Texas NCLEX Pass Rates: A Deep Dive into the Statistics

TCA Editorial Staff

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In 2022, Texas NCLEX-RN Pass Rate was 84.28% and the NCLEX-PN Pass Rate was 87.38%.

In this article, we break down Texas NCLEX Pass Rates to understand how the state performed against the national average, and how individual nursing programs did.

Now, let’s delve into the numbers, shall we?

Table of Contents

Texas NCLEX Pass Rates: Statewide Statistics

2022 NCLEX-RN

	No. of Candidates (2022)	Pass Rate (2022)	Pass Rate (2021)	Pass Rate (2020)
Texas	14,831	84.28%	86.77%	91%
National	188,005	79.90%	82.5%	86.6%

Key Takeaways:

In 2022, Texas recorded an 84.28% NCLEX-RN Pass Rate statewide vs. a 79.90% National Average.

In 2021, Texas recorded an 86.77% NCLEX-RN Pass Rate statewide vs. an 82.5% National Average.

In 2020, Texas recorded a 91% NCLEX-RN Pass Rate statewide vs. an 86.6% National Average.

Texas NCLEX-RN Pass Rate has been steadily declining from 2020 through 2022.

Texas NCLEX-RN Pass Rate has been above the National Average from 2020 through 2022.

2022 NCLEX-PN

	No. of Candidates (2022)	Pass Rate (2022)	Pass Rate (2021)	Pass Rate (2020)
Texas	3,740	87.38%	86.49%	88.53%
National	47,635	79.93%	79.6%	83.1%

Key Takeaways:

In 2022, Texas recorded an 87.38% NCLEX-PN Pass Rate statewide vs. a 79.93% National Average.

In 2021, Texas recorded an 86.49% NCLEX-PN Pass Rate statewide vs. a 79.6% National Average.

In 2020, Texas recorded an 88.53% NCLEX-PN Pass Rate statewide vs. an 83.1% National Average.

Texas NCLEX-PN Pass Rate declined from 2020 through 2021; then rose slightly from 2021 through 2022.

Texas NCLEX-PN Pass Rate has been above the National Average from 2020 through 2022.

Texas NCLEX Pass Rates: Best Texas Direct Entry MSN Programs

Here is the best direct entry MSN program in Texas, ranked by Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate in the last 4 years.

Rank	Direct Entry MSN Programs	No. of Candidates (2022)	Pass Rate (2022)	Average Pass Rate (2019-2022)
1	University of Texas at Austin Alternate Entry MSN	52	90.38%	95.33%

Key Takeaways:

University of Texas at Austin has the only approved direct-entry MSN program in Texas.
University of Texas at Austin Alternate Entry MSN (AE-MSN) Program had a commendable 90.38% NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2022.

Texas NCLEX Pass Rates: Best Texas BSN Programs

Here are the best BSN programs in Texas, ranked by Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate in the last 4 years.

Rank	BSN Programs	No. of Candidates (2022)	Pass Rate (2022)	Average Pass Rate (2019-2022)
1	Texas State University	87	100.00%	100.00%
2	University of Houston College of Nursing	93	97.85%	98.35%
3	University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston	327	96.02%	97.97%
4	Texas A&M HSC College of Nursing	205	93.17%	97.47%
5	Stephen F. Austin State University	114	96.49%	96.98%
6	Hallmark University	48	95.83%	96.94%¹
7	Sam Houston State University	124	94.35%	96.13%
8	University of the Incarnate Word	133	93.23%	95.93%
9	University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio	304	88.82%	94.83%
10	University of Texas at El Paso	299	87.96%	94.78%
11	Texas Christian University	180	94.44%	94.77%
12	Arizona College of Nursing	29	96.55%	94.71%¹
13	Texas Woman’s University	440	92.05%	94.53%
14	University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston	343	91.55%	93.70%
15	West Texas A&M University	67	89.55%	93.09%
16	Texas Tech HSC SON	532	88.91%	92.97%
17	Baylor University	336	89.29%	92.06%
18	Angelo State University	80	95.00%	91.72%
19	University of Texas at Arlington	751	86.95%	91.60%
20	Texas A&M University Commerce	40	82.50%	91.49%
21	University of Texas at Austin	119	84.87%	91.43%
22	Texas Lutheran University	132	89.39%	90.89%
23	Lamar University	121	93.39%	90.47%
24	Texas A&M International University	87	82.76%	90.45%
25	University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	153	83.66%	90.44%
26	University of Mary Hardin Baylor	163	88.96%	89.97%
27	Concordia University	245	76.33%	89.68%
28	Chamberlain College of Nursing	149	81.88%	89.42%
29	Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing	28	82.14%	89.32%
30	West Coast University Texas	291	82.47%	88.38%
31	University of Texas at Tyler	411	83.94%	88.12%
32	Texas Tech HSC – Gayle Greave Hunt SON	123	87.80%	88.05%
33	Abilene Christian University	60	83.33%	87.51%
34	Western Governors University	155	78.71%	86.73%
35	Prairie View A&M University	105	80.00%	86.38%
36	East Texas Baptist University	37	72.97%	86.26%
37	Midwestern State University	114	80.70%	86.16%
38	University of St. Thomas SON	91	84.62%	86.06%
39	Galen College of Nursing	91	89.01%	85.91%²
40	University of St. Thomas Accelerated BSN	170	78.82%	85.57%¹
41	Southwestern Adventist University	43	76.74%	84.27%
42	South University	42	69.05%	83.98%
43	Wayland Baptist University	16	81.25%	83.66%
44	Western Technical College	34	82.35%	82.35%³
45	Texas A&M University	253	69.96%	80.76%
46	University of Texas Permian Basin	53	62.26%	79.08%
47	Houston Christian University	92	80.43%	78.04%
48	Tarleton State University	192	54.17%	76.37%

