NCLEX-Pass Rates
The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is the test that all state boards of nursing use to determine qualification for licensure for graduates of nursing programs. The first-time pass rate on the NCLEX is a commonly used metric of quality for nursing programs across the country, and is one metric we are required to report and share with the public.
The NCLEX Pass Rate is the percentage of first time NCLEX-RN test takers who successfully pass the test. The table below reports first-time pass rates for the University of Rochester School of Nursing, as well as the average pass for all nursing schools in New York State and nationally across the United States.
| Year |
UR School of Nursing Pass Rates |
NY State Pass Rates |
U.S. Pass Rates |
| 2019 |
95.09% |
NR |
88.18% |
| 2020 |
92.5% |
69.49% |
84.55% |
| 2021 |
84.03% |
77.33% |
78.65% |
| 2022 |
80.11% |
66.47% |
79.91% |
| 2023 |
89.04% |
87.73% |
88.56% |
| 5-Year Trend |
88.15% |
77.10% |
85.30% |
2023 Certification Exam Pass Rates
Similar to NCLEX pass rates, certification pass rates is the percentage of first-time test takers who successfully pass a certification exam. We are required to report certification pass rates for all programs that are designed to prepare advanced practice nurses for national certification and licensure. We report numbers for certification exams for each of the specialty tracks in our nurse practitioner program. Note that some nurse practitioner specialties have exams offered by multiple certification agencies. For this reason, we report more than one pass rate for some specialties.
| Specialty Area |
Certification Organization |
First Time Pass Rates |
| Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) |
ANCC |
50% |
| Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) |
AACN |
100% |
| Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) |
ANCC |
67% |
| Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) |
AANPCP |
No test takers |
| Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) |
ANCC |
100% |
| Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) |
AANPCP |
63% |
| Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) |
PNCB |
92% |
| Acute Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PDA) |
PNCB |
67% |
| Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (FPMHNP) |
ANCC |
100% |
Employment Rates
Federal regulations and accreditation standards stipulate that we report employment rates for all academic programs. Employment rates reflect the percentage of graduates from a program who are employed in any setting within 12 months of graduating.
| Programs |
Number of Graduates |
% Employed within 12 months of graduation |
| Baccalaureate APNN |
119 |
91% |
| Baccalaureate RN-BS |
49 |
92% |
| Master's - Nurse Practitioner |
67 |
100% |
| Master's Clinical Nurse Leader |
12 |
100% |
| Leadership in Health Care Systems |
26 |
100% |
| Master's in Nursing Education |
18 |
100% |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice |
7 |
100% |
| Doctor of Philosophy |
2 |
100% |
Graduation Rates
Graduation rates are the calculated percentages of students who graduate or complete their program within a specified timeframe. Each of our academic programs have a set specified timeframe for completion. The rates are calculated using a cohort model, with APNN cohorts defined by the semester in which they start, and all other program cohorts defined by a calendar year. Our accreditor, the Collegiate Commission on Nursing Education (CCNE) expects us to aim for a graduation rate greater than 70 percent for each program.
Accelerated Program for Non-Nurses Graduation Rates
| Year Started |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
5-Year Average |
| Two-Year Graduation Rate |
96% |
95% |
98% |
93% |
96% |
96% |
RN to BS Graduation Rates
| Year Started |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
5-Year Average |
| Six-Year Graduation Rate |
77% |
80% |
63% |
89% |
73% |
79% |
Nurse Practitioner (Master's) Graduation Rates
| Year Started |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
5-Year Average |
| Five-Year Graduation Rate |
88% |
79% |
73% |
80% |
79% |
80% |
CNL (Master's) Graduation Rates
| Year Started |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
5-Year Average |
| Five-Year Graduation Rate |
50% |
67% |
83% |
75% |
100% |
77% |
Leadership in Health Care Systems (Master's) Graduation Rates
| Year Started |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
5-Year Average |
| Five-Year Graduation Rate |
100% |
83% |
70% |
100% |
58% |
76% |
Master's in Nursing Education Graduation Rates
| Year Started |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
5-Year Average |
| Five-Year Graduation Rate |
100% |
89% |
83% |
64% |
63% |
75% |
DNP Graduation Rates
| Year |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
5-Year Average |
| Six-Year Graduation Rate |
75% |
50% |
67% |
100% |
75% |
72% |
PhD Graduation Rates
| Year |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
5-Year Average |
| Seven-Year Graduation Rate |
33% |
100% |
50% |
-- |
0% |
60% |
