Indiana Wesleyan University’s nursing program achieved a 100% first-time passing rate for the NCLEX in 2025.
This is well above the national average and is a huge accomplishment for both the school and the department.
Stephanie Somerset, assistant professor of nursing, said, “The 100% means that for the entire 2025 calendar year, every single nursing student who took the NCLEX passed it on the first try.”
The National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX, is the national exam required for nursing graduates in every state. According to the faculty, the national first-time pass rate typically ranges from the mid- to high-80%.
Somerset said preparation for the NCLEX begins early in the program.
“NCLEX preparation starts, it’s woven into every single nursing class that they take, and it starts in the first semester,” Somerset said.
IWU’s nursing curriculum incorporates NCLEX-style questions into every unit exam.
“We don’t very often test on things like just basic recall or knowledge,” Somerset said. “It’s, ‘Here’s a scenario. Now you have to apply it.’”
Courtney Middlesworth, an adjunct professor in the pre-licensure division of nursing, said exposure to NCLEX-style questions early and often is key.
“We wouldn’t want to throw you into an exam, never having seen those types of questions before,” Middlesworth said. “Our unit exams very much follow that pattern.”
In addition to coursework, seniors can elect to take a course specifically designed to prepare for the exam.
Ellie Shaughnessy, a nursing student, said the consistent exposure to NCLEX-style testing makes studying feel familiar by the time graduation arrives.
“Throughout the program, you’ll be studying in a similar way to how you study for the NCLEX,” Shaughnessy said. “Our preparation includes a lot of practice questions and a lot of resources from the nursing department that they give us throughout our time here.”
With a 100% passing rate in 2025, IWU’s nursing program not only exceeded the national average but also reinforced its commitment to prepare students for the future.
