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 New Jersey Board of 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 eight years of student performance. We then used this metric to rank all of New Jersey’s LPN programs accordingly.
#1: Rowan College of South Jersey
1400 Tanyard Road
Sewell, NJ 08080
https://www.rcsj.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 100.0%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 16
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020; reflects the performance of students on the Cumberland campus, as well as historical data from Cumberland County College
#2: Monmouth County Vocational School District
105 Neptune Boulevard
Neptune, NJ 07753
https://www.mcvsd.org
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 94.7%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 19
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#3: Salem Community College
460 Hollywood Avenue
Carneys Point, NJ 08069
https://www.salemcc.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 93.0%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 29
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#4: Best Care College
68 South Harrison Street
East Orange, NJ 07018
https://www.bestcarecollege.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 89.4%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 38
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#5: Ocean County Vocational Technical School
137 Bey Lea Road
Toms River, NJ 08753
http://www.ocvts.org
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 89.4%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 66
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#6: Eastwick College
Ten South Franklin Turnpike
Ramsey, NJ 07446
https://www.eastwick.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 88.3%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 78
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020; includes the Ramsey traditional, Hackensack traditional, and Hackensack bilingual programs
#7: Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools
112 Rues Lane
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
https://www.mcvts.net
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 88.0%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 37
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#8: Jersey College
546 US Highway 46
Teterboro, NJ 07608
https://www.jerseycollege.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 88.0%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 244
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020; includes both the Teterboro and Ewing campuses
#9: Union County College
232 East Second Street
Plainfield, NJ 07060
https://www.ucc.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 87.7%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 56
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#10: Holy Name Medical Center Sister Claire Tynan School of Nursing
333 Hudson Terrace
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
https://www.holyname.org/schoolofnursing
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 87.2%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 19
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#11: Hudson County Community College
70 Sip Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07306
https://www.hccc.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 85.2%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 7
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#12: Camden County College
200 College Drive
Blackwood, NJ 08012
https://www.camdencc.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 84.6%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 15
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#13: Morris County School of Technology
400 East Main Street
Denville, NJ 07834
https://www.mcvts.org
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 84.2%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 23
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#14: Lincoln Technical Institute
308 West Route 38
Moorestown, NJ 08057
https://www.lincolntech.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 84.1%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 358
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020; includes the Moorestown, Iselin, and Paramus campuses
#15: Universal Training Institute
174 Jefferson Street
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
https://www.universaluti.com
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 82.4%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 55
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#16: Essex County College
303 University Avenue
Newark, NJ 07102
http://www.essex.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 81.5%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 21
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#17: Merit Technical Institute
620 Essex Street, Second Floor
Harrison, NJ 07029
https://www.meritnurses.com
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 80.6%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 68
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#18: Burlington County Institute of Technology
695 Woodlane Road
Westampton, NJ 08060
https://www.bcit.cc
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 79.5%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 10
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#19: Berkeley College
44 Rifle Camp Road
Woodland Park, NJ 07424
https://www.berkeleycollege.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 76.4%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 60
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#20: Cape May County Technical Schools
188 Crest Haven Road
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
https://www.capemaytech.com
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 75.9%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 21
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#21: Prism Career Institute
Three Executive Campus, Suite 280
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
https://www.prismcareerinstitute.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 74.3%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 113
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020; includes both the Cherry Hill and Egg Harbor Township campuses
#22: Atlantic County Institute of Technology
5080 Atlantic Avenue
Mays Landing, NJ 08330
https://www.acitech.org
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 72.9%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 29
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#23: Avtech Institute of Technology
50 Cragwood Road, Suite 350
South Plainfield, NJ 07080
http://www.avtechusa.com
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 72.7%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 6
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#24: Pinelands School of Practical Nursing & Allied Health
1333 State Route 9, Suites 4-6
Toms River, NJ 08755
http://www.pinelandsnursing.com
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 70.8%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 21
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#25: Passaic County Technical Institute
197 Hamburg Turnpike West
Wayne, NJ 07470
https://www.pcti.tec.nj.us
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 67.3%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 40
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#26: Warren County Technical School
1500 State Route 57
Washington, NJ 07882
http://www.wctech.org
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 64.5%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 23
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020