For our 2024 rankings of ADN programs, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac compiled an extensive database of student performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Aspiring registered nurses in the United States must pass this examination before they may commence practice. Thus, student performance on the NCLEX-RN exam provides an excellent benchmark for comparing the relative quality of associate’s degree programs.
We used our database to calculate each program’s NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers. This is the standard program assessment metric reported by the Tennessee Board of Nursing and the test’s administrator, Pearson Vue. Whenever possible, we calculated this first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate over an extensive period of time, typically the past decade of student performance. We then used this metric to rank all of Tennessee’s ADN programs accordingly.
#1: Chattanooga State Community College
4501 Amnicola Highway
Chattanooga, TN 37406
https://www.chattanoogastate.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 96.2%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 133
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#2: Jackson State Community College
2046 North Parkway
Jackson, TN 38301
https://www.jscc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 95.7%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 110
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#3: Pellissippi State Community College
7201 Strawberry Plains Pike, Room ST3646
Knoxville, TN 37914
https://www.pstcc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 94.5%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 67
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2012 through 2020
#4: Motlow State Community College
6015 Ledford Mill Road
Tullahoma, TN 37388
https://www.mscc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 94.0%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 62
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#5: Columbia State Community College
1665 Hampshire Pike
Columbia, TN 38401
https://www.columbiastate.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 93.8%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 98
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#6: Lincoln Memorial University
6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway
Harrogate, TN 37752
https://www.lmunet.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 92.7%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 132
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#7: Nashville State Community College
120 White Bridge Road
Nashville, TN 37209
https://www.nscc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 91.8%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 31
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2012 through 2020
#8: Roane State Community College
276 Patton Lane
Harriman, TN 37748
https://www.roanestate.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 90.9%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 86
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#9: Dyersburg State Community College
1510 Lake Road
Dyersburg, TN 38024
https://www.dscc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 90.5%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 92
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#10: Walters State Community College
500 South Davy Crockett Parkway
Morristown, TN 37813
https://www.ws.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 90.4%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 123
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#11: Fortis Institute
3354 Perimeter Hill Drive, Suite 105
Nashville, TN 37211
https://www.fortis.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 89.7%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 18
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020; includes both the Nashville and Cookeville campuses
#12: Southwest Tennessee Community College
737 Union Avenue
Memphis, TN 38103
http://www.southwest.tn.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 89.1%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 66
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#13: Northeast State Community College
2425 Highway 75
Blountville, TN 37617
https://www.northeaststate.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 88.6%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 51
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#14: Southern Adventist University
4881 Taylor Circle
Collegedale, TN 37315
https://www.southern.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 86.9%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 119
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#15: Cleveland State Community College
3535 Adkisson Drive
Cleveland, TN 37312
https://www.clevelandstatecc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 84.9%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 54
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020