Nursing School Graduation Percentages

Jolie, BSN · Aug 17, 2008

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.

MvbRn, ASN, BSN · Aug 17, 2008

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!

AML09RN · Aug 17, 2008

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/21D3F7FF-E555-4E77-8BB2-5185DAB76952/0/NCLEX_Pass_708.pdf

SarasotaRN2b · Aug 17, 2008

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.

NaomieRN · Aug 17, 2008

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.

AtomicWoman · Aug 17, 2008

I've ran into a brick wall when I asked an administrator at the college "what percentage of students who are admitted in nursing programs actually graduate?" I was informed that information was tightly controlled.

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!

NursesRock!! · Aug 17, 2008

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.

tbanurse · Aug 17, 2008

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!

missjennmb · Aug 17, 2008

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.

Jolie, BSN · Aug 17, 2008

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!

NCLEX pass rates are important, but only part of the story. Most state Boards of Nursing will put education programs on probation if their pass rates fall below 80%, but unless schools provide the information, prospective students may have no way to know the graduation rate of their program. What about schools that accept students who are not qualified, take their tuition money for a few semesters, then flunk them out? Or worse yet, award passing grades, but with-hold degrees and NCLEX eligibility of students based upon an irrelevant exit exam intended to inflate their NCLEX pass rates?

IMO, the most valuable bit of information would be the NCLEX pass rate based upon the number of students who initially enrolled in the program. For example, 100 students start, 40 drop or flunk out, then 20 of the remaining students fail NCLEX. That would make a pass rate of 66% among the students who took NCLEX, but only 40% of the initial classmates actually became RNs. That's a big difference in school performance.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Aug 17, 2008

op: the information is tightly controlled by most schools. to get this information you must talk to the graduating class. ask them how many of their fellow classmates they started with and how many of those graduated with them on time to determine a percentage for that class. i did this since before entering my program and found that the retention rate is 40% on average at my school for the past 3 years. that is a better retention rate then my mba program, where i was taught how to make money; not save lives. :eek: