Accreditation and Licensure
NECHE Accreditation
Simmons University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
Nursing Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and Post-Graduate FNP & PMHNP Certificate programs at Simmons University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
The baccalaureate degree in nursing and the pre-licensure Direct Entry program are fully approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.
Nursing Licensure
Graduates of the School of Nursing programs routinely perform well on licensing/certification exams.
NCLEX-RN Licensure Exam First Time Pass Rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
BSN NCLEX-RN Licensure Examination Performance*
| Year | Simmons Students Licensure Examination Pass Rate | NCLEX National Average | NCLEX MA & Jurisdiction Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 90.15% | 82.32% | 82.40% |
| 2023 | 90.68% | 90.17% | 92.10% |
| 2024 | 92.97% | 91.16% | TBA |
*first time test takers only
Master of Science in Nursing - Direct Entry (DE) - Family Nurse Practitioner
DE NCLEX-RN Examination Performance*
| Year | Simmons Students Licensure Examination Pass Rate | NCLEX National Average | NCLEX MA & Jurisdiction Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 100.00% | 82.32% | 82.40% |
| 2023 | 86.67% | 90.17% | 92.10% |
| 2024 | 96.88% | 91.16% | TBA |
*first time test takers only
FNP Certification Exam First Time Pass Rate
Students take the ANCC or AANP certification exam.
Board Certification Pass Rates*
| Year | Simmons AANP Pass Rate | National Average | Simmons ANCC Pass Rate | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 94% | 85% | 98% | 89% |
| 2021 | 95% | 84% | 97% | 87% |
| 2022 | 89% | 74% | 98% | 87% |
| 2023 | 99% | 73% | 97% | 85% |
| 2024 | 95% | 83% | 95% | 83% |
*first time test takers only
School of Nursing Degree Conferral or Program Completion by Conferral Date
| Degree Conferral | Total BSN (ABSN + BSN) | Pre-Licensure -> Post-Licensure DE* | RN-MSN | FNP | PMHNP | MSN - Nursing Administration | MSN Leadership | MSN Education | DNP | DNP Health Systems Administration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/16/2025 | 57 | N/A | N/A | 48 | 6 | N/A | 24 | 10 | N/A | N/A |
| 3/31/2025 | N/A | 17 | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||
| 1/31/2025 | 46 | 24 | 0 | 48 | 2 | 4 | ||||
| 10/31/2024 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 19 | N/A | N/A | ||||
| 8/30/2024 | 36 | 3 | 56 | 8 | ||||||
| 7/31/2024 | N/A | N/A | 26 | N/A | ||||||
| 5/17/2024 | 67 | 3 | 91 | |||||||
| 3/29/2024 | N/A | N/A | 21 | |||||||
| 1/31/2024 | 34 | 33 | 6 | 74 | 12 | |||||
| 10/31/2023 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 33 | N/A | |||||
| 8/31/2023 | 52 | 9 | 78 | 7 | ||||||
| 7/31/2023 | N/A | N/A | 25 | N/A | ||||||
| 5/19/2023 | 71 | 9 | 58 | 29 | 1 | |||||
| 3/31/2023 | N/A | N/A | 37 | N/A | N/A | |||||
| 1/31/2023 | 48 | 21 | 6 | 108 | 8 | 25 | ||||
| 10/31/2022 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 27 | 1 | N/A | ||||
| 8/31/2022 | 25 | 9 | 69 | 12 | ||||||
| 7/29/2022 | N/A | N/A | 39 | N/A | ||||||
| 5/20/2022 | 59 | 19 | 95 | |||||||
| 3/31/2022 | N/A | N/A | 47 | |||||||
| 1/31/2022 | 48 | 13 | 4 | 83 | 9 | |||||
| 10/29/2021 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 31 | N/A | |||||
| 8/31/2021 | 57 | 10 | 96 |
*This data is reporting the students in the Direct Entry MSN program that completed their pre-licensure course work and is transitioning to their post-licensure course work.