¹2021-2022 Average Pass Rate
²2020-2022 Average Pass Rate
³2022 Pass Rate Only

Key Takeaways:

Texas State University has the highest average NCLEX Pass Rate in Texas among BSN Programs from 2019 through 2022, at an impressive 100%!

Texas State University has the highest 2022 NCLEX Pass Rate in Texas among BSN Programs, at 100%.

Tarleton State University has the lowest average NCLEX Pass Rate in Texas among BSN Programs from 2019 through 2022, at 76.37%.

Tarleton State University has the lowest 2022 NCLEX Pass Rate in Texas among BSN Programs, at 54.17%.

Texas NCLEX Pass Rates: Best Texas ADN Programs

Here are the best ADN programs in Texas, ranked by Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate in the last 4 years.

Rank	ADN Programs	No. of Candidates (2022)	Pass Rate (2022)	Average Pass Rate (2019-2022)
1	Laredo College	25	100.00%	99.48%
2	Howard College – Big Spring	27	100.00%	98.49%
3	Blinn College	103	96.12%	96.86%
4	Lone Star College – Montgomery	31	93.55%	96.27%
5	Mountain View College	44	88.64%	95.01%
6	Alvin Community College	92	91.30%	94.47%
7	Midland College	46	95.65%	93.76%
8	San Jacinto College-Central	126	87.30%	93.11%
9	Amarillo College	141	92.20%	92.11%
10	Lamar State College – Port Arthur	62	90.32%	92.05%
11	Lone Star College – Cyfair	40	87.50%	92.02%
12	Victoria College	69	86.96%	91.89%
13	Rio Grande Valley College	43	88.37%	91.83%¹
14	Tyler Junior College	174	86.21%	91.74%
15	Panola College	47	93.62%	91.69%
16	Odessa College	85	95.29%	91.39%
17	Temple College	113	88.50%	91.33%
18	Lone Star College – Kingwood	91	86.81%	91.31%
19	Hill College	19	94.74%	91.16%
20	Southwest Texas Junior College	32	90.63%	91.08%
21	Wharton County Junior College	50	84.00%	90.92%
22	McLennan Community College	37	97.30%	90.08%
23	Navarro College	62	88.71%	89.95%
24	Howard College – San Angelo	36	88.89%	89.42%
25	Trinity Valley Community College	99	87.88%	89.08%
26	North Central Texas College	83	90.36%	89.02%
27	Lone Star College – Tomball	48	85.42%	88.78%
28	Austin Community College	320	80.94%	88.45%
29	El Paso Community College	134	80.60%	88.36%
30	Central Texas College	73	73.97%	88.16%
31	Collin College	191	90.05%	88.15%
32	Texarkana College	87	85.06%	87.99%
33	Covenant School of Nursing (Diploma)	151	81.46%	87.49%
34	Brookhaven College	57	94.74%	87.29%
35	Baptist Health System	207	80.68%	86.88%
36	Lee College	17	94.12%	86.82%
37	Lamar State College – Orange	34	79.41%	86.63%
38	Lone Star College – North Harris	107	85.98%	86.61%
39	Weatherford College	177	79.66%	86.19%
40	Galen College of Nursing	528	80.68%	86.14%
41	El Centro College	135	73.33%	85.68%
42	San Jacinto College-South	51	88.24%	85.12%
43	Grayson College	101	76.24%	85.11%
44	Northeast Texas Community College	43	93.02%	85.01%
45	Tarrant County College	333	80.18%	84.98%
46	College of the Mainland	72	84.72%	84.86%
47	Vernon College	70	81.43%	84.54%
48	Delmar College	210	77.62%	84.31%
49	San Antonio College	194	82.99%	84.27%
50	South Texas College	289	77.16%	83.99%
51	Brazosport College	20	90.00%	83.55%
52	Texas Southmost College	21	76.19%	83.10%²
53	Paris Junior College	58	86.21%	83.02%
54	Angelina College	65	80.00%	82.04%
55	St. Philip’s College	10	70.00%	81.44%
56	Cisco College	60	83.33%	79.11%
57	Kilgore College	68	80.88%	78.68%
58	Galveston College	39	74.36%	78.05%
59	Texas State Technical College-West Texas	25	80.00%	76.97%
60	Clarendon College	34	73.53%	76.36%
61	Ranger College	51	72.55%	75.87%
62	South Plains College	77	50.65%	74.54%
63	Texas State Technical College-Harlingen	49	65.31%	74.50%
64	Southwest University	24	79.17%	73.37%
65	Coastal Bend College	105	72.38%	71.46%
66	The College of Health Care Professions	30	90.00%	70.61%
67	Houston Community College	197	49.24%	68.11%
68	College of Nursing and Advanced Health Professions	24	83.33%	63.01%¹

