NCLEX pass rates in Montana
90.7% of Montana nursing graduates passed the NCLEX-RN on their first attempt in 2025, 4.0 points above the 86.7% national rate for 2025. In 2023 the figure was 91.7%.
First-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in Montana
- 2023 603 first-time takers91.7%
- 2024 688 first-time takers92.7%
- 2025 572 first-time takers90.7%
United States, 2025: 86.7%
All programs combined, US-educated first-time candidates. Source: Montana 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.
By type of program
| Program type | Programs | First-time test-takers | Pass rate | National 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's (BSN) | 3 | 327 | 92.0% | 87.6% |
| Associate (ADN) | 9 | 199 | 88.9% | 86.1% |
Each program's most recent reporting year, pooled. Programs reporting under another school are included in the type that board lists them under.
Highest pass rates among 10 ranked programs
3 programs at 95% or higher, 4 programs at 90% to 94.9%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll College | BSN | 98.6% | 145 |
| Great Falls College Montana State University | ADN | 97.2% | 71 |
| Flathead Valley Community College | ADN | 96.8% | 63 |
| University of Providence | BSN | 94.6% | 92 |
| Helena College University of Montana | ADN | 93.3% | 90 |
| Msu Bozeman College of Nursing | BSN | 91.7% | 889 |
| Missoula College | ADN | 91.7% | 109 |
| City College of Msu Billings | ADN | 86.1% | 115 |
| Salish Kootenai College | ADN | 85.2% | 27 |
| Miles Community College | ADN | 75.8% | 66 |
Practical nursing (NCLEX-PN)
Graduates of practical and vocational nursing programs in Montana passed the NCLEX-PN on their first attempt 93.3% of the time in 2025, against 86.6% nationally in 2025.
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.
Registered nurses in Montana earned a median $85,280 in May 2025.
Common questions
What is the NCLEX-RN pass rate in Montana?
90.7% of Montana nursing graduates passed the NCLEX-RN on their first attempt in 2025, 4.0 points above the 86.7% national rate for 2025.
Which Montana nursing program has the highest NCLEX pass rate?
Among the 10 ranked programs, Carroll College has the highest three-year first-time pass rate at 98.6%. 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.