NCLEX pass rates”

Let’s say you’re looking for schools in Texas. You’d Google:

“Texas Board of Nursing NCLEX pass rates”

This will usually bring up a direct link to a PDF or webpage hosted on the official BON website. You’re looking for a URL that ends in .gov or includes something like nursing.state.tx.us.

Step 2: Look for a page titled something like:

  • “NCLEX Pass Rates by School”
  • “Annual NCLEX Statistics”
  • “Education Reports”
  • Or just… “NCLEX Pass Rates”

BONs don’t always make it flashy, but the info is there.

Pro-tip ➡️ Some states list the reports under “Education” or “Academic Programs” rather than labeling it clearly with “NCLEX.” If you’re struggling to find it, try those sections too.

Step 3: View or download the document

Most states publish this as a PDF or Excel file. Inside, you’ll typically see:

  • The name of the nursing school
  • The number of students who took the NCLEX
  • The number who passed
  • The percentage who passed (first-time NCLEX pass rate or NCLEX pass rate by school)

Some states separate data by RN and LPN programs, or by ADN (associate degree), BSN (bachelor’s) programs, as well as direct-entry MSN programs,—so be sure you’re looking at the one that matches your path.

Now you might be thinking…

“Why don’t you just make a master list of each state’s current pass rates Kati?”

Great question—and I would, but each state does things a little differently. Most upload a brand-new file each year, which means the link changes every time. So, it’s just not practical to keep a centralized list.

Pro-tip ➡️ Bookmark your state’s BON page and the report file once you find it. It’ll save you time later if you want to reference it again during your school search, or if you’re curious about how your program is performing once you’re enrolled.

Next level pro-tip ➡️ Just put that link in the ‘Notes’ column of our Nursing School Planner Spreadsheet! It’s free, and you can grab yours below 👇

Step 4: Interpret the data

You’ll probably notice a wide range in NCLEX pass rates.

💡 Look for schools with an 80%+ first-time pass rate—this is often the baseline BONs use to assess program quality. In many states, programs that fall below this for multiple years may be placed on probation or required to submit improvement plans.

Also, check the class size. If a school has a 100% pass rate, but only 4 students graduated… that doesn’t tell you much. But if a school with 200+ graduates has a 95% pass rate? That’s an impressive and meaningful stat.

Some reports will also show pass rates across different years (see next section!)—so you can tell if the program’s performance is steady, improving, or going downhill.

Bonus Step: Compare multiple years

If your state’s BON shares historical data, absolutely use it.

Trends are super telling. If a school had a random off-year but bounced back quickly, that’s one thing. But if a program has been sliding downward for three years straight? That’s something to dig into before committing.

You can also use this to compare programs across your state—especially helpful if you’re deciding between a few schools and they’re all kinda close.

🗂 Once you know what you’re looking for, our Nursing Program search tool makes it simple to browse through BSN and ADN programs. You don’t have to dig through multiple sites—just one smart search. 👇


What if you can’t find it?

Sometimes, BON websites are… a maze. IYKYK

If you still can’t find it, try this:

  • Call or email the state BON’s education department. They’re used to this question and can usually point you in the right direction.
  • Ask the school directly. This is a great question to bring up during your admissions interview or info session. They should be transparent here—and if they’re not… 🚩
  • Check the school’s website. Look under sections like “Outcomes,” “Student Achievement,” or “Program Data.”

🚩 If the school dodges the question, refuses to answer, or makes it weird? That’s a red flag, friend.

Final thoughts: You deserve the full picture

Nursing school is a massive investment—of time, money, energy, and brainpower. And while NCLEX pass rates aren’t the only thing to look at when you’re figuring out how to choose a nursing school—they’re a critical piece of the puzzle.

When you know how to find and interpret this data, you can make a more confident, informed decision about where to begin your nursing journey. So if you’re starting your research, look for the best nursing schools by NCLEX pass rate in your state, and use that as a starting point to dig deeper into program fit, culture, and support.

So go forth, do your research, ask smart questions, and don’t settle for anything less than a school that’s ready to truly support you—especially when it comes to helping you pass the NCLEX.

Nursing Degrees and Programs Page
Picture of Kati Kleber, founder of FRESHRN

Hi, I’m Kati.

I'm a nurse educator, author, national speaker, and host of the FreshRN® Podcast. I created FreshRN® – an online platform meant to educate, encourage, and motivate newly licensed nurses in innovative ways.

Connect with me on YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, and sign-up for my free email newsletter for new nurses.

Learn about FreshRN’s mission and values as well as my professional background.

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