¹2020-2022 Average Pass Rate
²2021-2022 Average Pass Rate

Key Takeaways:

Laredo College has the highest average NCLEX Pass Rate in Texas among ADN Programs from 2019 through 2022, at 99.48%.

Laredo College and Howard College – Big Spring have the highest 2022 NCLEX Pass Rate in Texas among ADN Programs, at 100%.

Houston Community College has the lowest average NCLEX Pass Rate in Texas among ADN Programs from 2019 through 2022, at 68.11%.

Houston Community College has the lowest 2022 NCLEX Pass Rate in Texas among ADN Programs, at 49.24%.

Texas NCLEX Pass Rates: Best Texas LVN Programs

Here are the best LVN programs in Texas, ranked by Average NCLEX-PN Pass Rate in the last 3 years.

Rank	LVN Programs	No. of Candidates (2022)	Pass Rate (2022)	Average Pass Rate (2019-2022)
1	Alvin Community College	21	100.00%	100.00%
2	Brazosport Community College	6	100.00%	100.00%
3	Edwin’s Healthcare Institute	7	100.00%	100.00%¹
4	Collin College	37	100.00%	100.00%²
5	Howard College- Big Spring	7	100.00%	100.00%
6	South Plains College- Plainview	5	100.00%	100.00%
7	St. Philip’s College- New Braunfels	2	100.00%	100.00%
8	Texarkana College	38	100.00%	99.29%
9	Trinity Valley Community College- Terrell	18	94.44%	98.15%
10	Lone Star College – Kingwood	7	100.00%	98.04%
11	South Plains College at Reese Center	27	96.30%	97.79%
12	Odessa College- Monahans	21	100.00%	97.78%
13	Lone Star College – CyFair	10	90.00%	96.67%
14	Odessa College- Andrews	39	94.87%	96.27%
15	Blinn College- Brenham	45	93.33%	96.26%
16	Baptist Health System	21	95.24%	96.04%
17	San Jacinto College North	36	97.22%	95.97%
18	Lone Star College North Harris MEEP	11	90.91%	95.46%¹
19	McLennan Community College MEEP	6	100.00%	95.24%
20	Victoria College	69	97.10%	95.12%
21	Amarillo College	52	96.15%	94.56%
22	Del Mar College – MEEP	6	83.33%	94.44%
23	Northeast Texas Community College	10	100.00%	94.44%
24	College of Nursing and Advanced Health Professions (formally DNI)	30	90.00%	93.41%
25	Lee College	9	100.00%	93.33%
26	Grayson College	49	87.76%	93.09%
27	Trinity Valley Community College- Palestine	19	100.00%	92.98%
28	Howard College- San Angelo	33	100.00%	92.75%
29	The College of Health Care Professions	15	100.00%	92.59%
30	Rio Grande Valley College	155	90.97%	92.52%
31	Cisco College	42	83.33%	92.39%
32	College of the Mainland	8	100.00%	92.31%
33	Navarro College- Waxahachie	51	86.27%	92.13%
34	Laredo College	77	89.61%	91.98%
35	Texas Health School	51	94.12%	91.50%
36	El Paso Community College MEEP	10	90.00%	90.89%
37	Frank Phillips College	29	79.31%	90.80%
38	Army Practical Nurse Course	435	91.26%	90.51%
39	Hill College	26	80.77%	90.42%
40	Austin Community College	58	91.38%	90.29%
41	Lamar State College- Port Arthur	61	93.44%	89.86%
42	Houston Community College	59	83.05%	89.59%
43	Vernon College	48	93.75%	89.58%
44	Temple College	33	90.91%	89.52%
45	Texas State Technical College West Texas	31	87.10%	89.30%
46	Clarendon College	18	88.89%	89.29%
47	Midland College	26	92.31%	89.27%
48	Galen College of Nursing	403	84.62%	88.65%
49	Tarrant County College	22	100.00%	88.54%
50	Panola College	49	89.80%	88.39%
51	Texas Southmost College	11	90.91%	88.31%
52	Tyler Junior College	93	83.87%	88.29%
53	San Jacinto College South	43	88.37%	88.10%
54	McLennan Community College – Traditional	24	87.50%	88.06%
55	Paris Junior College	52	88.46%	87.98%
56	El Paso Community College at Mission Del Paso	29	82.76%	87.32%
57	South Texas College	143	90.91%	87.32%
