For our 2024 rankings of ADN 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 associate 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 Georgia 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 Georgia’s ADN programs accordingly.
#1: Chattahoochee Technical College
96.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate980 South Cobb Drive SE
Marietta, Georgia 30060
https://www.chattahoocheetech.edu96.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 33 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#2: Albany Technical College
94.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate1704 South Slappey Boulevard
Albany, Georgia 31701
https://www.albanytech.edu94.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 16 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2014 through 2021
#3: Southeastern Technical College
94.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate3001 East First Street
Vidalia, Georgia 30474
https://www.southeasterntech.edu94.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 30 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2015 through 2021
#4: Gwinnett Technical College
94.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate5150 Sugarloaf Parkway
Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043
https://www.gwinnetttech.edu94.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 59 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#5: Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
93.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate4089 Val Tech Road
Valdosta, Georgia 31602
https://www.wiregrass.edu93.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 23 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2015 through 2021
#6: Gordon State College
92.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate419 College Drive
Barnesville, Georgia 30204
https://www.gordonstate.edu92.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 76 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#7: Middle Georgia State University
92.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate100 University Parkway
Macon, Georgia 31206
https://www.mga.edu92.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 74 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#8: Oconee Fall Line Technical College
92.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate1189 Deepstep Road
Sandersville, Georgia 31082
https://www.oftc.edu92.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 37 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2019 through 2021
#9: Southern Crescent Technical College
91.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate501 Varsity Road
Griffin, Georgia 30223
https://www.sctech.edu91.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 27 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2018 through 2021
#10: Columbus Technical College
91.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate928 Manchester Expressway
Columbus, Georgia 31904
https://www.columbustech.edu91.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 48 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#11: Perimeter College at Georgia State University
91.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate3251 Panthersville Road
Decatur, Georgia 30034
https://perimeter.gsu.edu91.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 124 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#12: Athens Technical College
90.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate800 US Highway 29 North
Athens, Georgia 30601
https://www.athenstech.edu90.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 50 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#13: College of Coastal Georgia
89.9% first-time NCLEX pass rateOne College Drive
Brunswick, Georgia 31520
https://www.ccga.edu89.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 39 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#14: North Georgia Technical College
89.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate1500 Georgia Highway 197 North
Clarkesville, Georgia 30523
https://www.northgatech.edu89.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 41 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2015 through 2021
#15: Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
89.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate2802 Moore Highway
Tifton, Georgia 31793
https://www.abac.edu89.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 148 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#16: South Georgia State College
86.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate100 West College Park Drive
Douglas, Georgia 31533
https://www.sgsc.edu86.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 57 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#17: Augusta Technical College
86.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate3200 Augusta Tech Drive
Augusta, Georgia 30906
https://www.augustatech.edu86.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 25 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021
#18: Georgia Highlands College
85.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate3175 Cedartown Highway SE
Rome, Georgia 30161
https://www.highlands.edu85.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 104 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#19: West Georgia Technical College
85.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate176 Murphy Campus Boulevard
Waco, Georgia 30182
https://www.westgatech.edu85.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 60 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#20: Southern Regional Technical College
85.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate15689 US Highway 19 North
Thomasville, Georgia 31792
https://www.southernregional.edu85.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 65 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#21: Central Georgia Technical College
84.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate3300 Macon Tech Drive
Macon, Georgia 31206
https://www.centralgatech.edu84.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 31 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2018 through 2021
#22: Albany State University
83.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate504 College Drive
Albany, Georgia 31705
https://www.asurams.edu83.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 254 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#23: Dalton State College
82.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate650 College Drive
Dalton, Georgia 30720
https://www.daltonstate.edu82.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 60 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#24: Coastal Pines Technical College
80.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate1701 Carswell Avenue
Waycross, Georgia 31503
https://www.coastalpines.edu80.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 15 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2021 through 2021
#25: Georgia Northwestern Technical College
78.4% first-time NCLEX pass rateOne Maurice Culberson Drive
Rome, Georgia 30161
https://www.gntc.edu78.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 30 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#26: Atlanta Technical College
76.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate1560 Metropolitan Parkway SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30310
https://www.atlantatech.edu76.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 12 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2014 through 2021
#27: Andrew College
37.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate501 College Street
Cuthbert, Georgia 39840
https://www.andrewcollege.edu37.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 23 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2019 through 2021