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 New Jersey 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 eight years of student performance. We then used this metric to rank all of New Jersey’s prelicensure BSN programs accordingly.
#1: New Jersey City University at Fort Monmouth
283 Sherrill Avenue
Oceanport, NJ 07757
https://www.njcu.edu/academics/schools-colleges/community-college-partnerships/njcu-fort-monmouth
97.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Average of 6 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#2: Thomas Edison State University
111 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08608
https://www.tesu.edu
95.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Average of 23 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#3: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - New Brunswick
110 Paterson Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
https://www.rutgers.edu
94.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 137 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2019 through 2020
#4: Bloomfield College
467 Franklin Street
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
https://www.bloomfield.edu
93.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 29 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#5: The College of New Jersey
2000 Pennington Road
Ewing, NJ 08628
https://www.tcnj.edu
93.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 63 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#6: Ramapo College of New Jersey
505 Ramapo Valley Road
Mahwah, NJ 07430
https://www.ramapo.edu
91.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 83 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#7: Stockton University
101 Vera King Farris Drive
Galloway, NJ 08205
https://www.stockton.edu
89.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 36 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#8: Felician University
262 South Main Street
Lodi, NJ 07644
https://www.felician.edu
89.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 60 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#9: Monmouth University
400 Cedar Avenue
West Long Branch, NJ 07764
https://www.monmouth.edu
85.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 23 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2018 through 2020
#10: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Camden
530 Federal Street
Camden, NJ 08102
https://www.camden.rutgers.edu
85.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 162 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#11: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
180 University Avenue
Newark, NJ 07102
https://www.rutgers.edu
85.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 273 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#12: Fairleigh Dickinson University
1000 River Road
Teaneck, NJ 07666
https://www.fdu.edu
84.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 59 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#13: Chamberlain University - North Brunswick
630 US Highway 1
North Brunswick, NJ 08902
https://www.chamberlain.edu
84.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 120 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2017 through 2020
#14: New Jersey City University
2039 Kennedy Boulevard
Jersey City, NJ 07305
https://www.njcu.edu
84.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Average of 73 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#15: William Paterson University
300 Pompton Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
https://www.wpunj.edu
82.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 78 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#16: Georgian Court University
900 Lakewood Avenue
Lakewood, NJ 08701
https://www.georgian.edu
81.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 47 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#17: Saint Peter’s University
2641 Kennedy Boulevard
Jersey City, NJ 07306
https://www.saintpeters.edu
81.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 17 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#18: Caldwell University
120 Bloomfield Avenue
Caldwell, NJ 07006
https://www.caldwell.edu
80.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 36 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#19: Berkeley College - Woodland Park
44 Rifle Camp Road
Woodland Park, NJ 07424
https://www.berkeleycollege.edu
77.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
LPN-to-BSN Bridge Program
Average of 27 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2018 through 2020
#20: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Blackwood
200 College Drive, Suite 114
Blackwood, NJ 08012
https://www.rutgers.edu
77.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 36 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2019 through 2020
#21: Seton Hall University
400 South Orange Avenue
South Orange, NJ 07079
https://www.shu.edu
76.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 172 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020