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’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 Massachusetts Board of Registration in 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 Massachusetts’ ADN programs accordingly.
#1: Becker College
61 Sever Street
Worcester, MA 01609
https://www.becker.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 94.8%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 48
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#2: Bristol Community College
777 Elsbree Street
Fall River, MA 02720
https://www.bristolcc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 91.6%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 77
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#3: MassBay Community College
50 Oakland Street
Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
https://www.massbay.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 91.0%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 67
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#4: Middlesex Community College
591 Springs Road
Bedford, MA 01730
https://www.middlesex.mass.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 89.0%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 73
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#5: North Shore Community College
One Ferncroft Road
Danvers, MA 01923
https://www.northshore.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 88.9%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 57
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#6: Berkshire Community College
1350 West Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
https://www.berkshirecc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 88.6%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 48
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#7: Holyoke Community College
303 Homestead Avenue
Holyoke, MA 01040
https://www.hcc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 87.7%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 40
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#8: Quinsigamond Community College
670 West Boylston Street
Worcester, MA 01606
https://www.qcc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 87.5%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 106
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#9: Lawrence Memorial / Regis College
170 Governors Avenue
Medford, MA 02155
https://www.lmregis.org
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 87.2%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 111
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#10: Greenfield Community College
One College Drive
Greenfield, MA 01301
https://www.gcc.mass.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 86.9%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 43
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#11: Cape Cod Community College
2240 Iyannough Road
West Barnstable, MA 02668
https://www.capecod.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 86.8%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 70
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#12: Springfield Technical Community College
One Armory Square
Springfield, MA 01105
https://www.stcc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 85.7%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 73
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#13: Massasoit Community College
One Massasoit Boulevard
Brockton, MA 02302
https://www.massasoit.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 85.7%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 96
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#14: Bunker Hill Community College
250 New Rutherford Avenue
Boston, MA 02129
https://www.bhcc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 85.5%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 109
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#15: Mount Wachusett Community College
444 Green Street
Gardner, MA 01440
https://www.mwcc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 84.3%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 120
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#16: Northern Essex Community College
100 Elliott Street
Haverhill, MA 01830
https://www.necc.mass.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 81.7%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 42
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#17: Roxbury Community College
1234 Columbus Avenue
Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120
https://www.rcc.mass.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 78.7%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 39
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#18: Bay State College
122 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02116
https://www.baystate.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 74.2%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 28
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2012 through 2020
#19: Labouré College
2120 Dorchester Avenue
Boston, MA 02124
https://www.laboure.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 74.2%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 142
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#20: Quincy College
1250 Hancock Street
Quincy, MA 02169
https://www.quincycollege.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 68.7%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 120
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2019