Nursing Schools in Iowa: All 54 Approved Programs & NCLEX Pass Rates
Iowa has 35 schools running 54 board-approved nursing programs — 39 RN-track and 15 PN/LPN-track. The average 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate across Iowa programs is 86.9%, 0.4 points above the national average of 86.5%. Every row below comes straight from the state board of nursing's published approved-program list — not self-reported school marketing.
Best Nursing Schools in Iowa by NCLEX Pass Rate
Top RN programs ranked by 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, among programs with a published 2025 rate. Rates are one year of data — check multi-year trends before deciding.
- 1100%Graceland UniversityBSN
- 2100%Indian Hills Community CollegeADN
- 3100%Northwestern CollegeBSN
- 4100%St. Luke's CollegeBSN
- 598.4%Northeast Iowa Community CollegeADN
- 697%Luther CollegeBA
- 796.9%Iowa Lakes Community CollegeADN
- 895.8%Mount Mercy UniversityBSN
- 995.5%University of IowaMSN: Entry Into Practice
- 1094.7%Allen CollegeBSN
Every Approved Nursing Program in Iowa
Sort by any column, filter RN vs PN/LPN, or search a school or city.
54 of 54 programs · “—” = no 2025 first-time pass rate published by the board
| Allen College | — | BSNRN | 94.7% |
| Briar Cliff University | — | BSNRN | 83.3% |
| Clarke University | — | BSNRN | 91.7% |
| Coe College | — | BSNRN | 80% |
| Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) | — | ADNRN | 91.1% |
| Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) | — | LPNPN | 90.9% |
| Dordt University | — | BSNRN | 69.6% |
| Drake University | — | BSNRN | 72.2% |
| Eastern Iowa Community College | — | ADNRN | 70.1% |
| Eastern Iowa Community College | — | LPNPN | 84.4% |
| Graceland University | — | BSNRN | 100% |
| Grand View University | — | BSNRN | 86.1% |
| Hawkeye Community College | — | ADNRN | 59.2% |
| Hawkeye Community College | — | LPNPN | 76.9% |
| Indian Hills Community College | — | ADNRN | 100% |
| Indian Hills Community College | — | LPNPN | 100% |
| Iowa Central Community College | — | ADNRN | 83.2% |
| Iowa Central Community College | — | LPNPN | 94.6% |
| Iowa Lakes Community College | — | ADNRN | 96.9% |
| Iowa Lakes Community College | — | LPNPN | 100% |
| Iowa Valley Community College | — | ADNRN | 84% |
| Iowa Valley Community College | — | LPNPN | 100% |
| Iowa Western Community College | — | ADNRN | 83.8% |
| Iowa Western Community College | — | LPNPN | 94.6% |
| Kirkwood Community College | — | ADNRN | 94.7% |
| Kirkwood Community College | — | LPNPN | 98.2% |
| Luther College | — | BARN | 97% |
| Mercy College of Health Sciences | — | BSNRN | 88.1% |
| Mercy College of Health Sciences | — | LPN/ADNRN | 81.8% |
| Morningside University | — | BSNRN | 89.5% |
| Mount Mercy University | — | BSNRN | 95.8% |
| North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) | — | ADNRN | 90% |
| North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) | — | LPNPN | 100% |
| Northeast Iowa Community College | — | ADNRN | 98.4% |
| Northeast Iowa Community College | — | LPNPN | 100% |
| Northwest Iowa Community College | — | ADNRN | 91.4% |
| Northwest Iowa Community College | — | LPNPN | 93.5% |
| Northwestern College | — | BSNRN | 100% |
| Purdue University Global | — | ASNRN | 77.1% |
| Southeastern Community College | — | ADNRN | 92.7% |
| Southeastern Community College | — | LPNPN | 95.8% |
| Southwestern Community College | — | ADNRN | 93.9% |
| Southwestern Community College | — | LPNPN | 100% |
| St. Ambrose University | — | BSNRN | 84.4% |
| St. Ambrose University | — | LPN/RN-BSNRN | — |
| St. Luke's College | — | ASNRN | 78.6% |
| St. Luke's College | — | BSNRN | 100% |
| University of Dubuque | — | BSNRN | 89.5% |
| University of Iowa | — | BSNRN | 94.2% |
| University of Iowa | — | MSN: Entry Into PracticeRN | 95.5% |
| University of Northern Iowa | — | BSNRN | — |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College | — | ADNRN | 87.5% |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College | — | LPNPN | 87.8% |
| William Penn University | — | BSNRN | 50% |
Whichever school you choose, the NCLEX is the finish line
The pass rates above are made by students, not buildings. Students who do well start NCLEX-style practice in their first semester — studying for class exams and the boards at the same time. NurseSavvy turns your own course materials into matched NCLEX practice questions from day one, for $19/mo after a free 14-day trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best nursing school in Iowa by NCLEX pass rate?
4 RN programs in Iowa tied for the highest 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate at 100%, including Graceland University — see the full ranked list above, among programs with a published 2025 rate on the state board's list.
How many nursing schools are in Iowa?
Iowa has 35 schools offering 54 board-approved nursing programs: 39 RN-track (ADN/BSN and similar) and 15 PN/LPN-track programs, per the state board of nursing's current approved-program list.
What is the average NCLEX pass rate in Iowa?
Across Iowa RN programs with a published 2025 rate, the average first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate is 86.9% — 0.4 points above the national average of 86.5%.
What does a first-time NCLEX pass rate tell me about a school?
It is the share of a program’s graduates who passed the NCLEX on their first attempt — the single most comparable public outcome number nursing programs report. Boards of nursing track it for program approval, and consistently low rates can put a program on conditional status. Compare it alongside cost, location, and program length, not in isolation.
About this data
Program list and 2025 first-time NCLEX pass rates are taken directly from the Iowa board of nursing's published approved-program materials. “—” means the board did not publish a 2025 rate for that program (new programs, small cohorts, or PN lists without rate tables). Pass rates refresh annually; this page is rebuilt from the board lists when they update.
- dial.iowa.gov — list: Live page as of July 12, 2026 (IBON 'Iowa Nursing Education Programs' approved list); pass rate CY2025 first-time (IBON RN/LPN Program Data 2025, NCSBN)