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 New Jersey 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 eight years of student performance. We then used this metric to rank all of New Jersey’s ADN programs accordingly.
#1: Warren County Community College
475 Route 57 West
Washington, NJ 07882
http://www.warren.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 92.1%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 19
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#2: Passaic County Community College
One College Boulevard
Paterson, NJ 07505
http://www.pccc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 90.1%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 70
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#3: Rowan College of South Jersey
1400 Tanyard Road
Sewell, NJ 08080
https://www.rcsj.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 89.9%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 114
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020; includes both the Gloucester and Cumberland campuses, as well as historical data from Cumberland County College, Gloucester County College, and Rowan College at Gloucester County
#4: County College of Morris
214 Center Grove Road
Randolph, NJ 07869
https://www.ccm.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 89.8%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 113
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#5: Ocean County College
One College Drive
Toms River, NJ 08754
https://www.ocean.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 88.7%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 135
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#6: Middlesex County College
2600 Woodbridge Avenue
Edison, NJ 08818
https://www.middlesexcc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 88.2%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 70
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#7: Raritan Valley Community College
118 Lamington Road
Branchburg, NJ 08876
https://www.raritanval.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 86.5%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 87
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#8: Mercer County Community College
1200 Old Trenton Road
West Windsor, NJ 08550
https://www.mccc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 86.1%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 64
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#9: Jersey College
546 US Highway 46
Teterboro, NJ 07608
https://www.jerseycollege.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 86.1%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 244
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2014 through 2020; includes both the Teterboro and Ewing campuses
#10: Salem Community College
460 Hollywood Avenue
Carneys Point, NJ 08069
https://www.salemcc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 85.4%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 25
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#11: Atlantic Cape Community College
5100 Black Horse Pike
Mays Landing, NJ 08330
http://www.atlantic.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 84.8%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 72
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#12: Bergen Community College
400 Paramus Road
Paramus, NJ 07652
https://www.bergen.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 84.4%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 96
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#13: Brookdale Community College
765 Newman Springs Road
Lincroft, NJ 07738
https://www.brookdalecc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 84.1%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 138
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#14: Essex County College
303 University Avenue
Newark, NJ 07102
http://www.essex.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 83.3%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 58
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#15: Eastern International College
251 Washington Avenue
Belleville, NJ 07109
https://www.eicollege.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 82.1%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 35
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020; includes both the Belleville and Jersey City campuses
#16: Hudson County Community College
70 Sip Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07306
https://www.hccc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 80.9%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 71
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020; includes the current AS degree program, as well as historical data from the RN diploma programs at Bayonne Medical Center, CarePoint Health School of Nursing, and Christ Hospital
#17: Rowan College at Burlington County
601 Pemberton Browns Mills Road
Pemberton, NJ 08068
https://www.rcbc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 74.1%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 100
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#18: Eastwick College
Ten South Franklin Turnpike
Ramsey, NJ 07446
https://www.eastwick.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 39.4%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 66
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020