NCLEX PASS RATE DATA

In the course of completing ACEN’s Annual Report, ACEN-accredited programs are asked to report their NCLEX pass rates for first-time test takers as reported by their state regulatory agency. These numbers are then compared against the NCSBN’s published results.

As the graphs below illustrate, a review of the data reported by the nursing programs demonstrates that the mean NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN pass rates for graduates of ACEN-accredited programs exceed the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) published national mean* for all program types except baccalaureate programs.

(Historically, ACEN-accredited baccalaureate programs have exceeded the NCSBN’s national mean. It wasn’t until 2017 that the NCSBN’s national average increased dramatically. Even still, the margin remains less than 2 percentage points.)

ACEN-accredited Associate, Diploma, and Practical programs demonstrate NCLEX examination pass rates exceeding the national average by between 1 – 7 percent.

In aggregate, ACEN-accredited programs demonstrate average scores above the national average by an average of 2.5 percentage points.

*It should also be noted that the NCSBN revised the passing standard for the following examinations:

• NCLEX-RN examination (0.00 logits^#) effective April 1, 2016.
• NCLEX-PN examination (-0.21 logits^#) effective April 1, 2014.

^#Logit is a unit of measurement to report relative differences between candidate ability estimates and item difficulties.

ACEN-Accredited Baccalaureate Program vs NCSBN National Average

ACEN-Accredited Associate Programs vs NCSBN National Average

ACEN-Accredited Diploma Programs vs NCSBN National Average

ACEN-Accredited Practical Programs vs NCSBN National Average