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.

CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education) Seal

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*

YearSimmons Students Licensure Examination Pass RateNCLEX National AverageNCLEX MA & Jurisdiction Average
202290.15%82.32%82.40%
202390.68%90.17%92.10%
202492.97%91.16%93%

*first time test takers only


Master of Science in Nursing - Direct Entry (DE) - Family Nurse Practitioner

DE NCLEX-RN Examination Performance*

YearSimmons Students Licensure Examination Pass RateNCLEX National AverageNCLEX MA & Jurisdiction Average
2022100.00%82.32%82.40%
202386.67%90.17%92.10%
202496.88%91.16%93%

*first time test takers only


FNP Certification Exam First Time Pass Rate

Students take the ANCC or AANP certification exam.

Board Certification Pass Rates*

YearSimmons AANP Pass RateNational AverageSimmons ANCC Pass RateNational Average
202094%85%98%89%
202195%84%97%87%
202289%74%98%87%
202399%73%97%85%
202495%83%95%83%

*first time test takers only

Bar Graph - FNP Certification 1st Time Pass Rate 2020-2024


School of Nursing Degree Conferral or Program Completion by Conferral Date

Degree ConferralTotal BSN (ABSN + BSN)Pre-Licensure -> Post-Licensure DE*RN-MSNFNPPMHNPMSN - Nursing AdministrationMSN LeadershipMSN EducationDNPDNP Health Systems Administration
5/16/202557N/AN/A486N/A2410N/AN/A
3/31/2025N/A17N/AN/AN/A
1/31/2025462404824
10/31/2024N/AN/AN/A19N/AN/A
8/30/2024363568
7/31/2024N/AN/A26N/A
5/17/202467391
3/29/2024N/AN/A21
1/31/2024343367412
10/31/2023N/AN/AN/A33N/A
8/31/2023529787
7/31/2023N/AN/A25N/A
5/19/202371958291
3/31/2023N/AN/A37N/AN/A
1/31/202348216108825
10/31/2022N/AN/AN/A271N/A
8/31/20222596912
7/29/2022N/AN/A39N/A
5/20/2022591995
3/31/2022N/AN/A47
1/31/202248134839
10/29/2021N/AN/AN/A31N/A
8/31/2021571096

*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.