Home » Blog » Shenandoah Nursing Graduates Continue To Excel On NCLEX

Shenandoah Nursing Graduates Continue To Excel On NCLEX

Alumni posted perfect pass rates in second half of 2023, exceeded yearlong national average

Shenandoah University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates continued to shine on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), posting a perfect first-time pass rate for the second half of 2023 and outpacing the national average on the exam that is required to practice as a registered nurse.

Shenandoah’s first-time test takers posted an overall pass rate of 98.25% in 2023, surpassing the national first-time passing rate of 90.17% for nursing students who earned baccalaureate degrees. That mark also ranked among the top first-time pass rates in the state of Virginia and is one of the highest rates ever recorded for Shenandoah’s Eleanor Wade Custer School of Nursing.

For the first time, Shenandoah’s BSN graduates recorded perfect 100% NCLEX first-time pass rates for the third and fourth quarters of 2023. 

These high marks are a testament to the hard work of our nursing students, and to the commitment of our faculty to ensure that our students are well prepared to take the NCLEX after graduation. All of us in the School of Nursing take pride in equipping our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive as registered nurses.”

Lisa Levinson, Ph.D., dean of the Eleanor Wade Custer School of Nursing

Shenandoah’s first-time pass rates have eclipsed 93% in each of the last five years, including 97.2% in 2020 and 96.7% in 2021.

The NCLEX is the world’s premier nursing licensure exam and uses computer adaptive technology to assess the test taker’s competency for entry-level practice. More information about the exam is available at nclex.com/About.page.

To learn more about Shenandoah University’s nursing programs, visit su.edu/nursing.

Categories: ,

Recent News

Exterior photograph of the "Buzzins" dining location at Shenandoah University.

Shenandoah University Secures GO Virginia Grant To Plan Commercial Kitchen

Facility will support small-scale food and beverage producers in the Northern Shenandoah Valley

A springtime image of Sarah's Glen with the 2026-27 Colleges of Distinction ribbon.

Shenandoah University Named A 2026-27 College Of Distinction

SU recognized nationally for its commitment to exceptional undergraduate education for the seventh time

Photo Credit: "Credit Cards In Wallet 1" by ccPixs.com is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Wallet Hub Respects Shenandoah Business Faculty Opinions

Three business faculty members have been featured recently on the personal finance site

Hundreds of Little Wars: Community, Conflict, and the Real Civil War. The 12 essays in this volume offer important perspectives about how the conflict impacted communities such as Fauquier County, Virginia, and Kentucky’s Lower Green River Country.

Publication of Note | June 2026

G. David Schieffler and Matthew M. Smith, eds. “Hundreds of Little Wars: Community, Conflict, and the Real Civil War.” Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2025.

Author Kate DiCamillo in front of a pink and green balloon arch and a slide that says "How to Make a Writer" on stage at Shenandoah University's Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre in 2026 for the university's Children's Literature Conference's Rally for Reading.

Rally Kicks Off A Season Celebrating Reading

Shenandoah University Children’s Literature Conference Marks 40th Year By Introducing Students to Nation’s Top Children’s Authors and Illustrators

Monthly Archives