For our 2024 rankings of prelicensure BSN 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 bachelor’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 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 prelicensure BSN programs accordingly.

  1. #1: Georgia College
    96.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    231 West Hancock Street
    Milledgeville, Georgia 31061
    https://www.gcsu.edu

    96.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 99 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021

  2. #2: Kennesaw State University
    95.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    1000 Chastain Road
    Kennesaw, Georgia 30144
    https://www.kennesaw.edu

    95.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 200 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021

  3. #3: Reinhardt University
    95.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    7300 Reinhardt Circle
    Waleska, Georgia 30183
    https://www.reinhardt.edu

    95.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 31 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2020 through 2021

  4. #4: College of Coastal Georgia
    93.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    One College Drive
    Brunswick, Georgia 31520
    https://www.ccga.edu

    93.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 39 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021

  5. #5: Georgia Gwinnett College
    93.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    1000 University Center Lane
    Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043
    https://www.ggc.edu

    93.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 50 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2016 through 2021

  6. #6: Piedmont University
    92.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    165 Central Avenue
    Demorest, Georgia 30535
    https://www.piedmont.edu

    92.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 61 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021

  7. #7: University of North Georgia
    91.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    82 College Circle
    Dahlonega, Georgia 30597
    https://www.ung.edu

    91.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 149 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2014 through 2021

  8. #8: Mercer University
    91.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    3001 Mercer University Drive
    Atlanta, Georgia 30341
    https://www.mercer.edu

    91.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 144 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021

  9. #9: Emory University
    90.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    201 Dowman Drive
    Atlanta, Georgia 30322
    https://www.emory.edu

    90.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 227 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021

  10. #10: Gordon State College
    90.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    419 College Drive
    Barnesville, Georgia 30204
    https://www.gordonstate.edu

    90.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 28 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2019 through 2021

  11. #11: Georgia Southwestern State University
    90.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    800 Georgia Southwestern State University Drive
    Americus, Georgia 31709
    https://www.gsw.edu

    90.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 44 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021

  12. #12: LaGrange College
    90.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    601 Broad Street
    LaGrange, Georgia 30240
    https://www.lagrange.edu

    90.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 34 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021

  13. #13: Georgia State University
    89.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    33 Gilmer Street
    Atlanta, Georgia 30303
    https://www.gsu.edu

    89.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 128 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021

  14. #14: Berry College
    88.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    2277 Martha Berry Highway NW
    Mount Berry, Georgia 30149
    https://www.berry.edu

    88.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 29 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2015 through 2021

  15. #15: Augusta University
    88.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    1120 15th Street
    Augusta, Georgia 30912
    https://www.augusta.edu

    88.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 174 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021

  16. #16: Wesleyan College
    87.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    4760 Forsyth Road
    Macon, Georgia 31210
    https://www.wesleyancollege.edu

    87.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 29 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2015 through 2021

  17. #17: Middle Georgia State University
    87.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    100 University Parkway
    Macon, Georgia 31206
    https://www.mga.edu

    87.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 95 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021

  18. #18: Clayton State University
    87.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    2000 Clayton State Boulevard
    Morrow, Georgia 30260
    https://www.clayton.edu

    87.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 87 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021

  19. #19: Chamberlain University - Atlanta
    87.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    5775 Peachtree Dunwoody Road NE, Suite A100
    Atlanta, Georgia 30342
    https://www.chamberlain.edu

    87.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 249 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2014 through 2021

  20. #20: Valdosta State University
    86.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    1500 North Patterson Street
    Valdosta, Georgia 31698
    https://www.valdosta.edu

    86.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 91 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021

  21. #21: University of West Georgia
    86.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    1601 Maple Street
    Carrollton, Georgia 30118
    https://www.westga.edu

    86.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 111 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021

  22. #22: Albany State University
    85.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    504 College Drive
    Albany, Georgia 31705
    https://www.asurams.edu

    85.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 12 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021

  23. #23: Brenau University
    85.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    500 Washington Street SE
    Gainesville, Georgia 30501
    https://www.brenau.edu

    85.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 84 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021

  24. #24: Georgia Southern University
    85.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    2670 Southern Drive
    Statesboro, Georgia 30460
    https://www.georgiasouthern.edu

    85.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 264 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021

  25. #25: Columbus State University
    83.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    4225 University Avenue
    Columbus, Georgia 31907
    https://www.columbusstate.edu

    83.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 84 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021

  26. #26: South College - Atlanta
    78.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    2600 Century Parkway NE
    Atlanta, Georgia 30345
    https://www.south.edu

    78.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 51 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2021 through 2021

  27. #27: Shorter University
    73.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    315 Shorter Avenue
    Rome, Georgia 30165
    https://www.shorter.edu

    73.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 31 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021

  28. #28: Herzing University - Atlanta
    66.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    3393 Peachtree Road NE
    Atlanta, Georgia 30326
    https://www.herzing.edu

    66.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 31 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2015 through 2021

  29. #29: Truett McConnell University
    63.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    100 Alumni Drive
    Cleveland, Georgia 30528
    https://www.truett.edu

    63.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 21 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2015 through 2021

  30. #30: Toccoa Falls College
    62.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate

    107 Kincaid Drive
    Toccoa Falls, Georgia 30598
    https://www.tfc.edu

    62.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    Average of 18 students graduated per year
    Data analyzed from 2019 through 2021