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 Virginia 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 Virginia’s prelicensure BSN programs accordingly.
#1: Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing
8550 Magellan Parkway, Suite 1100
Richmond, VA 23227
https://www.bsmcon.edu
96.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 89 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#2: George Mason University
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
https://www.gmu.edu
96.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Average of 29 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2015 through 2020
#3: Radford University - Roanoke Higher Education Center
108 North Jefferson Street, Suite 510
Roanoke, VA 24016
https://www.radford.edu
94.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 29 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#4: James Madison University
235 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
https://www.jmu.edu
93.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 151 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#5: Liberty University
1971 University Boulevard
Lynchburg, VA 24515
https://www.liberty.edu
93.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 166 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#6: Virginia Commonwealth University
1100 East Leigh Street
Richmond, VA 23298
https://www.vcu.edu
93.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 148 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#7: Radford University
801 East Main Street
Radford, VA 24142
https://www.radford.edu
93.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 61 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#8: Sentara College of Health Sciences
1441 Crossways Boulevard, Suite 105
Chesapeake, VA 23320
https://www.sentara.edu
93.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 71 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#9: Longwood University
201 High Street, Suite 200
Farmville, VA 23909
https://www.longwood.edu
93.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 34 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#10: South University, Richmond
2151 Old Brick Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060
https://www.southuniversity.edu
92.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 39 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#11: Marymount University
2807 North Glebe Road
Arlington, VA 22207
https://www.marymount.edu
92.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Average of 97 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#12: University of Lynchburg
1501 Lakeside Drive
Lynchburg, VA 24501
https://www.lynchburg.edu
91.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 40 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#13: Radford University Carilion
101 Elm Avenue SE
Roanoke, VA 24013
https://www.radford.edu
91.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Average of 48 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#14: University of Virginia
225 Jeanette Lancaster Way
Charlottesville, VA 22903
https://www.virginia.edu
91.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 87 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#15: Hampton University - College of Virginia Beach
253 Town Center Drive, Suite 1035
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
https://www.hamptonu.edu
90.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 21 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#16: George Washington University - Virginia Science & Technology Campus
45085 University Drive, Suite 200
Ashburn, VA 20147
https://www.gwu.edu
89.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 127 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#17: Old Dominion University
1881 University Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23453
https://www.odu.edu
89.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 68 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#18: University of Virginia's College at Wise
One College Avenue
Wise, VA 24293
https://www.uvawise.edu
89.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 17 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#19: Marymount University
2807 North Glebe Road
Arlington, VA 22207
https://www.marymount.edu
88.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 46 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#20: Shenandoah University
1460 University Drive
Winchester, VA 22601
https://www.su.edu
87.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 121 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#21: Radford University Carilion
101 Elm Avenue SE
Roanoke, VA 24013
https://www.radford.edu
87.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 49 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#22: Averett University
512 Bridge Street
Danville, VA 24541
https://www.averett.edu
86.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 9 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2016 through 2020
#23: George Mason University
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
https://www.gmu.edu
85.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 133 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#24: Eastern Mennonite University
1200 Park Road
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
https://www.emu.edu
85.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 40 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#25: Norfolk State University
700 Park Avenue
Norfolk, VA 23504
https://www.nsu.edu
84.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 31 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#26: Chamberlain University - Tysons Corner
1951 Kidwell Drive
Vienna, VA 22182
https://www.chamberlain.edu
84.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 119 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#27: Stratford University - Woodbridge
14349 Gideon Drive
Woodbridge, VA 22192
https://www.stratford.edu
81.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 28 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2014 through 2020
#28: South University, Virginia Beach
301 Bendix Road, Suite 100
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
https://www.southuniversity.edu
75.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 35 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2014 through 2020
#29: Hampton University
200 William R. Harvey Way
Hampton, VA 23669
https://www.hamptonu.edu
71.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 27 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#30: Stratford University - Falls Church
7777 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22043
https://www.stratford.edu
69.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 31 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020