Nursing Programs Rankings Methodology
At Nursing Explorer, our mission is to provide prospective nursing students with accurate and current information to help them make informed decisions about their education. To achieve this, we have developed a transparent methodology for ranking nursing programs nationwide. Our 2025 Nursing Programs Ranking is based on NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN pass rates, using advanced statistical methods to identify natural performance groupings and ensure fair, meaningful comparisons.
Data Collection
The foundation of our ranking process is the NCLEX-PN (Practical Nursing) and NCLEX-RN (Registered Nursing) pass rates, which are publicly available through each state's board of nursing. We collected data on these pass rates for the past three years, up to and including 2024. This data provides a view of a program's performance over time.
Eligibility Criteria
To ensure that our rankings are based on reliable data, we only included schools that met the following criteria:
- Graduated Students: The school must have graduated students in at least two of the past three years. This ensures that the data reflects ongoing performance, rather than a single cohort's outcome.
- Minimum Pass Rate: Only schools with an average pass rate of 80% or higher were considered for inclusion in our rankings.
Pass Rate Calculation
Our ranking methodology uses a hybrid calculation that accounts for both the reliability of the data and the relevance of recent performance. This approach combines two important factors:
Student-Weighted Averaging
Programs with larger graduating classes receive proportionally more weight in our calculations. This is statistically sound because larger sample sizes provide more reliable data and reduce the impact of statistical noise. For example, a program with 100 graduates passing at 95% provides more reliable evidence of quality than a program with only 5 graduates at the same pass rate.
Recency Weighting
We apply additional weight to more recent years because they better reflect a program's current quality and teaching effectiveness. The recency factors we use are:
- Most Recent Year: 1.5x weight
- Middle Year: 1.0x weight
- Oldest Year: 0.5x weight
The Formula
We calculate each program's weighted score using the following formula:
Example Calculation
Consider a nursing program with the following data:
- Year 1 (oldest): 90% pass rate, 10 students, recency factor 0.5
- Year 2 (middle): 85% pass rate, 100 students, recency factor 1.0
- Year 3 (most recent): 95% pass rate, 100 students, recency factor 1.5
Calculation:
- Year 1: 90 × 10 × 0.5 = 450
- Year 2: 85 × 100 × 1.0 = 8,500
- Year 3: 95 × 100 × 1.5 = 14,250
Final Score = (450 + 8,500 + 14,250) / (10×0.5 + 100×1.0 + 100×1.5) = 23,200 / 255 = 90.98%
Why This Method?
This hybrid approach provides several advantages:
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1Statistical Reliability: By weighting by student numbers, we ensure that programs with larger, more statistically significant cohorts have appropriate influence on rankings.
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2Current Relevance: Recent performance receives more weight, helping students identify programs that are performing well today, not just in the past.
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3Outlier Protection: The combination prevents a single anomalous year with a small cohort from dramatically skewing a program's ranking.
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4Trend Recognition: Programs that are improving receive higher scores than those declining, even if their three-year averages are similar.
Ranking Process
Based on the calculated weighted scores, we created separate rankings for:
- RN Programs: This includes all Registered Nursing programs (ADN, Traditional Diploma, BSN, accelerated BSN, and direct entry MSN) in the state.
- PN Programs: This includes Practical Nursing programs in the state.
Schools that excelled in both the NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN exams received recognition in both categories.
Tier-Based Ranking System
Schools are ranked using a dynamic tier-based distribution system that assigns ranks from 1 to 10. This approach ensures that our "Top-10" rankings truly represent the best schools in each state, not just all schools that meet minimum criteria. We use a top-heavy percentile allocation that gives more recognition to truly exceptional programs:
- Rank 1: Top 5% of ranked schools
- Rank 2: Next 5% of ranked schools
- Rank 3: Next 10% of ranked schools
- Rank 4-7: Each receives 10% of ranked schools
- Rank 8-9: Each receives 15% of ranked schools
- Rank 10: Bottom 10% of ranked schools
State-Specific Adaptation
Small States (10 or fewer qualifying schools): We use sequential ranking where schools are ranked 1, 2, 3, and so on based on their pass rates. This ensures every qualifying school receives appropriate recognition.
Large States (more than 10 qualifying schools): We apply the tier-based distribution, which naturally limits the number of schools that receive rankings. This maintains the prestige and meaning of being "top-ranked" in competitive states.
Selective Ranking Philosophy
Not all schools that meet the minimum 80% pass rate threshold receive rankings. Only schools that fit within the natural tier distribution for their state are ranked. This selective approach ensures that our rankings highlight true excellence rather than simply listing all schools that meet basic quality standards.
In states with many qualifying schools (like California with 250+ programs), only the top ~80-100 schools may receive rankings, with the remainder remaining unranked despite meeting minimum standards.
Anchor-Based Tie Determination
Schools with similar performance levels may receive the same rank, reflecting their comparable quality. Our tie system uses an anchor-based methodology to ensure accuracy and prevent statistical artifacts.
How Ties Are Determined
For each rank, the first school (highest pass rate in that tier) becomes the "anchor." Additional schools are included in that rank only if their pass rate is within 1.0 percentage point of the anchor school's pass rate.
Example:
- School A: 91.0% pass rate → Assigned Rank 1 (becomes anchor)
- School B: 90.5% pass rate → Within 1% of anchor (91.0%) → Also Rank 1 (tied)
- School C: 90.0% pass rate → Within 1% of anchor (91.0%) → Also Rank 1 (tied)
- School D: 89.5% pass rate → More than 1% from anchor (1.5% difference) → Rank 2 (new anchor)
This anchor-based approach prevents "tie chains" where schools with significantly different performance levels could be incorrectly grouped together. Each rank maintains internal consistency with schools truly similar in performance.
Why 1% Threshold?
A 1% difference in pass rates represents meaningful statistical separation while acknowledging that small variations can occur due to cohort size, exam administration timing, or other factors beyond program quality. Schools within this threshold demonstrate comparable student preparation and outcomes.
Why Our Rankings Matter
Choosing a nursing school is a decision that impacts a student's future career. Our rankings are designed to help students:
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1Compare Programs: By providing a ranking based on objective, data-driven criteria, students can easily compare nursing programs in their state.
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2Assess Consistency: Our multi-year weighted approach allows students to evaluate how consistently a program prepares its students for the NCLEX exams, with emphasis on recent performance.
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3Make Informed Decisions: Our methodology balances statistical reliability with current relevance, giving students a comprehensive view of program quality.
Additional Insights
In addition to the rankings, we provide charts showing the NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN pass rates for each school. Our charts use data from up to the last 8 years. This visual data helps students further assess the consistency of each school's performance.
Help us Improve
We believe in the continuous improvement of our ranking methodology. We welcome feedback from students, educators, and stakeholders to ensure that our rankings remain fair, transparent, and beneficial for all. Get in touch at [email protected]
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