Why NCLEX Pass Rates Vary So Much by State
The national NCLEX-RN first-attempt pass rate for US-educated candidates sits at approximately 87% — but that number masks enormous variation at the state and program level. Some states consistently produce candidates who pass at rates above 90%. Others have programs where fewer than half of graduates pass on the first attempt.
Understanding why pass rates differ — and what drives them — is more useful than the numbers themselves. The factors that predict low pass rates at the program level are the same factors that predict individual candidate failure. Knowing them helps you prepare more effectively regardless of where you went to school.
NCLEX First-Attempt Pass Rates by State (US-Educated Candidates, 2024–2025)
The following data is drawn from NCSBN annual reports and reflects first-attempt pass rates for US-educated RN candidates. Pass rates are rounded to one decimal place.
| State | Pass Rate | Candidates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 91.2% | ~2,100 | Consistently above national avg |
| North Dakota | 92.1% | ~600 | Highest Midwest pass rate |
| Iowa | 90.8% | ~1,800 | Strong ADN program outcomes |
| Wisconsin | 90.3% | ~3,200 | Above national average |
| Oregon | 89.7% | ~2,000 | Stable year-over-year |
| Washington | 89.2% | ~3,800 | Above national average |
| Colorado | 88.9% | ~2,400 | Slight improvement 2024–25 |
| Utah | 91.4% | ~1,200 | Consistently high |
| Virginia | 88.1% | ~5,100 | Large candidate pool |
| North Carolina | 87.6% | ~6,200 | Near national average |
| Texas | 84.9% | ~14,500 | Large pool; wide program variance |
| California | 82.3% | ~16,000 | High volume; significant variance by program |
| Florida | 80.1% | ~18,000 | 101 programs on probation in 5 years; state funding tied to pass rates |
| New York | 79.4% | ~19,000 | Highest candidate volume nationally; multiple programs below 80% |
| New Jersey | 81.2% | ~5,800 | Below national average |
| Illinois | 85.7% | ~7,400 | Improving trend |
| Ohio | 86.3% | ~6,900 | Near national average |
| Pennsylvania | 85.1% | ~8,200 | Slight decline 2023–25 |
| Georgia | 83.8% | ~5,600 | Below national average |
| Michigan | 87.4% | ~4,800 | Near national average |
| National Average | ~87% | ~180,000 | US-educated first-attempt RN |
Source: NCSBN NCLEX Examination Statistics. Pass rates reflect first-attempt US-educated RN candidates. State-level figures are approximate and subject to annual revision. Always verify current data directly at ncsbn.org.
What Actually Drives Pass Rate Differences
State-level pass rates are aggregate numbers. They obscure enormous program-level variance within each state. Texas's 84.9% state average, for example, contains individual programs ranging from above 95% to below 50%. Understanding the drivers helps you assess your own position accurately.
Program selectivity at admission: Programs with higher admission standards — higher TEAS or HESI cutoffs, more competitive GPA requirements — graduate students who were statistically more likely to pass NCLEX before they started nursing school. Pass rate is partly an input variable, not just an outcome variable.
NCLEX preparation integration: Programs that embed clinical judgment practice, NGN-format questions, and NCLEX preparation throughout the curriculum — not just in the final semester — produce graduates who are already thinking in the framework the exam tests. Programs that treat NCLEX prep as a bolt-on after graduation produce graduates who need to rebuild their thinking patterns in a compressed timeframe.
For-profit vs. nonprofit program structure: For-profit nursing programs account for a disproportionate share of below-80% pass rates nationally. This is a structural pattern, not a universal rule — some for-profit programs perform well, and some nonprofit programs perform poorly. But when a program's pass rate is significantly below the state average, its accreditation status and ownership structure are worth investigating.
Internationally educated candidate mix: States with large internationally educated nurse populations — California, New York, Florida, Texas — have first-attempt pass rates that reflect a combined pool of US-educated and internationally educated candidates in aggregate statistics. The first-attempt pass rate for internationally educated candidates nationally is approximately 47%, which meaningfully depresses state averages in high-volume states. When you see a low state average, check whether the published figure separates these populations.
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The Repeat Candidate Crisis
First-attempt pass rates get the attention, but the repeat candidate data tells a more urgent story. Nationally, repeat NCLEX candidates pass at approximately 52.7% — meaning nearly half of students who failed their first attempt also fail their second.
This is not primarily a knowledge gap. Students who have been through nursing school know the content. The repeat failure pattern is driven by three factors:
- Inadequate clinical judgment development: The NGN format tests reasoning, not recall. Repeat candidates who study by reviewing content they already know are not addressing the skill the exam actually tests.
- Anxiety and test-taking pattern disruption: A first failure significantly increases test anxiety, which impairs performance on subsequent attempts independent of preparation quality.
- Insufficient question volume in preparation: Repeat candidates who complete fewer than 1,000 practice questions before their retake fail at higher rates than those who complete 2,000+. Volume of deliberate practice with rationale review is the single most modifiable predictor of retake success.
States With the Most At-Risk Programs
NCSBN requires state boards of nursing to take action when programs fall below an 80% first-attempt pass rate for two consecutive years. The states with the highest concentration of at-risk programs are:
- Florida: The most concerning state for program-level performance. More than 100 programs have been placed on probation in the last five years. Florida now ties state funding to NCLEX pass rates — a policy intervention that has produced mixed results so far. If you are graduating from a Florida program, verify your program's current accreditation status before your test date.
- New York: The highest candidate volume state nationally. Multiple programs in New York City — particularly in the for-profit sector — have pass rates below 70%. The state average masks significant disparity between elite university BSN programs and lower-performing programs.
- California: High volume, high variance. The California Board of Registered Nursing has taken action against several programs in recent years. California also has the largest internationally educated candidate population of any state, which substantially affects aggregate pass rate statistics.
- Texas: Wide program-level variance. Strong BSN programs at major universities coexist with several community college and for-profit programs performing significantly below average. Texas pass rate data by program is publicly available through the Texas Board of Nursing.
What This Means for Your NCLEX Preparation
Your state's pass rate is background context, not personal destiny. The most relevant data point is your own program's pass rate — not the state average. If your program's pass rate is below 80%, treat your preparation accordingly: more question volume, more NGN clinical judgment practice, and a longer structured study timeline than the national average candidate needs.
If your program's pass rate is above 90%, your preparation foundation is stronger — but that does not eliminate the need for structured NCLEX prep. First-attempt failures occur at every program level. The NGN format, introduced in 2023, has shifted the exam toward clinical reasoning in ways that catch well-prepared content-focused students off guard.
Regardless of state or program: take a diagnostic before you study, do at least 1,200 practice questions with rationale review, complete a minimum of two full-length timed exams, and do not test before your practice scores are consistently at or above 70%.