The Best 100 Bachelor Degree in Nursing (BSN) Programs
One of the best measures of a nursing program’s ability to prepare its students to become a practicing nurse is to look at an institutions first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate. We went directly to each state board of nursing to find, report and rank the the best BSN degree programs in the country.
Find the BSN degree program(s) that will best prepare you for your RN licensing exam and beyond.
We compiled the first-time NCLEX passing for more than 921 BSN Degree programs across the United States for as many as 7 years running. We then complied our results and ranked the top 644 BSN Degree programs across the country. You will find the top 100 in the list below. Research the best BSN nursing schools state-by-state.
|
Rank |
University |
Based In |
NCLEX Grade |
Reporting Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 100.00 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 1 | Colby-Sawyer College | New London, NH | 100.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 1 | Harding University | Searcy, AR | 100.00 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 1 | The University of Tennessee-Martin | Martin, TN | 100.00 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 1 | Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park, CA | 100.00 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 1 | MacMurray College | Jacksonville, IL | 100.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 1 | University of Dubuque | Dubuque, IA | 100.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 1 | Longwood University | Farmville, VA | 100.00 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 1 | Ohio Northern University | Ada, OH | 100.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 |
| 1 | Saint Francis University | Loretto, PA | 100.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 1 | Berea College | Berea, KY | 100.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 2 | Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond, KY | 99.37 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 3 | University of Kentucky | Lexington, KY | 99.33 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 4 | Mississippi University for Women | Columbus, MS | 99.22 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 5 | Trinity Christian College | Palos Heights, IL | 99.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 5 | Morehead State University | Morehead, KY | 99.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 6 | Saint Anselm College | Manchester, NH | 98.99 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 7 | Waynesburg University | Waynesburg, PA | 98.72 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 8 | The University of Tampa | Tampa, FL | 98.67 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 9 | California State University-Long Beach | Long Beach, CA | 98.58 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 10 | Bethel University | McKenzie, TN | 98.52 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 10 | Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs, NC | 98.52 | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 11 | Western Governors University | Salt Lake City, UT | 98.43 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 12 | Carlow University | Pittsburgh, PA | 98.35 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 13 | Anderson University | Anderson, IN | 98.24 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 14 | Montana Tech of the University of Montana | Butte, MT | 98.20 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 15 | Luther College | Decorah, IA | 98.09 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 16 | University of South Carolina | Columbia, SC | 98.02 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 17 | Sentara College of Health Sciences | Chesapeake, VA | 98.01 | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 18 | Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, FL | 97.80 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 19 | Allen College | Waterloo, IA | 97.70 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 20 | Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, NC | 97.67 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 21 | Indiana University-Northwest | Gary, IN | 97.58 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 22 | California State University-Channel Islands | Camarillo, CA | 97.56 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 23 | Avila University | Kansas City, MO | 97.55 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 24 | West Virginia Wesleyan College | Buckhannon, WV | 97.53 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 25 | Delta State University | Cleveland, MS | 97.49 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 26 | Duke University | Durham, NC | 97.48 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 27 | Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, GA | 97.47 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 28 | California State University-Stanislaus | Turlock, CA | 97.40 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 29 | Brigham Young University-Provo | Provo, UT | 97.37 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 29 | Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, KY | 97.37 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 30 | Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | 97.34 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 31 | University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA | 97.33 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 32 | Radford University | Radford, VA | 97.31 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 32 | Muskingum University | New Concord, OH | 97.31 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 |
| 33 | Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania | Bloomsburg, PA | 97.29 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 34 | William Carey University | Hattiesburg, MS | 97.22 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 35 | Lincoln University | Jefferson City, MO | 97.17 | 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 36 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | Durham, NH | 97.16 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 37 | University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg, MS | 97.14 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 38 | Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing | Richmond, VA | 97.13 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 39 | Carson-Newman University | Jefferson City, TN | 97.04 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 40 | Carroll University | Waukesha, WI | 96.98 | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 41 | College of Coastal Georgia | Brunswick, GA | 96.96 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 42 | University of Miami | Coral Gables, FL | 96.94 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 43 | San Diego State University | San Diego, CA | 96.83 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 44 | Lander University | Greenwood, SC | 96.71 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 45 | University of Southern Indiana | Evansville, IN | 96.68 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 46 | Thomas More College | Crestview Hills, KY | 96.67 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 47 | Louisiana State University Health-Science Center New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | 96.66 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 48 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas | Las Vegas, NV | 96.54 | 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 49 | Missouri State University-Springfield | Springfield, MO | 96.53 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 50 | California State University-Chico | Chico, CA | 96.52 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 50 | Thomas Edison State College | Trenton, NJ | 96.52 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 51 | Tennessee Technological University | Cookeville, TN | 96.48 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 51 | East Carolina University | Greenville, NC | 96.48 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 52 | California State University-Sacramento | Sacramento, CA | 96.45 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 53 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette, LA | 96.44 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 54 | Troy University | Troy, AL | 96.41 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 55 | Simpson University | Redding, CA | 96.36 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 55 | Baldwin Wallace University | Berea, OH | 96.36 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 |
| 56 | Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate, TN | 96.30 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 57 | California State University-San Marcos | San Marcos, CA | 96.27 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 58 | Emory University | Atlanta, GA | 96.20 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 59 | Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers, FL | 96.15 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 60 | University of Mississippi Medical Center | Jackson, MS | 96.04 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 60 | Sacred Heart University | Fairfield, CT | 96.04 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 61 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | Oshkosh, WI | 96.02 | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 62 | Bradley University | Peoria, IL | 96.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 62 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC | 96.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 63 | University of Louisiana-Monroe | Monroe, LA | 95.97 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 63 | Cedar Crest College | Allentown, PA | 95.97 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 64 | Messiah College | Mechanicsburg, PA | 95.91 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 65 | Rhode Island College | Providence, RI | 95.89 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 66 | Saint Anthony College of Nursing | Rockford, IL | 95.81 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 67 | Florida Southern College | Lakeland, FL | 95.78 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 68 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | University Park, PA | 95.71 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 69 | McNeese State University | Lake Charles, LA | 95.67 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 70 | Bloomfield College | Bloomfield, NJ | 95.52 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 71 | Mansfield University of Pennsylvania | Mansfield, PA | 95.49 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 72 | Appalachian State University | Boone, NC | 95.44 | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 73 | University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 95.43 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 74 | University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | 95.39 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 75 | West Virginia University | Morgantown, WV | 95.38 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 76 | Jacksonville University | Jacksonville, FL | 95.37 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 77 | Drexel University | Philadelphia, PA | 95.29 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 78 | Southeastern Louisiana University | Hammond, LA | 95.27 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 78 | The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 95.27 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 78 | Augustana University | Sioux Falls, SD | 95.27 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
BSN Programs Rankings by State
View all BSN Degree Program rankings by state using the map below.
- Total BSN Degree Programs: 921
- Ranked BSN Degree Programs: 644
List of Best BSN Nursing Schools
View the top 100 ADN programs In the United States.
For information about how we rank BSN programs, please see our ranking methodology.