For our 2024 rankings of LPN programs, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac compiled an extensive database of student performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Aspiring practical nurses in the United States must pass this examination before they may commence practice. Thus, student performance on the NCLEX-PN exam provides an excellent benchmark for comparing the relative quality of practical nursing programs.
We used our database to calculate each program’s NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers. This is the standard program assessment metric reported by the Missouri State Board of Nursing and the test’s administrator, Pearson Vue. Whenever possible, we calculated this first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate over an extensive period of time, typically the past decade of student performance. We then used this metric to rank all of Missouri’s LPN programs accordingly.
#1: State Fair Community College
3201 West 16th Street
Sedalia, MO 65301
https://www.sfccmo.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 98.8%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 65
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020; includes both the Sedalia and Eldon campuses, as well as historical data from the Boonslick Technical Education Center
#2: Bolivar Technical College
2001 West Broadway Street
Bolivar, MO 65613
https://www.bolivarcollege.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 97.6%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 17
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#3: North Central Missouri College
1301 Main Street
Trenton, MO 64683
https://www.ncmissouri.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 97.6%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 78
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020; includes the Trenton, Bethany, and Maryville campuses
#4: Ozarks Technical Community College
1001 East Chestnut Expressway
Springfield, MO 65802
https://www.otc.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 97.5%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 97
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020; includes the Springfield, Lebanon, and Table Rock campuses
#5: Cass Career Center
1600 East Elm Street
Harrisonville, MO 64701
https://www.harrisonvilleschools.org/ccc
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 96.8%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 19
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#6: Mineral Area College
5270 Flat River Road
Park Hills, MO 63601
https://mineralarea.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 96.3%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 22
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#7: Jefferson College
1000 Viking Drive
Hillsboro, MO 63050
https://www.jeffco.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 95.8%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 53
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#8: Texas County Technical College
6915 South US Highway 63
Houston, MO 65483
https://www.texascountytech.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 95.3%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 19
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#9: Lex La-Ray Technical Center
2323 High School Drive
Lexington, MO 64067
https://www.lexlaray.com
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 94.3%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 23
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#10: Washington School of Practical Nursing
1978 Image Drive
Washington, MO 63090
http://www.frcc.washington.k12.mo.us/programs/practical_nursing
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 93.3%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 26
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#11: Carthage Technical Center
609 River Street
Carthage, MO 64836
https://ctc.carthagetigers.org
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 93.3%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 17
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#12: State Technical College of Missouri
One Technology Drive
Linn, MO 65051
https://www.statetechmo.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 93.3%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 15
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#13: Kirksville Area Technical Center
1103 South Cottage Grove Avenue
Kirksville, MO 63501
https://kirksviller3.wixsite.com/katc
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 93.1%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 22
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#14: Three Rivers College
2080 Three Rivers Boulevard
Poplar Bluff, MO 63901
https://www.trcc.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 92.7%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 70
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020; includes the Poplar Bluff, Kennett, and Sikeston campuses, as well as historical data from the Pemiscot County Career & Technology Center, the Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center, and the Sikeston Career & Technology Center
#15: Cape Girardeau Career & Technology Center
1080 South Silver Springs Road
Cape Girardeau, MO 63703
https://ctc.capetigers.com
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 92.7%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 45
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#16: Franklin Technology Center
810 South Wall Avenue
Joplin, MO 64801
https://joplinftc.ss11.sharpschool.com
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 92.6%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 27
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#17: South Central Career Center
610 East Olden Street
West Plains, MO 65775
https://www.zizzers.org/sccc
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 92.0%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 29
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#18: Crowder College
601 Laclede Avenue
Neosho, MO 64850
https://www.crowder.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 91.6%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 16
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020; reflects the performance of students on the Nevada campus, as well as historical data from Nevada Regional Technical Center
#19: Clinton Technical School
602 South Fifth Street
Clinton, MO 64735
https://cts.clintoncardinals.org
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 91.3%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 21
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#20: Warrensburg Area Career Center
205 South Ridgeview Drive
Warrensburg, MO 64093
https://wacc.warrensburgr6.org
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 90.4%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 16
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#21: Hannibal-LaGrange University
2800 Palmyra Road
Hannibal, MO 63401
https://www.hlg.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 89.8%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 25
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#22: Waynesville Career Center
400 G.W. Lane
Waynesville, MO 65583
https://www.waynesville.k12.mo.us/waynesvillecareercenter
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 89.2%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 27
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#23: Moberly Area Community College
101 College Avenue
Moberly, MO 65270
https://www.macc.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 89.0%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 67
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020; includes the Moberly, Columbia, and Mexico campuses
#24: Applied Technology Services
12721 West Watson Road
Sunset Hills, MO 63127
https://www.appliedtech-stl.com
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 87.6%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 93
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020; includes both South Technical High School and Metropolitan Education & Training Center
#25: Rolla Technical Center
500 Forum Drive
Rolla, MO 65401
https://rtirtc.rolla31.org
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 86.5%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 26
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#26: Pike-Lincoln Technical Center
342 Vo-Tech Road
Eolia, MO 63344
https://www.pltc.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 86.0%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 17
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#27: Saline County Career Center
900 West Vest Street
Marshall, MO 65340
https://www.marshallschools.com/o/career-center
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 84.9%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 19
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#28: Metropolitan Community College
3444 Broadway
Kansas City, MO 64111
https://www.mcckc.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 84.6%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 78
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020; includes both the Penn Valley (Health Science Institute) and Maple Woods (St. Joseph) campuses
#29: St. Louis College of Health Careers
1297 North Highway Drive
Fenton, MO 63026
https://www.slchc.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 83.6%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 44
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#30: Concorde Career College
3239 Broadway Boulevard
Kansas City, MO 64111
https://www.concorde.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 81.4%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 38
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#31: St. Charles Community College
One Academy Place
Dardenne Prairie, MO 63368
https://www.stchas.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 80.6%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 23
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020; includes both the Center for Healthy Living on the Dardenne Creek campus and the Health Systems, Inc. expansion site in Troy
#32: United States Air Force Basic Medical Technician Corpsman Program
511 Spirit Boulevard
Whiteman Air Force Base, MO 65305
https://www.airforcemedicine.af.mil
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 66.9%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 77
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2017 through 2020