For our 2024 rankings of prelicensure BSN 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 bachelor’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 the North Carolina Board of Nursing and the test’s administrator, Pearson Vue. Whenever possible, we calculated this first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate over an extensive period of time, typically the past nine years of student performance. We then used this metric to rank all of North Carolina’s prelicensure BSN programs accordingly.
#1: Western Carolina University
98.7% first-time NCLEX pass rateOne University Way
Cullowhee, North Carolina 28723
https://www.wcu.edu98.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 77 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021
#2: East Carolina University
96.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate1001 East Fifth Street
Greenville, North Carolina 27858
https://www.ecu.edu96.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 247 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021
#3: Duke University
96.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate103 Allen Building
Durham, North Carolina 27708
https://www.duke.edu96.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Average of 141 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021
#4: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
95.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate103 South Building
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
https://www.unc.edu95.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 178 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021
#5: Gardner-Webb University
95.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate110 South Main Street
Boiling Springs, North Carolina 28017
https://www.gardner-webb.edu95.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 28 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2014 through 2021
#6: Campbell University
94.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate450 Leslie Campbell Avenue
Buies Creek, North Carolina 27506
https://www.campbell.edu94.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 43 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2018 through 2021
#7: University of North Carolina Wilmington
94.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate601 South College Road
Wilmington, North Carolina 28403
https://www.uncw.edu94.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 95 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021
#8: Appalachian State University
92.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate287 Rivers Street
Boone, North Carolina 28608
https://www.appstate.edu92.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 41 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021
#9: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
92.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate9201 University City Boulevard
Charlotte, North Carolina 28223
https://www.uncc.edu92.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 98 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021
#10: Chamberlain University - Charlotte
91.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate2015 Ayrsley Town Boulevard
Charlotte, North Carolina 28273
https://www.chamberlain.edu91.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 40 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2018 through 2021
#11: University of North Carolina at Greensboro
90.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate1400 Spring Garden Street
Greensboro, North Carolina 27402
https://www.uncg.edu90.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 102 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021
#12: Fayetteville State University
90.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate1200 Murchison Road
Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301
https://www.uncfsu.edu90.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 44 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2014 through 2021
#13: University of North Carolina at Pembroke
90.0% first-time NCLEX pass rateOne University Drive
Pembroke, North Carolina 28372
https://www.uncp.edu90.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 40 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021
#14: Lenoir-Rhyne University
89.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate625 Seventh Avenue NE
Hickory, North Carolina 28601
https://www.lr.edu89.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 34 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021
#15: Queens University of Charlotte
89.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate1900 Selwyn Avenue
Charlotte, North Carolina 28274
https://www.queens.edu89.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 94 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021
#16: Winston-Salem State University
88.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate601 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27110
https://www.wssu.edu88.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 114 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021
#17: Northeastern University - Charlotte
88.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate101 North Tryon Street, Suite 1100
Charlotte, North Carolina 28246
https://www.northeastern.edu/charlotte88.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Average of 46 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2018 through 2021
#18: Wingate University
87.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate220 North Camden Road
Wingate, North Carolina 28174
https://www.wingate.edu87.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 17 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2014 through 2021
#19: South University, High Point Off-Campus Instructional Site
86.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate3975 Premier Drive
High Point, North Carolina 27265
https://www.southuniversity.edu86.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 19 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2017 through 2019
#20: North Carolina A&T State University
83.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate1601 East Market Street
Greensboro, North Carolina 27411
https://www.ncat.edu83.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 33 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021
#21: Barton College
82.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate200 ACC Drive NE
Wilson, North Carolina 27893
https://www.barton.edu82.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 32 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021
#22: Methodist University
82.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate5400 Ramsey Street
Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311
https://www.methodist.edu82.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 22 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2014 through 2021
#23: North Carolina Central University
80.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate1801 Fayetteville Street
Durham, North Carolina 27707
https://www.nccu.edu80.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 63 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021
#24: Pfeiffer University
79.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate48380 US Highway 52 North
Misenheimer, North Carolina 28109
https://www.pfeiffer.edu79.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 14 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021
#25: South College - Asheville
78.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate140 Sweeten Creek Road
Asheville, North Carolina 28803
https://www.south.edu78.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 23 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2019 through 2021
#26: Mars Hill University
70.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate100 Athletic Street
Mars Hill, North Carolina 28754
https://www.mhu.edu70.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 18 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2018 through 2021
#27: Lees-McRae College
67.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate191 Main Street
Banner Elk, North Carolina 28604
https://www.lmc.edu67.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 19 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2017 through 2021
#28: Catawba College
62.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate2300 West Innes Street
Salisbury, North Carolina 28144
https://www.catawba.edu62.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 12 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2019 through 2021