NCLEX pass rates in District of Columbia
87.4% of District of Columbia nursing graduates passed the NCLEX-RN on their first attempt in 2023, 0.7 points above the 86.7% national rate for 2025.
First-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in District of Columbia
- 2023 262 first-time takers87.4%
United States, 2025: 86.7%
All programs combined, US-educated first-time candidates. Source: District of Columbia board of nursing (opens in a new tab), calendar. National rate from NCSBN (opens in a new tab). Portions copyrighted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. All rights reserved.
Highest pass rates among 5 ranked programs
2 programs at 95% or higher, 2 programs at 80% to 89.9%, 1 programs at under 80%. Pass rates here are pooled over each program's last three reporting years, and only programs with at least 20 first-time test-takers are ranked.
| Program | Type | Pass rate | First-time test-takers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown University | BSN | 100.0% | 33 |
| The Catholic University of America | BSN | 95.0% | 80 |
| Trinity Washington University | BSN | 89.7% | 39 |
| Howard University | BSN | 89.5% | 38 |
| University of the District of Columbia | ADN | 58.7% | 46 |
Every ranked BSN program, with cost and pay, is on BSN programs in District of Columbia.
What a pass rate does and does not tell you
The NCLEX is the licensing exam every US nurse must pass. A program's first-time pass rate reflects its students' preparation and the program's selectivity as well as its teaching, and small programs swing widely from year to year, so we pool three years and set a floor of 20 test-takers for ranking. Pass rates also say nothing about cost or what graduates earn.
Compare BSN programs in District of Columbia. Registered nurses in District of Columbia earned a median $102,540 in May 2025.
Common questions
What is the NCLEX-RN pass rate in District of Columbia?
87.4% of District of Columbia nursing graduates passed the NCLEX-RN on their first attempt in 2023, 0.7 points above the 86.7% national rate for 2025.
Which District of Columbia nursing program has the highest NCLEX pass rate?
Among the 5 ranked programs, Georgetown University has the highest three-year first-time pass rate at 100.0%. Only programs with at least 20 first-time test-takers are ranked.
Does the pass rate count students who retake the exam?
No. The rates here are for first-time test-takers educated in the United States. Candidates who retake the exam are not counted in a program’s first-time rate.
Why do small programs swing so much from year to year?
A program with a few dozen test-takers can move several points on one or two results. We pool three years and rank only programs with at least 20 first-time test-takers to reduce that noise.