58	Navarro College- Mexia	17	100.00%	87.04%
59	Ranger College	15	86.67%	86.90%
60	Bell Tech Career Institute	14	71.43%	86.31%
61	St. Philip’s College- San Antonio	54	87.04%	86.31%
62	Valley Grande Institute for Academic Studies	46	80.43%	86.23%
63	Tyler County Hospital	47	85.11%	86.12%
64	North Central Texas College	63	92.06%	85.94%
65	Arlington Career Institute	21	85.71%	85.71%²
66	Coastal Bend College	35	91.43%	85.65%
67	Angelina College at Lufkin Traditional	22	81.82%	84.51%
68	Southwest Texas Junior College	51	80.39%	83.37%
69	Lone Star College – Tomball	15	86.67%	82.94%
70	Navarro College- Corsicana	36	88.89%	82.59%
71	Valley Baptist Medical Center	30	90.00%	82.40%
72	Lamar State College- Orange	86	83.72%	82.32%
73	Angelina College at Lufkin MEEP	34	82.35%	81.77%
74	Texas State Technical College	27	88.89%	80.83%
75	Wharton County Jr. College	26	96.15%	80.78%
76	Central Texas College	34	85.29%	79.50%
77	Weatherford College	55	78.18%	75.95%
78	Vocational Nursing Institute	10	60.00%	75.24%¹
79	Schreiner University	8	50.00%	75.19%
80	Dallas College at El Centro	15	53.33%	72.19%
81	Galveston College	13	53.85%	70.58%
82	Concorde Career College	156	61.54%	67.70%
83	Kilgore College	35	57.14%	67.48%
84	Cybertex Institute	14	64.29%	65.74%
85	South Plains College- Levelland	18	72.22%	65.58%

¹2021-2022 Average Pass Rate
²2022 Pass Rate Only

Key Takeaways:

Alvin Community College has the highest average NCLEX Pass Rate, with more passed candidates, in Texas among LVN Programs from 2020 through 2022, at 100%.

Texarkana College has the highest 2022 NCLEX Pass Rate, with more passed candidates, in Texas among LVN Programs, at 100%.

South Plains College- Levelland has the lowest average NCLEX Pass Rate in Texas among LVN Programs from 2020 through 2022, at 65.58%.

Schreiner University has the lowest 2022 NCLEX Pass Rate in Texas among LVN Programs, at 50%.

FAQs

No. While NCLEX Pass Rates are a powerful determinant of program quality & rigor, you should consider them alongside other factors such as the program’s accreditation status, clinical experience opportunities, cost of attendance, location, etc.

Based on the 2022 Texas NCLEX Pass Rates for BSN programs, the nursing school with the highest NCLEX pass rate is Texas State University, which recorded an outstanding 100%! For ADN Programs, the nursing school with the highest NCLEX pass rate is Laredo College and Howard College – Big Spring, both of which recorded 100%.

In Texas, you can take the NCLEX exam every 45 days within a four-year span of completing your nursing education. According to Rule §217.2 of the Texas Board of Nursing Rules & Regulations, If you don’t pass in four years, you must complete a board-approved nursing education program before you are permitted to retake the NCLEX.

As of 2022, the pass rate for the NCLEX-RN exam in Texas was 84.28%, while the pass rate for the NCLEX-PN was 87.38%.

In 2022, the Texas A&M BSN program recorded a 69.96% NCLEX-RN Pass Rate for first-time takers. In the last 4 years, the Texas A&M BSN program has recorded an 80.76% NCLEX-RN Pass Rate for first-time takers.

Data Sources

Texas Board of Nursing (BON) NCLEX Results
National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) 2022 NCLEX Pass Rates Summary Data
National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) 2021 report
National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) 2020 report