The Best and Worst Nursing Programs in Alabama (Based on Pass Rates)

nursing_programs_alabama The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the national demand for nurses will grow by 19% by 2022. Alabama only has half the number of nurses it needs, so the demand will be even greater. Entering a nursing program in Alabama would be a good career choice, but how do you choose which one? One factor to consider is the pass rate of graduates taking the NCLEX, which is a good indicator of how effectively the program teaches its nursing students.

Let’s break down some statistics to see how nursing programs in Alabama compare in pass rates, and discover an additional tip for choosing a program, as well as an option if you’ve already passed your NCLEX and are seeking your BSN.

Alabama Nursing Program NCLEX Statistics

In 2014, 3,487 graduates of Alabama nursing programs took the NCLEX and 82.4% passed, which was slightly higher than the 2014 national average of 81.78% for U.S. educated first-time test-takers. The national average in 2015 improved to 84.2%, and Alabama test takers also improved to 84.6%. Using statistics from the Alabama Board of Nursing, some programs stand out from the pack.

Best Alabama Nursing Program NCLEX Pass Rates 2015

Faulkner State, Herzing University-Birmingham, Spring Hill College, and Lawson State Community College all had 100% pass rates. Samford University at 99% and Chattahoochee Valley State Community College at 97.1% were also near the top.

Several schools made large gains in pass rate percentages from 2012 to 2015. The largest was Virginia College-Mobile, which went from 42.9% to 70% - still below the national average, but showing great improvement. Another, George C. Wallace State College-Selma, went from well below the national average at 63.3% to above average with an 86.8% pass rate.

Many of these top schools had small graduation classes, which shows that smaller nursing programs can provide quality education. On the other hand, the school that had the largest number of NCLEX test-takers, the University of Alabama-Birmingham with 231, also had an excellent pass rate of 95.7%.

Worst Alabama Nursing Program NCLEX Pass Rates 2015

Two schools, in particular, had campuses with very low pass rates. The first, ITT Technical Institute has branches in Birmingham, Madison, and Mobile. The respective pass rates were 55%, 31%, and 20.8%, far below the national average.

Virginia College-Montgomery also had a low pass rate - the pass rate dropped from 92.3% in 2012 to 57.1% in 2015. Virginia College has the distinction of a having one campus with the largest improvement in pass rates, while its other campus had the worst decline during that period.

Find an Alabama Nursing Program That Accepts Credit-By-Exam

There are a number of other factors to consider, as well. Is the nursing specialty you are interested in offered by the program? Is the location of the school convenient? Does the program fit your schedule? Does the nursing program accept experience and credit-by-exam?

Achieve Test Prep can help you answer those questions. We will evaluate your experience and needs and find the Alabama nursing program that best suits them. We find out which courses you can take through credit-by-exam and prep you for them. Achieve’s program allows you to receive the credit you would for a traditional semester’s worth of work. The difference is, a few weeks of prep classes and passing one exam is all it takes. No quizzes, no term papers, or reports. And Achieve is flexible to meet your schedule with day, night, and weekend classes. You can take the classes at our conveniently located campuses in Birmingham or Montgomery. If you prefer, you can enjoy the comfort of your own home and take our online virtual classes that feature the same qualified live instruction found in the classroom. When you’ve graduated with your degree from an accredited college, we prep you for the NCLEX as well.

If you’ve already passed the NCLEX, our accelerated LPN-to-BSN and RN-to-BSN Bridge programs offer you the same credit-by-exam route to your BSN degree, saving you time and money.

If you are interested in becoming an RN in Alabama, or thinking about an RN-to-BSN bridging program, contact Achieve for more information today or visit http://www.achievetestprep.com/blog.

Topics: Nursing Programs

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