NCLEX-RN pass rate by state in 2025
Written and reviewed by Rachel Goldberg, MSN, RN, CEN · 4 min read · Updated November 2026
Checked against official sources: November 2026
Rules, fees and deadlines differ by state and change without notice. Check with your state board of nursing before you rely on them.
Short answer
In 2025, first-time US-educated NCLEX-RN candidates passed at 86.7% nationally, and state rates ran from 77.8% in Alaska to 92.9% in North Dakota, according to NCSBN's 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics. Texas was 88.6%, California 89.0%, Florida 81.8% and New York 82.3%. Every state gives the same exam with the same passing standard.
2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates by state
The figures below come from Table 8 of NCSBN's 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics, published in 2026. It counts first-time, US-educated candidates taking the NCLEX-RN for US licensure from January 1 to December 31, 2025, grouped by jurisdiction. The table shows the five highest and six lowest states plus every state with about 4,800 or more test takers.
| State | Candidates | Passed | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 647 | 601 | 92.9% |
| Vermont | 390 | 361 | 92.6% |
| South Carolina | 3,216 | 2,947 | 91.6% |
| South Dakota | 740 | 678 | 91.6% |
| Tennessee | 4,369 | 3,972 | 90.9% |
| Pennsylvania | 7,742 | 7,000 | 90.4% |
| Arizona | 5,020 | 4,514 | 89.9% |
| North Carolina | 5,236 | 4,696 | 89.7% |
| California | 16,255 | 14,473 | 89.0% |
| Texas | 16,454 | 14,579 | 88.6% |
| Virginia | 4,987 | 4,413 | 88.5% |
| Georgia | 5,468 | 4,704 | 86.0% |
| Michigan | 4,844 | 4,162 | 85.9% |
| Illinois | 6,351 | 5,383 | 84.8% |
| Ohio | 8,529 | 7,168 | 84.0% |
| Minnesota | 3,435 | 2,866 | 83.4% |
| New York | 11,418 | 9,399 | 82.3% |
| Florida | 17,403 | 14,240 | 81.8% |
| Oklahoma | 2,755 | 2,217 | 80.5% |
| Utah | 4,368 | 3,456 | 79.1% |
| Alaska | 248 | 193 | 77.8% |
| All jurisdictions | 192,916 | 167,272 | 86.7% |
A state's number describes the people who tested there that year, not the odds for any one candidate, so read it as a snapshot rather than a forecast of your own result.
Which state has the highest NCLEX pass rate?
Among the 50 states, North Dakota had the highest 2025 first-time rate at 92.9% on 647 candidates, followed closely by Vermont at 92.6% on 390. Among states testing more than 3,000 first-time candidates, South Carolina led at 91.6%, with Tennessee next at 90.9%.
Small numbers swing hard. Guam posted 96.6%, but that was 28 passes out of 29 candidates, and the US Virgin Islands posted 71.4% on 21 candidates. A handful of results can move a small jurisdiction by several points, so compare like with like before drawing conclusions.
Texas, Florida, California and New York by degree type
The four largest testing states differ a lot once you split them by degree. In California, associate degree graduates outscored baccalaureate graduates. In Florida, the associate degree group and a group NCSBN labels special program codes pulled the state total down.
| State | Associate degree | Baccalaureate | State total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 88.1% of 7,039 | 89.0% of 9,241 | 88.6% of 16,454 |
| Florida | 80.5% of 11,123 | 87.3% of 5,879 | 81.8% of 17,403 |
| California | 90.8% of 6,685 | 87.8% of 9,562 | 89.0% of 16,255 |
| New York | 81.5% of 5,566 | 83.1% of 5,851 | 82.3% of 11,418 |
Florida's total also includes 380 special program code candidates who passed at 35.8%, and 21 diploma candidates who all passed. Texas includes 174 diploma candidates at 88.5%. Those small groups explain why a state total can sit below both of its main degree rates.
Does the state you test for change difficulty?
No. The NCLEX-RN is one national exam, and NCSBN uses a criterion-referenced standard, which means passing depends only on whether your ability is above the line for safe entry-level practice. NCSBN states there is no preassigned percentage of candidates who pass or fail, and the 2025 RN passing standard was 0.00 logits everywhere.
The national rate also moved during the year regardless of state. First-time, US-educated candidates passed at 88.4% in January to March 2025, 89.1% in April to June, 84.0% in July to September and 81.2% in October to December. The same exam swung almost eight points between the best and worst quarter.
How to use state numbers for your own decision
If you are choosing a school, the state total is too coarse. Look for the program's own first-time pass rate on the board's website. The California Board of Registered Nursing, for example, posts first-time rates for each approved program by July to June year, covering 2020 to 2021 through 2024 to 2025.
Practical nurse rates differ from RN rates in the same state. NCSBN's 2025 tables show first-time NCLEX-PN rates of 91.9% in Texas, 80.9% in California and 78.6% in Florida, against 86.6% nationally. NCSBN also notes that its interactive dashboard and its PDF tables can differ slightly because live data gets reconciled.
Sources
NCSBN: 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics (published 2026). Table 8 state first-time RN pass rates and degree splits, Table 1 quarterly rates, Table 3 RN passing standard 0.00 logits, Table 14 PN state rates, criterion-referenced standard with no preassigned pass percentage
NCSBN: NCLEX Pass Rates. Dashboard filters and the note that dashboard and PDF figures can differ because of data reconciliation
California Board of Registered Nursing: NCLEX-RN Pass Rates. Program-level first-time pass rates for California programs by July to June year, 2020-2021 through 2024-2025
Common questions
What is the Texas NCLEX pass rate?
For 2025, NCSBN reports that 14,579 of 16,454 first-time, US-educated NCLEX-RN candidates in Texas passed, a rate of 88.6%, slightly above the national 86.7%. Texas practical nurse candidates passed the NCLEX-PN at 91.9% the same year.
Is it easier to pass the NCLEX in some states?
No. Every candidate takes the same exam against the same passing standard, so the state you register with does not change how hard the test is. State pass rates differ because the candidates and programs behind them differ.
Where can I find the NCLEX pass rate for my nursing school?
Check your state board of nursing's education or program pages. Many boards post first-time pass rates for each approved program. California's Board of Registered Nursing, for example, lists each program's rate by July to June reporting year.