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For ������ nursing students, last year was one of high achievement.

In 2024, 97% of graduates successfully passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), outpacing state and national rates.

The state of Illinois passage rate last year was 87%, while the national rate was 91%, according to results published by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Thirty-four DU graduates took the NCLEX in 2024. The percentage who passed the exam also increased by 7% over the previous year.

The NCLEX is required to become a licensed nurse in the United States, and it determines if the test-taker is ready to practice nursing.

“Achievement of the 97% NCLEX pass rate shows the dedication of our students to succeed and the dedication of the faculty and staff to help them succeed,” said Dr. Myra Carew, executive director of the Elizabeth T. MacNeil School of Nursing. “It also tells me that the community is behind these students as well. It’s not just us in nursing or in Borra College of Health Sciences. It’s the support of the whole ���Ĺ��� community.”

���Ĺ��� President Dr. Glena G. Temple described the feat as a “tremendous accomplishment for our nursing program.”

“As we work to grow the program, we know that high achievement must accompany this growth,” she said. “The NCLEX passage rate is a key indicator this is occurring.”

While preparing students to excel is built into the foundation of the nursing program, Carew notes that a retention specialist has been a driving force in boosting achievement. The retention specialist works with students to improve their study skills and test-taking abilities, while also tracking their progress, collaborating with their professors, and intervening when additional support is needed.

“I think the retention specialist is a huge part of our high passage rate,” Carew said. “It’s also faculty evaluating the courses, seeing what is needed and identifying areas that can be strengthened. These are the two key factors.”