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 Massachusetts Board of Registration in 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 Massachusetts’ prelicensure BSN programs accordingly.
#1: Worcester State University
486 Chandler Street
Worcester, MA 01602
https://www.worcester.edu
95.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 46 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#2: Fitchburg State University
160 Pearl Street
Fitchburg, MA 01420
https://www.fitchburgstate.edu
95.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 48 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#3: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
285 Old Westport Road
North Dartmouth, MA 02747
https://www.umassd.edu
94.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Data analyzed from 2018 through 2020
#4: Boston College
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
https://www.bc.edu
93.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 96 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#5: Simmons University
300 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115
https://www.simmons.edu
92.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 165 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#6: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences - Worcester
19 Foster Street
Worcester, MA 01608
https://www.mcphs.edu
92.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Average of 87 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#7: Northeastern University
360 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
https://www.northeastern.edu
91.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 120 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#8: Westfield State University
577 Western Avenue
Westfield, MA 01086
https://www.westfield.ma.edu
90.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 21 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2014 through 2020
#9: University of Massachusetts Amherst
651 North Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA 01003
https://www.umass.edu
88.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 109 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#10: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
285 Old Westport Road
North Dartmouth, MA 02747
https://www.umassd.edu
88.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 105 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#11: Becker College
61 Sever Street
Worcester, MA 01609
https://www.becker.edu
88.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Data analyzed from 2016 through 2020
#12: MGH Institute of Health Professions
36 First Avenue
Boston, MA 02129
https://www.mghihp.edu
87.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 130 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#13: Endicott College
376 Hale Street
Beverly, MA 01915
https://www.endicott.edu
87.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 33 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#14: Curry College
1071 Blue Hill Avenue
Milton, MA 02186
https://www.curry.edu
87.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 104 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#15: University of Massachusetts Lowell
One University Avenue
Lowell, MA 01854
https://www.uml.edu
86.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 90 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#16: American International College
1000 State Street
Springfield, MA 01109
https://www.aic.edu
85.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 74 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#17: Anna Maria College
50 Sunset Lane
Paxton, MA 01612
https://www.annamaria.edu
85.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Data analyzed from 2015 through 2020
#18: College of Our Lady of the Elms
291 Springfield Street
Chicopee, MA 01013
https://www.elms.edu
85.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 64 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#19: Northeastern University
360 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
https://www.northeastern.edu
85.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Data analyzed from 2016 through 2020
#20: University of Massachusetts Boston
100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125
https://www.umb.edu
84.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 202 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#21: Salem State University
352 Lafayette Street
Salem, MA 01970
https://www.salemstate.edu
83.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 183 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#22: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
179 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
https://www.mcphs.edu
81.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 80 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#23: Regis College
235 Wellesley Street
Weston, MA 02493
https://www.regiscollege.edu
80.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 57 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020