AURORA, Colo. (March 9, 2026) – The University of Colorado Anschutz College of Nursing reported a 96.02% pass rate on the National Council of Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for first-time BS in Nursing test takers. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) reported an average national pass rate of 87.6% for first-time baccalaureate-educated test takers in 2025. CU Anschutz Nursing’s scores make it one of the top-performing cohorts in Colorado and the nation.
"I am incredibly proud of our 2025 graduates and the exceptional dedication they brought to their studies and clinical preparation. This achievement reflects not only their hard work, but the remarkable faculty who mentor and challenge them every step of the way," says Tammy Spencer, DNP, RN, CNE, ACNS-BC, CCNS, assistant dean of undergraduate programs at CU Anschutz Nursing. "When outstanding students are supported by outstanding educators, results like these are what's possible."
The NCLEX is a national standardized test that graduates of nursing programs must pass to become a licensed registered nurse. The exam uses nursing knowledge learned in school and the clinical environment, testing students on how they apply critical thinking to make nursing judgments.
CU Anschutz Nursing’s pass rate of 96.02% reflects the accomplishment of graduates in both the Accelerated (UCAN) and Traditional (TRAD) pathways. Rates for each pathway were 98.51% for UCAN and 93.54% for TRAD. UCAN students complete the BS in Nursing degree in one year and have already earned a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing. TRAD students are enrolled in our two-year BS in Nursing pathway after earning prerequisite credits from a community college or a four-year university.
"These scores reflect what happens when rigorous, clinically grounded education meets truly dedicated students," says Kelly Stamp, PhD, NP, RN, CHFN, FAHA, FAAN, FAAHFN, associate dean of academic programs at CU Anschutz Nursing. "Our curriculum is built not just to teach nursing, but to develop nurses — clinically sharp, critically thinking and ready for the realities of practice. Our graduates walk into the NCLEX better prepared, more confident and more likely to pass the first time. That's not an accident. That's the standard we hold ourselves to."
The College prepares students for the NCLEX through NCLEX-style questions embedded in exams and learning activities, clinical application, and an integrated NCLEX prep course.
“We want to give our students the tools to succeed in the nursing profession, and we want them to feel prepared when sitting for the exam,” Spencer says. “By preparing our students for the NCLEX, we are equipping them with the knowledge to understand nursing concepts so they can make clinical judgments to ensure safe and compassionate care for patients across Colorado and the US.”
About the University of Colorado Anschutz
The University of Colorado Anschutz is a world-class academic medical campus leading transformative advances in science, medicine, education and patient care. The campus includes the University of Colorado’s health professional schools, more than 60 centers and institutes, and two nationally ranked independent hospitals - UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and Children's Hospital Colorado - which see nearly three million adult and pediatric patient visits each year. Innovative, interconnected and highly collaborative, CU Anschutz delivers life-changing treatments, exceptional patient care and top-tier professional training. The campus conducts world-renowned research supported by $890 million in funding, including $762 million in sponsored awards and $128 million in philanthropic gifts for research.
