Top 100 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 685 BSN Degree programs across the United States for as many as 7 years running. We then complied our results and ranked the top 668 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 |
| 2 | Harding University | Searcy, AR | 100.00 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 3 | Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park, CA | 100.00 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 4 | Colorado State University-Pueblo | Pueblo, CO | 100.00 | 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 5 | MacMurray College | Jacksonville, IL | 100.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 6 | University of Dubuque | Dubuque, IA | 100.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 7 | Berea College | Berea, KY | 100.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 8 | Colby-Sawyer College | New London, NH | 100.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 9 | Ohio Northern University | Ada, OH | 100.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 |
| 10 | Saint Francis University | Loretto, PA | 100.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 11 | The University of Tennessee-Martin | Martin, TN | 100.00 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 12 | East Texas Baptist University | Marshall, TX | 100.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 13 | University of Houston-Victoria | Victoria, TX | 100.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 14 | Longwood University | Farmville, VA | 100.00 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 15 | Texas State University | San Marcos, TX | 99.65 | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 16 | Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond, KY | 99.37 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 17 | University of Kentucky | Lexington, KY | 99.33 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 18 | Concordia University-Texas | Austin, TX | 99.26 | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 19 | Southern Connecticut State University | New Haven, CT | 99.26 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 20 | Trinity Christian College | Palos Heights, IL | 99.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 21 | Morehead State University | Morehead, KY | 99.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 22 | Saint Anselm College | Manchester, NH | 98.99 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 23 | Waynesburg University | Waynesburg, PA | 98.72 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 24 | The University of Tampa | Tampa, FL | 98.67 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 25 | California State University-Long Beach | Long Beach, CA | 98.58 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 26 | Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs, NC | 98.52 | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 27 | Bethel University | McKenzie, TN | 98.52 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 28 | Western Governors University | Salt Lake City, UT | 98.43 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 29 | Carlow University | Pittsburgh, PA | 98.35 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 30 | Anderson University | Anderson, IN | 98.24 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 31 | Montana Tech of the University of Montana | Butte, MT | 98.20 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 32 | Luther College | Decorah, IA | 98.09 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 33 | University of South Carolina | Columbia, SC | 98.02 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 34 | Sentara College of Health Sciences | Chesapeake, VA | 98.01 | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 35 | Oregon Health-Science University | Portland, OR | 97.92 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 36 | Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, FL | 97.80 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 37 | Allen College | Waterloo, IA | 97.70 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 38 | Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, NC | 97.67 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 39 | Indiana University-Northwest | Gary, IN | 97.58 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 40 | California State University-Channel Islands | Camarillo, CA | 97.56 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 41 | West Virginia Wesleyan College | Buckhannon, WV | 97.53 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 42 | Duke University | Durham, NC | 97.48 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 43 | Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, GA | 97.47 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 44 | California State University-Stanislaus | Turlock, CA | 97.40 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 45 | Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, KY | 97.37 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 46 | Brigham Young University-Provo | Provo, UT | 97.37 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 47 | Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | 97.34 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 48 | Georgia College and State University | Milledgeville, GA | 97.34 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 49 | University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA | 97.33 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 50 | Muskingum University | New Concord, OH | 97.31 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 |
| 51 | Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania | Bloomsburg, PA | 97.29 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 52 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | Durham, NH | 97.16 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 53 | Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing | Richmond, VA | 97.13 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 54 | Carson-Newman University | Jefferson City, TN | 97.04 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 55 | Carroll University | Waukesha, WI | 96.98 | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 56 | College of Coastal Georgia | Brunswick, GA | 96.96 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 57 | West Virginia University | Morgantown, WV | 96.96 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 58 | University of Miami | Coral Gables, FL | 96.94 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 59 | San Diego State University | San Diego, CA | 96.83 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 60 | Lander University | Greenwood, SC | 96.71 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 61 | University of Southern Indiana | Evansville, IN | 96.68 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 62 | Thomas More College | Crestview Hills, KY | 96.67 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 63 | Louisiana State University Health-Science Center New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | 96.66 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 64 | West Texas A & M University | Canyon, TX | 96.62 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 65 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas | Las Vegas, NV | 96.54 | 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 66 | California State University-Chico | Chico, CA | 96.52 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 67 | Thomas Edison State College | Trenton, NJ | 96.52 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 68 | Baylor University | Waco, TX | 96.51 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 69 | Tennessee Technological University | Cookeville, TN | 96.48 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 70 | East Carolina University | Greenville, NC | 96.48 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 71 | California State University-Sacramento | Sacramento, CA | 96.45 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 72 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette, LA | 96.44 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 73 | Troy University | Troy, AL | 96.41 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 74 | Simpson University | Redding, CA | 96.36 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 75 | Baldwin Wallace University | Berea, OH | 96.36 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 |
| 76 | Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate, TN | 96.30 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 77 | California State University-San Marcos | San Marcos, CA | 96.27 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 78 | University of the Incarnate Word | San Antonio, TX | 96.21 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 79 | Emory University | Atlanta, GA | 96.20 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 80 | Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers, FL | 96.15 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 81 | Sacred Heart University | Fairfield, CT | 96.04 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 82 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | Oshkosh, WI | 96.02 | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 83 | Bradley University | Peoria, IL | 96.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 84 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC | 96.00 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 85 | University of Louisiana-Monroe | Monroe, LA | 95.97 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 86 | University of Louisiana-Monroe | Monroe, LA | 95.97 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 87 | Cedar Crest College | Allentown, PA | 95.97 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 88 | George Mason University | Fairfax, VA | 95.91 | 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 89 | Messiah College | Mechanicsburg, PA | 95.91 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 90 | Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health | Omaha, NE | 95.91 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 91 | Rhode Island College | Providence, RI | 95.89 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 92 | Saint Anthony College of Nursing | Rockford, IL | 95.81 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 93 | Florida Southern College | Lakeland, FL | 95.78 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 94 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | University Park, PA | 95.71 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 95 | McNeese State University | Lake Charles, LA | 95.67 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 96 | Bloomfield College | Bloomfield, NJ | 95.52 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 97 | Mansfield University of Pennsylvania | Mansfield, PA | 95.49 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 98 | Appalachian State University | Boone, NC | 95.44 | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 99 | University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 95.43 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 100 | University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | 95.39 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
BSN Programs Rankings by State
Top 100 BSN Programs In the United States
View all BSN Degree Program rankings by state using the map below.
- Total BSN Degree Programs: 685
- Ranked BSN Degree Programs: 668
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.