Research organization ranks Northeast Iowa Community College Practical Nursing program #1 in Iowa

Monday, October 23, 2023

Twelve community college LPN programs and their students’ NCLEX-PN (National Council Licensure Examination) pass rates from 2018-2022 were analyzed to determine how well the programs support students towards licensure and beyond.

NICC DISTRICT–Practicalnursing.org, a national research and healthcare professionals advocacy organization, has ranked the Practical Nursing (LPN) program at Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) number one in Iowa after completing a five-year analysis of nursing board examination passing rates statewide.

Twelve community college LPN programs and their students’ NCLEX-PN (National Council Licensure Examination) pass rates from 2018-2022 were analyzed to determine how well the programs support students towards licensure and beyond. The NCLEX-PN is a nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the U.S. that is used by state boards of nursing around the country for testing proficiency and granting licensure.

NICC administrators believe that the top ranking by the organization is an important and well-deserved endorsement, considering the rigor of its Practical Nursing program. The one-year program at NICC is nationally accredited and graduates have achieved a 96 percent NCLEX-PN pass rate over the past five years.

“Our exam pass rates speak to the rigor and quality of the program. NICC Practical Nursing students benefit greatly by learning from our experienced faculty team and by participating in a large number of hands-on clinical hours. The program’s national accreditation status demonstrates a strong commitment to continuous growth and attention to quality, which ultimately benefits the students as well,” said Dean of Nursing Sarah Carlson. “This is an exciting recognition of the hard work and dedication from our faculty members and students. We are so proud of the high quality of our program.” 

A majority of Practical Nursing students at NICC continue their education and training in the Associate Degree of Nursing program, according to Carlson.

LPN occupations show strong future job growth, according to Lightcase occupational data, and are expected to increase 6.6 percent in Iowa through 2028.

NICC Practical Nursing students learn from exceptional faculty, state-of-the-art health simulation labs, and clinical experiences. Hands-on health simulation labs, equipped with manikins that exhibit symptoms and vitals of human patients, train students for a range of patient care treatment and medical emergencies. Learn more at nicc.edu/practicalnursing.

For more information on practicalnursing.org’s research methodology and a complete listing of the programs and their ranking in Iowa, visit www.practicalnursing.org/lvn-programs/iowa.