Nursing School Graduation Percentages

I think you are wise to ask for this information.

Entirely too many schools admit students who have not completed pre-requisites, only to flunk out over chemistry and A&P before they ever sit in a nursing class. Other schools lose a disproportionately high number of students due to poor instructors. Other schools require artificial "exit" exams, holding graduation and NCLEX eligibility hostage for students who don't make a certain percentage on a test that has no real bearing on NCLEX. These are all legitimate concerns for potential students who will be paying tens of thousands of dollars for an education that they expect will prepare them for a career in nursing.

I'm not sure what the overall average attrition rate is among RN programs in the U.S. Not to flame anyone, but I suspect that it is probably higher among community colleges for 2 reasons: 1.) Most offer selection by lottery to students who have completed certain preprequisites and maintained a minimum GPA. Admission does not necessarily go to those with the best academic performance or relevant experience. 2.) Many community college programs cater to non-traditional students, who may have more difficulty maintaining home, work and school than your average 19-year old college student with few outside responsibilities. I would guess that private colleges probably have the lowest attrition rate, simply because they are highly motivated to hold onto students who are paying tens of thousands of dollars in tuition every year.

I would not consider a school that refuses to provide this information, as it seems to me that they have something to hide.

The program I attended started out with 40-some students. All but one graduated, and all but one passed NCLEX on the first try. She passed on the second try.

They told us at our orientation our pass rate for the NCLEX was 92% on the first try. They didn't say how many people took the test that started in the program, but I think thats pretty good!

I agree you should be able to know!

Check out your state's board of nursing website. In Kentucky, on KBN's website they have a link to the previous year NCLEX pass rates broke down by each college/university.

Here's a link to the file:

http://kbn.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/21D3F...X_Pass_708.pdf

Well, I can't comment on my school as a whole, but just my class which is starting the second semester is down about 13 students out of 43 starting. It does make for some anxious moments, but there were different reasons...a couple realized nursing just wasn't for them, a couple due to a language discrepancy and other because they really weren't prepared and ready for the amount of work that was required. Partly because of this, my school has changed their way of admitting students into the program....B's are required for all of their science prereqs, so now it is more merit based than a lottery/waiting list. Also, they've just upped their grading scale as well with passing now 80%, so those classmates that have squeezed by with a 75% will really have to bust hump to pass this next semester. Just looking at the syllabus, it is going to be a busy semester.

We must be in the same school lol.
My class started with 40 students, we now have 12 left. Last semester, the passing grade was a 79, this coming semester will be 80. Med Surg 2, there were about 9 students out of 21 who barely passed with the 79. It would be interesting to see how many students will pass this coming semester. The number of students passing in most nursing schools is very low compare to other programs.

What the hey? "Tightly controlled"? You have every right to ask that question. And the fact that they won't answer you makes me think they have something to hide. I asked one nursing school recruiter the same thing and she got all huffy. I refused to even apply there. Other schools were more forthcoming, and my #1 pick was rather proud of their low attrition rate.

Sorry you ran into this kind of brick wall!

I am entering my 3rd of 4 semesters @ a CC. We started off with 54 students- we are down to 28! But, of course our school gloats about their 100% NCLEX pass rate.

It seems to me that it would be more important to know the NCLEX pass rate rather than the attrition rate. If a school bragged that they had 100% graduation rate but only a 60% NCLEX pass, I would not consider that a good program. If, on the other hand, they had a 60% attrition rate but a 100% NCLEX pass, that would tell me that at least they are not "dummying down" the curriculum to get students to graduate. Sure, it may be a very difficult program to complete, but isn't that what we want from our future nurses? The ability to critically think through a problem and have the knowledge base to carry out into the real world? My bridge program started with 30 but only 19 graduated. Still waiting on everyone to take the boards, but so far we have had only one person fail (I believe 11-12 have tested so far). I would put more weight on the NCLEX, but that's just me!

there's a dif between the NCLEX pass rate and the graduation rate... that graduation rate is the key, because the NCLEX pass rate is something they have to keep up for their accreditation, so it actually works against you.

Take my school for instance.... in our state, in order to stay accredited as a nursing school, they have to have a 90% (might be 95%) pass rate on their NCLEX. Good right? WRONG. What this really means is that they will drop ANYONE who is even remotely possibly going to fail the NCLEX. Take a look at your state site for the pass rates for your school and see how many students actually TOOK the class. Then find out how many students are allowed into your class in the first place.

My school sits 20 students every fall. Last year they graduated 8, and all 8 passed their NCLEX on the first try... so yeah if you make it you will pass it, but don't be disillusioned... if you even *might* fail the nclex they can drop you like a bad habit just to avoid having that tarnish their record.