Simmons University’s first-time NCLEX passing rate in 2025 decreased by 13% compared with 2024 (from 93% to 80%) for Simmons Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) students and by increased by 3% in the Direct Entry program (from 97% to 100%), according to Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing records and a report from Simmons, raising questions among nursing students about the factors contributing to the decline.
The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is a standardized exam that nursing graduates must pass to become licensed nurses in the United States.
The average of the two programs’ pass rates decreased by 5% compared with 2024 (from 95% to 90%). The Simmons Direct Entry Graduate program is designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, where the BSN program follows a typical bachelor’s program design.
Heather Shlosser, Dean of the School of Nursing, said this drop can be attributed to many factors, but the one that had the strongest impact was the introduction of the new NCLEX exam.
The exam was updated by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) on April 1, 2023, with a stronger focus on clinical judgment, rather than knowledge-based recall, which impacted pass rates in 2024 and 2025.
“We view licensure outcomes as one important measure of success, but not the only one,” Shlosser said.
She added that the nursing program at Simmons aims to prepare skilled and compassionate nurses, not just test-takers.
Dr. Shlosser also said the reported data reflect only first-time NCLEX pass rates and do not include students who pass on subsequent attempts. The nursing department is currently addressing the issue.
Students noted that the nursing department provides strong support. Hunaiza Ilyas, a sophomore nursing student, said that ATI, an NCLEX prep tool, mimics NCLEX questions and helps prepare students for the exam.
“I think Simmons is preparing me for the NCLEX by giving me exposure to the material and reinforcing how concepts are interconnected as the semester progresses,” said Jennifer Barco Guerra, a sophomore nursing student.
She added that starting NCLEX-focused learning in the first semester and continuing throughout nursing school helped her feel more confident in applying clinical judgment rather than just memorizing content.
To further support nursing students, Simmons is strengthening early risk support and aligning the Fall 2025 curriculum with the Next Generation NCLEX. Nursing faculty are receiving in-depth programming training, tutoring and remediation programs have been expanded to help nursing students achieve better outcomes.
Dr. Shlosser said that school officials will continue to monitor NCLEX performance closely and refine strategies to ensure students are prepared for licensure and professional practice.
