For our 2024 rankings of prelicensure BSN 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 bachelor’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 Indiana State 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 Indiana’s prelicensure BSN programs accordingly.
#1: University of Southern Indiana
8600 University Boulevard
Evansville, IN 47712
https://www.usi.edu
97.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 94 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#2: Indiana University Northwest
3400 Broadway
Gary, IN 46408
https://www.iun.edu
94.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 68 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#3: Indiana University Fort Wayne
2101 East Coliseum Boulevard
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
https://www.iufw.edu
94.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 83 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#4: Purdue University
610 Purdue Mall
West Lafayette, IN 47907
https://www.purdue.edu
93.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 115 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#5: Bethel University
1001 Bethel Circle
Mishawaka, IN 46545
https://www.betheluniversity.edu
93.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 29 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#6: University of Saint Francis
2701 Spring Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46808
https://www.sf.edu
93.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 62 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#7: Anderson University
1100 East Fifth Street
Anderson, IN 46012
https://www.anderson.edu
92.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 34 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#8: Ball State University
2000 University Avenue
Muncie, IN 47306
https://www.bsu.edu
92.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 144 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#9: Valparaiso University
US Highway 30 & Sturdy Road
Valparaiso, IN 46383
https://www.valpo.edu
91.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 116 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#10: Chamberlain University - Indianapolis
9100 Keystone Crossing, Suite 600
Indianapolis, IN 46240
https://www.chamberlain.edu
91.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 51 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2015 through 2020
#11: Indiana University South Bend
1700 Mishawaka Avenue
South Bend, IN 46634
https://www.iusb.edu
91.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 57 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#12: Indiana Wesleyan University
4201 South Washington Street
Marion, IN 46953
https://www.indwes.edu
90.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 138 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#13: Western Governors University Indiana
10 West Market Street, Suite 1020
Indianapolis, IN 46204
https://www.wgu.edu/indiana
90.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 19 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#14: Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
425 University Boulevard
Indianapolis, IN 46202
https://nursing.iupui.edu
90.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 338 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#15: Indiana University Kokomo
2300 South Washington Street
Kokomo, IN 46904
https://www.iuk.edu
89.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 75 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#16: University of Evansville
1800 Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, IN 47722
https://www.evansville.edu
88.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 27 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#17: Saint Mary’s College
133 LeMans Hall
Notre Dame, IN 46556
https://www.saintmarys.edu
88.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 46 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#18: Marian University
3200 Cold Spring Road
Indianapolis, IN 46222
https://www.marian.edu
88.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 198 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#19: University of Indianapolis
1400 East Hanna Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46227
https://www.uindy.edu
88.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 83 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2018
#20: Purdue University Northwest
2200 169th Street
Hammond, IN 46323
https://www.pnw.edu
87.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 116 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#21: Goshen College
1700 South Main Street
Goshen, IN 46526
https://www.goshen.edu
87.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 21 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#22: Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus
4601 Central Avenue
Columbus, IN 47203
https://www.iupuc.edu
86.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 28 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2015 through 2020
#23: Indiana State University
210 North Seventh Street
Terre Haute, IN 47809
https://www.indstate.edu
85.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 169 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#24: Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
3301 Saint Mary’s Road
West Terre Haute, IN 47885
https://www.smwc.edu
85.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 18 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2018 through 2020
#25: Indiana University Southeast
4201 Grant Line Road
New Albany, IN 47150
https://www.ius.edu
84.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 39 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2018
#26: Huntington University
2303 College Avenue
Huntington, IN 46750
https://www.huntington.edu
83.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 16 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#27: Indiana University East
2325 Chester Boulevard
Richmond, IN 47374
https://www.iue.edu
77.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 58 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020