For our 2024 rankings of LPN programs, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac compiled an extensive database of student performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Aspiring practical nurses in the United States must pass this examination before they may commence practice. Thus, student performance on the NCLEX-PN exam provides an excellent benchmark for comparing the relative quality of practical nursing programs.
We used our database to calculate each program’s NCLEX-PN 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-PN 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’ LPN programs accordingly.
#1: Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School
940 County Street
Taunton, MA 02780
https://www.bptech.org
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 99.1%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 42
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#2: Southeastern Technical Institute
250 Foundry Street
South Easton, MA 02375
https://www.stitech.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 97.4%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 40
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#3: Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School
65 Pleasant Street
Upton, MA 01568
https://www.valleytech.k12.ma.us
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 95.5%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 17
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#4: Blue Hills Regional Technical School
800 Randolph Street
Canton, MA 02021
https://www.bluehills.org
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 95.0%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 36
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#5: Northern Essex Community College
100 Elliott Street
Haverhill, MA 01830
https://www.necc.mass.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 94.1%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 26
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#6: North Shore Community College
One Ferncroft Road
Danvers, MA 01923
https://www.northshore.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 94.1%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 31
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#7: Greater Lowell Technical High School
250 Pawtucket Boulevard
Tyngsborough, MA 01879
https://www.gltech.org
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 93.4%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 69
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#8: Assabet Valley Regional Technical School
215 Fitchburg Street
Marlborough, MA 01752
https://www.assabetvalleylpn.org
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 92.8%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 35
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#9: Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School
251 Stonehaven Road
Fall River, MA 02723
https://www.dimanregional.org
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 92.7%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 47
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#10: Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School
220 Sandwich Road
Bourne, MA 02532
https://www.uppercapetech.com
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 92.2%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 51
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#11: Mount Wachusett Community College
444 Green Street
Gardner, MA 01440
https://www.mwcc.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 91.6%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 36
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#12: Holyoke Community College
303 Homestead Avenue
Holyoke, MA 01040
https://www.hcc.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 91.4%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 18
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#13: Greenfield Community College
One College Drive
Greenfield, MA 01301
https://www.gcc.mass.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 91.4%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 27
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#14: MassBay Community College
50 Oakland Street
Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
https://www.massbay.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 90.7%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 43
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#15: Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School
57 Old Muggett Hill Road
Charlton, MA 01507
http://www.baypath.net
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 90.2%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 23
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#16: Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School
1050 Westminster Street
Fitchburg, MA 01420
https://www.montytech.net
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 89.0%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 31
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#17: Quinsigamond Community College
670 West Boylston Street
Worcester, MA 01606
https://www.qcc.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 88.7%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 53
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#18: Mildred Elley
505 East Street, Suite 107
Pittsfield, MA 01201
https://www.mildred-elley.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 88.5%
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2015 through 2020
#19: Shawsheen Valley Technical High School
100 Cook Street
Billerica, MA 01821
https://www.shawsheentech.org
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 88.3%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 37
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#20: McCann Technical School
70 Hodges Cross Road
North Adams, MA 01247
https://www.mccanntech.org
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 87.9%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 16
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#21: Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical School
147 Pond Street
Franklin, MA 02038
https://www.tri-county.us
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 87.5%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 34
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#22: Berkshire Community College
1350 West Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
https://www.berkshirecc.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 84.1%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 21
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#23: Quincy College
1250 Hancock Street
Quincy, MA 02169
https://www.quincycollege.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 79.5%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 74
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020; includes both the Quincy and Plymouth campuses