States with the Highest NCLEX Pass Rates
Credit: FatCamera / E+ / Getty ImagesKey Takeaways
- New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Louisiana lead with seven-year average NCLEX pass rates ranging from 91.9% to 94.1%.
- The national NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2023 was 80.3%, while New Hampshire’s reached 94.1% for first-time test-takers.
- Pass rates can provide nursing students with a benchmark of educational quality and nursing preparedness in their state.
Before you can work as a nurse in the U.S., you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). This guide lists the top states with the highest NCLEX pass rates for first-time test-takers, averaged from 2017-2023.
Compare NCLEX pass rates by state to find out where nurses are best prepared to practice.
What Is the NCLEX Exam?
The NCLEX is a standardized test that measures whether nursing school graduates have the preparation and critical thinking skills to work as entry-level nurses. Candidates take either the NCLEX-PN to become licensed practical nurses or the NCLEX-RN to become registered nurses (RNs) and qualify for licensure by their state regulatory board.
Both exams cover nursing knowledge and practice readiness in four focus areas: safe and effective care environment, health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity.
According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), the NCLEX-RN pass rate for 2023 was 80.3%. However, some states boast much higher first-time NCLEX pass rates.
Top 5 States with the Highest NCLEX Pass Rates Over Seven Years
The NCLEX results by state show pass rates for first-time test-takers averaged over the past seven years. Although each state sets its own pass rate requirement for licensure, the overall national NCLEX pass rate offers an important benchmark for program quality and nursing preparedness.
The following section highlights the five states with the highest pass rates, including some factors that may have contributed to their high ranking over the past seven years.
1 | New Hampshire
- NCLEX Pass Rate Average (2017-2023): 94.1%
- RN-Associate Degree NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 94.6%
- RN-Bachelor Degree NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 97.6%
- Total Number of Candidates (2023): 806
New Hampshire boasts the highest NCLEX pass rate average in the U.S., over eight percentage points higher than the national average. In fact, New Hampshire has achieved the highest overall NCLEX pass rate every year since 2018.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), New Hampshire employed 14,380 registered nurses in May 2023. The employment outlook for nurses in New Hampshire supports the high NCLEX pass rate, motivating nursing graduates to earn licensure and enter the field quickly.
Although New Hampshire has kept pace with the demand for nurses, the U.S. Department of Labor projects the state to add over 910 RN positions between 2022 and 2032, a 6.6% increase.
The median annual salary for New Hampshire RNs is $89,410.
2 | North Dakota
- NCLEX Pass Rate Average (2017-2023): 92.1%
- RN-Associate Degree NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 97.6%
- RN-Bachelor Degree NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 94.8%
- Total Number of Candidates (2023): 647
The North Dakota Board of Nursing average NCLEX pass rate of 92.1% is the second-highest in the U.S. overall.
North Dakota projects a 10.4% increase in RN employment from 2022-2032, with 770 open RN positions each year. In response to nursing shortages since the pandemic, the North Dakota Center for Nursing has established the Nurse Staffing Clearinghouse to recruit nursing students and help connect nurses with employers. The high pass rates and the expected demand for RNs reflect the statewide initiatives to enhance career opportunities for nursing graduates.
The annual median salary of $74,930 for North Dakota’s RNs ranks among the lowest for all states. However, recent efforts to expand job opportunities, along with the state’s low tax rate and cost of living, contribute to a positive career outlook for nurses.
3 | Louisiana
- NCLEX Pass Rate Average (2017-2023): 91.9%
- RN-Associate Degree NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 90.1%
- RN-Bachelor Degree NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 94.8%
- Total Number of Candidates (2023): 2,454
Louisiana ranks third among the top states for first-time NCLEX pass rates over the past seven years. The state offers students several high-quality options for nursing education. Louisiana Technical University reports a six-year average NCLEX pass rate of over 97%. First-time NCLEX pass rates have averaged 95% at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette over the last 38 years.
Louisiana’s nursing shortfall has worsened since the COVID-19 crisis. According to its annual report, the Louisiana State Board of Nursing developed initiatives to move nurses into the workforce earlier to meet demand, contributing to the high pass rate. The state projects the addition of over 2,770 RN positions each year between 2022 and 2032.
RNs in Louisiana earn an average median salary of $76,650, which ranks in the bottom half of the United States. However, the promising employment outlook and low cost of living offset the less competitive earnings. RNs in Louisiana who pursue advanced nursing credentials as nurse practitioners can boost their salaries by over $42,000 per year.
4 | Nebraska
- NCLEX Pass Rate Average (2017-2023): 90.9%
- RN-Associate Degree NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 94.3%
- RN-Bachelor Degree NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 95.2%
- Total Number of Candidates (2023): 1,287
Nebraska ranks fourth on the list of the best first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past seven years at 90.9%. In addition, the Cornhusker State jumped from 86.30% in 2022 to an impressive 95% in 2023.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center is the state’s only public academic health sciences center. With more healthcare professional graduates than any other college in Nebraska, this prominent institution features an admirable 99.67% cumulative NCLEX pass rate.
