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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania’s LPN programs accordingly.
#1: Crawford County Career & Technical Center
98.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate860 Thurston Road
Meadville, Pennsylvania 16335
http://www.crawfordctc.org98.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 15 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#2: United Career Institute
98.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate1015 Mount Braddock Road
Mount Braddock, Pennsylvania 15465
https://www.unitedcareer.edu98.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 21 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#3: Community College of Beaver County
97.9% first-time NCLEX pass rateOne Campus Drive
Monaca, Pennsylvania 15061
https://www.ccbc.edu97.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 9 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#4: Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County
95.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate3201 Rockwell Avenue
Scranton, Pennsylvania 18508
https://www.ctclc.edu95.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 47 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#5: Chester County Intermediate Unit
94.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate443 Boot Road
Downingtown, Pennsylvania 19335
https://www.cciu.org/pnp94.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 60 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#6: Franklin County Career and Technology Center
94.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate2463 Loop Road
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania 17202
https://www.franklincountylpn.org94.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 42 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#7: Greene County Career & Technology Center
94.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate60 Zimmerman Drive
Waynesburg, Pennsylvania 15370
https://www.greenectc.org94.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 18 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#8: Indiana County Technology Center
93.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate441 Hamill Road
Indiana, Pennsylvania 15701
https://www.ictc.edu93.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 24 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#9: Lehigh Carbon Community College
93.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate4525 Education Park Drive
Schnecksville, Pennsylvania 18078
https://www.lccc.edu93.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 34 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#10: HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College
93.1% first-time NCLEX pass rateOne HACC Drive
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
https://www.hacc.edu93.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 76 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#11: Pennsylvania College of Technology
92.7% first-time NCLEX pass rateOne College Avenue
Williamsport, Pennsylvania 17701
https://www.pct.edu92.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 34 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#12: Central Susquehanna LPN Career Center
92.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate1339 Saint Mary Street, Suite Two
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania 17837
https://www.csiu.org/lpn92.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 66 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#13: Northern Tier Career Center
91.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate120 Career Center Lane
Towanda, Pennsylvania 18848
https://www.ntccschool.org91.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 26 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#14: Bucks County Community College
91.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate275 Swamp Road
Newtown, Pennsylvania 18940
https://www.bucks.edu91.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 30 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#15: Fortis Institute - Scranton
91.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate517 Ash Street
Scranton, Pennsylvania 18509
https://www.fortis.edu91.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate of Specialized Technology in Practical Nursing
Average of 59 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#16: Northampton Community College
90.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate3835 Green Pond Road
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18020
https://www.northampton.edu90.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 43 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#17: Lancaster County Career & Technology Center
90.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate422 Beaver Valley Pike
Willow Street, Pennsylvania 17584
https://www.lancasterctc.edu90.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 168 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#18: York County School of Technology
88.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate2179 South Queen Street
York, Pennsylvania 17402
http://www.ytech.edu88.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 47 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#19: Clearfield County Career and Technology Center
88.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate1620 River Road
Clearfield, Pennsylvania 16830
https://www.ccctc.edu88.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 32 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#20: Venango Technology Center
88.6% first-time NCLEX pass rateOne Vo-Tech Drive
Oil City, Pennsylvania 16301
https://www.vtc1.org88.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 40 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#21: Lenape Technical School
88.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate104 Armstrong Street
Ford City, Pennsylvania 16226
https://www.lenape.k12.pa.us88.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 77 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#22: Somerset County Technology Center
87.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate281 Technology Drive
Somerset, Pennsylvania 15501
http://www.sctc.net87.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 25 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#23: Penn Commercial Business / Technical School
87.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate242 Oak Spring Road
Washington, Pennsylvania 15301
https://www.penncommercial.edu87.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 17 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012-13 through 2020-21
#24: Wilkes-Barre Area Career & Technical Center
87.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate350 Jumper Road
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania 18705
https://www.wbpracnsg.com87.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 81 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#25: Mercer County Career Center
87.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate776 Greenville Road
Mercer, Pennsylvania 16137
https://www.mercerccc.org87.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 23 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#26: Schuylkill Technology Center
87.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate101 Technology Drive
Frackville, Pennsylvania 17931
https://www.stcenters.org87.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 29 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#27: Jefferson County-DuBois Area Vocational-Technical School
87.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate576 Vo-Tech Road
Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania 15851
http://www.jefftech.us87.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 17 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#28: Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center
