Nursing Graduates High Pass Exam Rate

MIDDLETOWN – Recent graduates from the SUNY Orange nursing program far outpaced state and national averages for pass rates on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), with 97.7 percent of the College’s alumni who took the exam in 2020 passing on the first attempt.

In total, 85 of the 87 graduates from the 2019-20 academic year passed their first attempt, including all 38 (100 percent) in the Middletown day cohort. The Newburgh campus graduates posted a 97.3 percent pass rate (36 of 37) while the Middletown campus evening program’s past rate was 91.7 percent (11 of 12).

The national pass rate for associate degree programs was 86.6 percent while the New York State pass rate was 83.2 percent, according to the National Council State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).

“I applaud our graduates for their great work in our program, and their commitment to preparing and succeeding on the NCLEX exams during a pandemic. In these unprecedented times, their success is even more remarkable,” said Pat Cal, chair of the College’s nursing department. “I also credit our success to having a dedicated team of faculty who work together in providing students with an exceptional nursing education.”

The NCLEX is the national nursing licensing examination and is designed to test the knowledge, skills and abilities essential for the safe and effective practice of nursing at the entry-level. A passing grade means the graduate is licensed to practice nursing within the state where the test was taken.

Accredited by the National League for Nursing, the SUNY Orange nursing program enjoys a rich history and a 61-year tradition of caring. In 1952, Orange County Community College became the first college in the nation to offer a two-year associate degree program in nursing. The College offers students the opportunity to pursue a nursing degree either through a daytime program or evening-based program on the Middletown campus, as well as a daytime program solely on the Newburgh campus.