The vast rural areas statewide pose a threat to those requiring medical care. Almost two-thirds of the counties in Nebraska have a lower RN-to-patient ratio than the national average. Four counties report only one RN in the workforce, and nine counties have none. To exacerbate the issue, Nebraska is projected to have a shortage of 5,436 nurses by 2025.
The growing shortage of nurses, coupled with the underserved areas, triggered legislation to offer grants and funding for educational programs, clinical training sites, and health-focused curricula for grades 3-12.
From 2022-2032, the BLS projects RN employment to grow 6%, faster than the average growth of all careers. This industry expectation, supplemented with improved NCLEX scores and government funding, offers a favorable employment outlook for nurses in the state.
The BLS reports the median annual salary for RNs in Nebraska is $78,100.
5 | North Carolina
- NCLEX Pass Rate Average (2017-2023): 90.8%
- RN-Associate Degree NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 93.7%
- RN-Bachelor Degree NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 94.4%
- Total Number of Candidates (2023): 4,523
North Carolina claims the fifth spot among the nation’s top states for the highest NCLEX pass rates for 2023. Reported as 90.8% from 2017-2023, the state’s results fall just 0.1% short of Nebraska’s pass rates.
North Carolina is projected to add more than 500,000 new jobs between 2022 and 2032. Healthcare and social assistance is the largest industry in the state. This sector alone is projected to add 101,500 new positions to the workforce from 2022-2032.
For financial assistance, the state offers forgivable loans through the Nurse Education Scholarship Loan Program.
The North Carolina Institute of Medicine assembled the Task Force on the Future of the Nursing Workforce. This focus group convened from February 2023 to January 2024 to identify critical issues and formulate recommendations for the recruitment, retention, and development of nurses.
Complete List of Average NCLEX Pass Rates by State
This table provides seven-year average NCLEX pass rates and RN salary information. Pass rates provide prospective students and others with a useful benchmark of educational quality and nursing preparedness. Nursing accreditation agencies and regulatory bodies use pass rates as a key performance measurement.
When comparing data, keep in mind that pass rates not only vary by state, but also by nursing programs within a state. Several factors contribute to salary differences across states, including projected demand, cost-of-living differentials, and employment settings.
| State | Average NCLEX Pass Rate | Average RN Salary |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 94.1% | $86,620 |
| North Dakota | 92.1% | $74,930 |
| Louisiana | 91.9% | $76,650 |
| Nebraska | 90.9% | $78,100 |
| North Carolina | 90.8% | $79,580 |
| Nevada | 90.6% | $96,210 |
| Colorado | 90.6% | $86,900 |
| Tennessee | 90.5% | $76,200 |
| South Carolina | 90.4% | $78,380 |
| Pennsylvania | 90.2% | $82,780 |
| South Dakota | 89.8% | $67,030 |
| Idaho | 89.8% | $80,130 |
| Oregon | 89.7% | $110,940 |
| West Virginia | 89.7% | $78,730 |
| Connecticut | 89.7% | $100,620 |
| Arizona | 89.6% | $88,310 |
| Texas | 89.5% | $85,110 |
| California | 89.3% | $133,990 |
| Delaware | 89.2% | $93,200 |
| District of Columbia | 89.2% | $105,220 |
| Washington | 88.6% | $107,720 |
| Missouri | 88.6% | $77,190 |
| Alaska | 88.5% | $106,410 |
| Georgia | 88.4% | $83,620 |
| Maine | 88.3% | $81,610 |
| Alabama | 88.3% | $65,900 |
| Massachusetts | 88.1% | $99,730 |
| Kentucky | 87.8% | $77,830 |
| Virginia | 87.5% | $84,100 |
| Mississippi | 87.5% | $69,370 |
| Indiana | 87.3% | $78,530 |
| Wisconsin | 87.2% | $83,300 |
| Montana | 87.2% | $79,170 |
| New Jersey | 87.1% | $100,160 |
| Wyoming | 87.1% | $79,970 |
| Vermont | 87.0% | $81,900 |
| Maryland | 86.6% | $89,340 |
| Rhode Island | 86.4% | $94,840 |
| Michigan | 86.3% | $81,710 |
| Kansas | 86.1% | $75,780 |
| Iowa | 86.0% | $71,570 |
| Oklahoma | 85.6% | $78,760 |
| Hawaii | 85.6% | $129,210 |
| Illinois | 84.8% | $82,470 |
| Arkansas | 84.8% | $72,920 |
| Utah | 84.2% | $79,790 |
| New Mexico | 84.1% | $83,970 |
| Ohio | 83.4% | $79,940 |
| Minnesota | 83.1% | $97,300 |
| New York | 82.4% | $104,570 |
| Florida | 64.1% | $80,960 |