87.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate1500 Fourth Avenue
Altoona, Pennsylvania 16602
https://www.gactc.edu87.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 54 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#29: Eastern Center for Arts and Technology
86.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate3075 Terwood Road
Willow Grove, Pennsylvania 19090
https://www.eastech.org86.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 66 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#30: Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology
85.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate700 Pitt Street
Lewistown, Pennsylvania 17044
https://www.academynursing.com85.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 30 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#31: Greater Johnstown Career & Technology Center
84.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate445 Schoolhouse Road
Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15904
https://www.gjctc.org84.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 64 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#32: Delaware County Technical Schools
83.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate85 North Malin Road
Broomall, Pennsylvania 19008
https://www.dciu.org/lpnprogram83.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 50 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#33: Penn College at Wellsboro
83.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate22 Walnut Street
Wellsboro, Pennsylvania 16901
https://www.pct.edu83.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 16 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#34: Penn State Lehigh Valley
83.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate2809 Saucon Valley Road
Center Valley, Pennsylvania 18034
https://www.lehighvalley.psu.edu83.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 54 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#35: Mercyhurst University
83.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate501 East 38th Street
Erie, Pennsylvania 16546
https://www.mercyhurst.edu83.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 23 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#36: Western Area Career & Technology Center
82.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate688 Western Avenue
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317
https://www.wactc.net82.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 39 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#37: Lincoln Technical Institute - Allentown
82.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate5151 Tilghman Street
Allentown, Pennsylvania 18104
https://www.lincolntech.edu82.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 94 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#38: Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology
81.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate540 North Harrison Road
Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania 16823
https://www.cpi.edu81.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 43 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#39: Fayette County Career & Technical Institute
81.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate175 Georges Fairchance Road
Uniontown, Pennsylvania 15401
https://www.fayettecti.org81.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 53 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#40: Reading Area Community College
81.1% first-time NCLEX pass rateTen South Second Street
Reading, Pennsylvania 19603
https://www.racc.edu81.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 21 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#41: Pittsburgh Technical College
80.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate1111 McKee Road
Oakdale, Pennsylvania 15071
https://www.ptcollege.edu80.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 42 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#42: PITC Institute
79.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate827 Glenside Avenue, Administrative Building A
Wyncote, Pennsylvania 19095
https://www.pitc.edu79.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 55 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#43: Lebanon County Career and Technology Center
79.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate833 Metro Drive
Lebanon, Pennsylvania 17042
https://www.lcctc.edu79.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 74 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#44: Huntingdon County Career and Technology Center
79.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate11893 Technology Drive
Mill Creek, Pennsylvania 17060
https://www.hcctc.org79.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 15 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#45: Pennsylvania Institute of Technology
74.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate800 Manchester Avenue
Media, Pennsylvania 19063
https://www.pit.edu74.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 45 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#46: Susquehanna County Career & Technology Center
73.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate2380 Elk Lake School Road
Springville, Pennsylvania 18844
https://www.scctc-school.org73.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 20 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013-14 through 2020-21
#47: The Rapha School
73.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate17 Griffith Drive
Home, Pennsylvania 15747
https://www.theraphaschool.com73.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 8 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2016-17 through 2020-21
#48: Health & Technology Training Institute
71.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate100 South Broad Street, Suite 900
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19110
https://www.httiphila.org71.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 16 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#49: Hazleton Area Career Center
69.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate1451 West 23rd Street
Hazleton, Pennsylvania 18202
https://www.hasdk12.org/pnp69.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 10 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#50: Prism Career Institute - Philadelphia
68.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate8040 Roosevelt Boulevard
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19152
https://www.prismcareerinstitute.edu68.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 143 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#51: Great Lakes Institute of Technology
66.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate5100 Peach Street
Erie, Pennsylvania 16509
https://www.glit.edu66.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 27 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2017-18 through 2020-21
#52: Falcon Institute of Health and Science
64.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate3045 Avenue B
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18017
https://www.falconihs.com64.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 38 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2015-16 through 2020-21
#53: All-State Career School
60.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate50 West Powhattan Avenue
Essington, Pennsylvania 19029
https://www.allstatecareer.edu60.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 15 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2020-21 through 2020-21
#54: Lansdale School of Business
50.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate290 Wissahickon Avenue
North Wales, Pennsylvania 19454
https://www.lsb.edu50.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Certificate in Practical Nursing
Average of 2 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2020-21 through 2020-21