Do a lot of people fail nursing school?

Yes, a significant number of people do not complete nursing school, with national attrition rates typically ranging from 15% to 25%, though some programs see much higher figures, especially in the first year, due to challenging application-based exams, time management issues, stress, and the demanding curriculum. While many students struggle with the transition from rote learning to critical thinking, many who face setbacks can still succeed by getting help and adjusting their study habits.

What is the failure rate for nursing school?

Nursing school failure (attrition) rates vary but average around 20-25% nationally, with high demands, debt, and clinical skills gaps being major factors, though rates differ by program and state, from near 0% to over 30% at some schools, with students often struggling with critical thinking needed for the NCLEX exam.
 

What percentage of people pass nursing school?

Most people pass nursing school, with high national pass rates on the NCLEX (licensing exam) for first-time US-educated grads around 87-91% in 2024/2025, though program completion/attrition varies, showing significant numbers drop out (around 20% nationally) before ever reaching the exam, while accreditation requires programs to maintain at least 80% NCLEX pass rates. 

Why do so many nursing students fail?

Underestimating Exams

They challenge your critical thinking, often with more than one answer that seems correct. If you're only memorizing definitions or skimming notes, you won't be ready for the nuanced reasoning these questions require, and that's one of the biggest reasons why students fail nursing school.

What class do most people fail in nursing school?

Pharmacology. It shouldn't be a shock that many nursing students consider pharmacology the most difficult class within their curriculum. The name of the most failed class in nursing school indeed implies it's going to be challenging, and it will be.

Top Reasons Why People Fail Nursing School | YourFavNurseB

Is it easy to pass nursing school?

Nursing school will require daily studying to stay on top of assignments and pass exams. Earning your Bachelor of Science (BS) in nursing is not easy, but knowing how to study for nursing school and following some time-tested nursing school tips can help.

What is the toughest class in nursing school?

The hardest nursing school class varies, but Pharmacology, Medical-Surgical Nursing, and Pathophysiology consistently rank as the most challenging due to their vast, complex content requiring deep critical thinking, memorization, and application of disease processes and medications. Pharmacology demands mastering thousands of drugs, Med-Surg covers extensive adult health conditions, and Pathophysiology explains how diseases affect the body, making these core subjects demanding.
 

Is it possible to fail nursing school?

Nursing school is tough. The tests are tougher. Failure happens. Even though you know all this, it doesn't make it easier when it happens to you.

Do nurses make $100,000 a year?

In short, the nurses most likely to make $100,000 or more per year are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), nurse leaders, and experienced travel nurses—especially those working in major metropolitan areas or high-demand specialties.

What is the hardest exam for nurses?

The Critical Care Registered Nurse certification, known as CCRN, is widely seen as one of the most demanding certifications in nursing. Administered by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), this certification requires nurses to show mastery over complex critical care concepts and practices.

How hard is nursing school realistically?

Expect Heavy Academic Workloads

Lectures often require pre-reading, and exams go beyond memorization, demanding critical thinking. Students typically handle 15–18 credits while balancing lab time and rotating clinical schedules. Success hinges on routine.

Do hospitals prefer RN or BSN?

Nursing school leadership estimates that over 80% of employers show strong preference for hiring BSN nurses while 43% of hospital and other healthcare setting employers require all new nurse hires to hold BSNs (AACN, 2019).

Am I smart enough to pass nursing school?

You're likely smart enough for nursing school if you have dedication, strong study habits, critical thinking, and compassion, as it's less about innate genius and more about hard work, time management, and a desire to learn. Success depends on skills like problem-solving, communication, and applying knowledge, alongside meeting academic prerequisites (like a C or better in science/math courses and sometimes a 3.0 GPA), and showing commitment to patient care. 

How many people don't finish nursing school?

Roughly 1 in 5 nursing students (around 20%) don't complete their programs, with attrition rates varying by school, but factors like stress, poor time management, and difficult exams (especially NCLEX-style questions) contribute heavily to students dropping out or failing. While some programs see rates under 50% graduation, others report lower attrition, but overall, it's a challenging path. 

What degree has the highest dropout rate?

STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math) fields, particularly Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, and Mathematics, consistently show high dropout rates, often due to demanding coursework, difficulty, and a disconnect between expectations and reality. Computer Science frequently tops lists with rates around 9.8%, while Math majors can see attrition over 50%, though figures vary by study and time period. Teaching degrees also have high attrition, around 50%, per the Australian. 

What is considered failing in nursing school?

For successful completion of the nursing courses, a student must achieve a final theory grade of 73%, a “C” or greater AND achieve a satisfactory (“S”) clinical rating. reported as a failure (“F”), regardless of the theory grade.

What job pays $400,000 a year without a degree?

Jobs that can pay $400K a year without a degree include commercial real estate brokers, successful YouTubers or influencers, self-employed software developers, high-stakes sales roles like enterprise tech sales, and business owners. These roles rely on skill, market demand, and performance rather than formal education.

Do nurses struggle financially?

Financial stress is a common problem for nurses and Americans regardless of income. Effective financial education isn't provided in nursing schools. This is also strange in a country with the largest consumer-driven economy in the world.

What kind of nurse gets paid most?

A certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) is a trained nursing specialist who assists with administering anesthesia to patients during surgery. Salary: Nurse anesthetists are the highest-paid nurses, with a median annual income of $195,610 according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

What class do most nursing students fail in?

While it varies by student, Pharmacology, Anatomy & Physiology, and Microbiology are consistently cited as the most failed or difficult nursing school classes due to their vast, dense content, requiring memorization of drugs, diseases, and complex body systems, with Med-Surg (Medical-Surgical Nursing) also a major hurdle for its comprehensive application of knowledge. 

Why do so many nursing students drop out?

Students experienced difficulty in adjusting and balancing education and life; early-career nurses experienced transition shocks; mid-career nurses were frustrated by the lack of career advancement; late-career nurses desired more recognition; nurses returning to practice were discouraged by their lack of confidence ...

How many student nurses fail?

Roughly 1 in 5 nursing students (around 20%) don't complete their programs, with attrition rates varying by school, but factors like stress, poor time management, and difficult exams (especially NCLEX-style questions) contribute heavily to students dropping out or failing. While some programs see rates under 50% graduation, others report lower attrition, but overall, it's a challenging path. 

What is the #1 nursing school in the US?

There isn't one single "number one" nursing school, as rankings vary by source and program type (BSN, MSN, DNP), but Duke University, University of Pennsylvania (Penn Nursing), and Emory University consistently rank at the top, often tied or trading spots, especially for graduate programs, while Southern University was recently named #1 by Nurse.org for its overall impact, notes Southern University and A&M College, Nurse.org and NurseHub. Duke and UPenn often lead BSN rankings alongside Emory, while Southern University's recognition highlights diversity and community impact, says U.S. News & World Report, Bold.org, Nurse.org, NurseHub, Nursing Schools Almanac, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, and AJC.com. 

How many classes can I fail in nursing school?

Most likely, two fails (major nursing courses)will get you dismissed, but I've heard stories about appealing and getting a second chance. Get in contact with your advisor and, if so, the dean of your school. In the meanwhile, look for other schools.

Is nursing school mostly memorization?

Is nursing school mostly memorization? Memorization is a major component of nursing school, but there's much more to a nursing education than remembering facts. While you'll definitely need to recall a wide range of information at the drop of a hat, memorization will only take you so far.