For our 2024 rankings of ADN programs, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac compiled an extensive database of student performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Aspiring registered nurses in the United States must pass this examination before they may commence practice. Thus, student performance on the NCLEX-RN exam provides an excellent benchmark for comparing the relative quality of associate’s degree programs.
We used our database to calculate each program’s NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers. This is the standard program assessment metric reported by Pearson Vue, the test’s administrator. It was also (until recently) the primary evaluation metric used by the Wisconsin Board of Nursing. Whenever possible, we calculated this first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate over an extensive period of time, typically the past decade of student performance. We then used this metric to rank all of Wisconsin’s ADN programs accordingly.
#1: Milwaukee Area Technical College
700 West State Street
Milwaukee, WI 53233
https://www.matc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 97.0%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 118
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#2: Waukesha County Technical College
800 Main Street
Pewaukee, WI 53072
https://www.wctc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 96.6%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 70
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#3: Fox Valley Technical College
1825 North Bluemound Drive
Appleton, WI 54912
https://www.fvtc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 96.6%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 76
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#4: Blackhawk Technical College
6004 County Road G
Janesville, WI 53547
https://www.blackhawk.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 95.1%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 39
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#5: Moraine Park Technical College
235 North National Avenue
Fond du Lac, WI 54936
https://www.morainepark.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 95.1%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 91
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#6: Mid-State Technical College
500 32nd Street North
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494
https://www.mstc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 94.4%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 64
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#7: Nicolet College
5364 College Drive
Rhinelander, WI 54501
https://www.nicoletcollege.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 92.2%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 25
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#8: Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
1800 Bronson Boulevard
Fennimore, WI 53809
https://www.swtc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 92.1%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 42
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#9: Northcentral Technical College
1000 Campus Drive
Wausau, WI 54401
https://www.ntc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 92.0%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 89
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#10: Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
2740 West Mason Street
Green Bay, WI 54307
https://www.nwtc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 91.8%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 172
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#11: Western Technical College
400 Seventh Street North
La Crosse, WI 54602
https://www.westerntc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 91.0%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 92
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#12: Madison Area Technical College
1701 Wright Street
Madison, WI 53704
https://www.madisoncollege.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 89.8%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 146
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#13: Lakeshore Technical College
1290 North Avenue
Cleveland, WI 53015
https://www.gotoltc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 89.8%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 46
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#14: Chippewa Valley Technical College
620 West Clairemont Avenue
Eau Claire, WI 54701
https://www.cvtc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 88.9%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 170
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#15: Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
505 Pine Ridge Drive
Shell Lake, WI 54871
https://www.witc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 88.1%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 98
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#16: Gateway Technical College
3520 30th Avenue
Kenosha, WI 53144
https://www.gtc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 87.6%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 118
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#17: Bryant & Stratton College
10950 West Potter Road
Wauwatosa, WI 53226
https://www.bryantstratton.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 86.5%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 164
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020; includes the performance of BSN graduates in 2018, 2019, and 2020
#18: Rasmussen University
904 South Taylor Street, Suite 100
Green Bay, WI 54303
https://www.rasmussen.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 78.2%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 89
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2012 through 2020; includes both the Green Bay and Wausau campuses, as well as the performance of BSN graduates in 2018, 2019, and 2020
#19: Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College
13466 West Trepania Road
Hayward, WI 54843
https://www.lco.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 38.5%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 7
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2014