NCLEX pass/fail ratio for schools

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2008

Some where online at the SBON is a site that will tell you all of the schools in your state and their last 10years of pass ratios.

Except in our state the last updated year is 2005. Maybe it takes two years to compile that information I dont know.

You can also just call the schools your interested in and ask. The school I graduated from had a lower pass rate for the BSN vs the ASN's. I think BSN was 87% and ASN was 93% or something like that. They constantly changing their curriculum to ensure a higher pass rate. Ex: moving Pharm to after your MS 1 vs prior. Mandating an advanced Patho as a pre-req. Requiring more ATI pre-testing through out the semester.

It must be working as I believe my graduating class I think only had one person not pass.

lucky1RN · Mar 4, 2008

I'm in South Carolina and had to file a Freedom of Information Act request with the State Board of Nursing for NCLEX pass information for the schools I was interested in.

If you're using this information to determine the quality of education at prospective schools, don't. When you are close to graduation, your school has to send information to the State Board who will then give you Authorization to Test for licensure. Here's the catch...some nursing schools are now requiring you to pass some form of NCLEX pass predictor test before they'll give your info to the State Board. In other words, only the students who are likely to pass the NCLEX are given Authorization to Test (which stacks the pass rates). I've read posts on this board regarding the questionable legality of this maneuver. I don't know if it's legal or not...I just know schools do it. My BSN program did. The students who didn't pass HESI (supposed to be around 90% accurate in predicting NCLEX pass) were required to take a review course and bring their HESI scores up before getting their Authorization to Test.

My advice? If your looking interested in the quality of the school...talk to some nurses at the hospitals where students from your prospective schools are hired after graduation. Ask if the students seem properly prepared as new nurses. Also, ask students in the programs what they think of the school, the faculty, the clinicals, etc.

Good luck!

justme1972 · Mar 4, 2008

I'm in South Carolina and had to file a Freedom of Information Act request with the State Board of Nursing for NCLEX pass information for the schools I was interested in.
If you're using this information to determine the quality of education at prospective schools, don't. When you are close to graduation, your school has to send information to the State Board who will then give you Authorization to Test for licensure. Here's the catch...some nursing schools are now requiring you to pass some form of NCLEX pass predictor test before they'll give your info to the State Board. In other words, only the students who are likely to pass the NCLEX are given Authorization to Test (which stacks the pass rates). I've read posts on this board regarding the questionable legality of this maneuver. I don't know if it's legal or not...I just know schools do it. My BSN program did. The students who didn't pass HESI (supposed to be around 90% accurate in predicting NCLEX pass) were required to take a review course and bring their HESI scores up before getting their Authorization to Test.
My advice? If your looking interested in the quality of the school...talk to some nurses at the hospitals where students from your prospective schools are hired after graduation. Ask if the students seem properly prepared as new nurses. Also, ask students in the programs what they think of the school, the faculty, the clinicals, etc.
Good luck!

I agree....that was one of the first questions I had about the school I was going to apply to...whether or not they do HESI.

I do know that it is 100% illegal to give the HESI if your school ADDED the HESI AFTER you started the nursing program.

The school catalog is considered (and has been ruled by the courts many times) to be a legally binding contract between the school and the student.

In other words, once the student starts the program, the school can't change the rules.

mauxtav8r · Mar 4, 2008

Also, look at the stats for each semester's grads, if you can get them. A school I know of publicized its best performance for the last couple of years (usually at least one of the past several classes got 100%), BUT the overall pass rate was more like 92%. This was partly due to accelerated program students taking the test at the same time each year (not as good results), while regular track took the test at three different times due to graduations each semester.

Also, ask about attrition in the classes. If they are competitive to get into, then also make the classwork and exams he!!, they are getting rid of anyone not likely to pass before they ever get through the program. Another school I know of regularly admitted 130-140 each semester, but only graduates 70-80. Where did they go? The abnormally difficult testing and grading methods weeded out anyone who couldn't test really well. Sad thing is, those folks who are gone "failed" out of school and are not eligible to matriculate in other local programs because of that. Not exactly something they advertise.

But maybe those former-nursing-majors-now-marketing-majors might think about an ad campaign to spread the word.

Sorry so long, but this is a pet peeve of mine.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Mar 4, 2008

The state BON should have that information.