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 Pennsylvania State 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 Pennsylvania’s ADN programs accordingly.
#1: Pennsylvania College of Technology
95.1% first-time NCLEX pass rateOne College Avenue
Williamsport, Pennsylvania 17701
https://www.pct.edu95.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 49 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#2: Mount Aloysius College
92.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate7373 Admiral Peary Highway
Cresson, Pennsylvania 16630
https://www.mtaloy.edu92.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
2+2 Nursing Program: Associate of Science / Bachelor of Science
Average of 78 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#3: Northampton Community College
91.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate3835 Green Pond Road
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18020
https://www.northampton.edu91.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 75 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#4: Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences
90.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate850 Greenfield Road
Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17601
https://www.pacollege.edu90.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 248 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#5: Butler County Community College
90.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate107 College Drive
Butler, Pennsylvania 16003
https://www.bc3.edu90.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 50 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#6: Luzerne County Community College
90.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate1333 South Prospect Street
Nanticoke, Pennsylvania 18634
https://www.luzerne.edu90.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 117 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#7: HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College
89.5% first-time NCLEX pass rateOne HACC Drive
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
https://www.hacc.edu89.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 368 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#8: Community College of Allegheny County
88.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate800 Allegheny Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15233
https://www.ccac.edu88.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 336 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#9: Montgomery County Community College
88.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate340 Dekalb Pike
Blue Bell, Pennsylvania 19422
https://www.mc3.edu88.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 130 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#10: University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
87.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate300 Campus Drive
Bradford, Pennsylvania 16701
https://www.upb.pitt.edu87.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 36 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#11: Allegany College of Maryland
87.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate195 Pennknoll Road
Everett, Pennsylvania 15537
https://www.allegany.edu87.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 16 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#12: Lock Haven University
87.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate201 University Drive
Clearfield, Pennsylvania 16830
https://www.lockhaven.edu87.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 53 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#13: Reading Area Community College
86.9% first-time NCLEX pass rateTen South Second Street
Reading, Pennsylvania 19603
https://www.racc.edu86.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 34 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#14: Community College of Beaver County
86.8% first-time NCLEX pass rateOne Campus Drive
Monaca, Pennsylvania 15061
https://www.ccbc.edu86.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 71 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#15: Westmoreland County Community College
85.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate145 Pavilion Lane
Youngwood, Pennsylvania 15697
https://www.westmoreland.edu85.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 118 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#16: Lehigh Carbon Community College
85.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate4525 Education Park Drive
Schnecksville, Pennsylvania 18078
https://www.lccc.edu85.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 80 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#17: Bucks County Community College
84.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate275 Swamp Road
Newtown, Pennsylvania 18940
https://www.bucks.edu84.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 77 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#18: Clarion University
84.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate1801 West First Street
Oil City, Pennsylvania 16301
https://www.clarion.edu84.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 40 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#19: Delaware County Community College
83.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate901 South Media Line Road
Media, Pennsylvania 19063
https://www.dccc.edu83.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 154 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#20: Community College of Philadelphia
83.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate1700 Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19130
https://www.ccp.edu83.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 89 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#21: Mercyhurst University
76.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate501 East 38th Street
Erie, Pennsylvania 16546
https://www.mercyhurst.edu76.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 83 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#22: Harcum College
73.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate750 Montgomery Avenue
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania 19010
https://www.harcum.edu73.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 39 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011-12 through 2020-21
#23: Pittsburgh Technical College
66.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate1111 McKee Road
Oakdale, Pennsylvania 15071
https://www.ptcollege.edu66.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Associate Degree in Nursing
Average of 36 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013-14 through 2020-21