For our 2024 rankings of LPN programs, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac compiled an extensive database of student performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Aspiring practical nurses in the United States must pass this examination before they may commence practice. Thus, student performance on the NCLEX-PN exam provides an excellent benchmark for comparing the relative quality of practical nursing programs.

We used our database to calculate each program’s NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers. This is the standard program assessment metric reported by Pearson Vue, the test’s administrator. It was also (until recently) the primary evaluation metric used by the Wisconsin Board of Nursing. Whenever possible, we calculated this first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate over an extensive period of time, typically the past decade of student performance. We then used this metric to rank all of Wisconsin’s LPN programs accordingly.

#1: Blackhawk Technical College
6004 County Road G
Janesville, WI 53547
https://www.blackhawk.edu

NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 99.5%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 30
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020


#2: Nicolet College
5364 College Drive
Rhinelander, WI 54501
https://www.nicoletcollege.edu

NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 99.0%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 16
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020


#3: Waukesha County Technical College
800 Main Street
Pewaukee, WI 53072
https://www.wctc.edu

NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 98.9%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 42
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020


#4: Moraine Park Technical College
235 North National Avenue
Fond du Lac, WI 54936
https://www.morainepark.edu

NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 98.8%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 51
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020


#5: Northcentral Technical College
1000 Campus Drive
Wausau, WI 54401
https://www.ntc.edu

NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 98.6%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 43
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020


#6: Mid-State Technical College
500 32nd Street North
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494
https://www.mstc.edu

NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 98.1%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 32
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020


#7: Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
505 Pine Ridge Drive
Shell Lake, WI 54871
https://www.witc.edu

NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 98.0%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 66
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020


#8: Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
1800 Bronson Boulevard
Fennimore, WI 53809
https://www.swtc.edu

NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 97.9%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 39
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020


#9: Fox Valley Technical College
1825 North Bluemound Drive
Appleton, WI 54912
https://www.fvtc.edu

NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 97.9%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 83
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020; includes both the Technical Diploma program and the AAS program with PN exit option


#10: Lakeshore Technical College
1290 North Avenue
Cleveland, WI 53015
https://www.gotoltc.edu

NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 97.4%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 35
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020; includes both the Technical Diploma program and the AAS program with PN exit option


#11: Chippewa Valley Technical College
620 West Clairemont Avenue
Eau Claire, WI 54701
https://www.cvtc.edu

NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 97.2%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 74
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020


#12: Madison Area Technical College
1701 Wright Street
Madison, WI 53704
https://www.madisoncollege.edu

NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 97.0%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 82
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020; includes both the Technical Diploma program and the AAS program with PN exit option


#13: Gateway Technical College
3520 30th Avenue
Kenosha, WI 53144
https://www.gtc.edu

NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 96.6%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 96
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020


#14: Western Technical College
400 Seventh Street North
La Crosse, WI 54602
https://www.westerntc.edu

NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 96.2%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 45
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020


#15: Milwaukee Area Technical College
700 West State Street
Milwaukee, WI 53233
https://www.matc.edu

NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 94.1%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 61
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020; includes both the Technical Diploma program and the AAS program with PN exit option


#16: Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
2740 West Mason Street
Green Bay, WI 54307
https://www.nwtc.edu

NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 91.7%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 153
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020; includes both the Technical Diploma program and the AAS program with PN exit option


#17: Herzing University
5218 East Terrace Drive
Madison, WI 53718
https://www.herzing.edu

NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 91.2%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 15
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020; reflects the performance of students on both the Kenosha and Milwaukee/Brookfield campuses


#18: Bryant & Stratton College
10950 West Potter Road
Wauwatosa, WI 53226
https://www.bryantstratton.edu

NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 84.9%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 62
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2017 through 2020