Fairfield Austin Nursing Graduates Achieve 100% NCLEX Pass Rate

Fairfield University’s Austin Campus announced that August 2026 graduates of its accelerated second degree nursing program achieved a 100 percent first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX).

The achievement reflects the strength of Fairfield’s nursing curriculum, faculty expertise, and clinical preparation. It also reinforces Fairfield University’s growing presence in Austin and its commitment to preparing highly skilled and compassionate nurses to serve communities in Central Texas and beyond.

“This milestone is a testament to the dedication of our students, faculty, staff, and clinical partners,” said program director Robin Cook, PhD, RN. “A perfect first-time NCLEX pass rate demonstrates that our graduates are leaving Fairfield prepared to enter the nursing workforce with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed.”

Supporting the Growing Demand for Nurses in Texas

Fairfield University expanded into Austin in 2023 to help address the region’s growing need for BSN-prepared nurses while extending the university’s long-standing commitment to academic excellence, values-based education, and service-oriented leadership.

Austin’s rapid population growth, expanding healthcare sector, and increasing demand for nurses made the city an ideal fit for Fairfield’s continued investment in health professions education. Through its Austin Campus, Fairfield brings the academic excellence and mission-driven approach of a nationally recognized Jesuit university to one of the country’s most dynamic cities.

Expanding Pathways into the Nursing for Career Changers

Fairfield’s ABSN pathway offers an accelerated program for students who have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and wish to transition into nursing. The program is designed to build on students’ prior academic and professional experiences, developing the necessary knowledge, clinical judgement, and hands-on skills required to become a registered nurse.

The curriculum combines classroom instruction, clinical learning, skills labs, and immersive simulation experiences at the campus’s state-of-the-art simulation center. Fairfield’s simulation program is fully accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.

Beginning in May, Fairfield will introduce a hybrid ABSN pathway at its Austin Campus, offering students increased flexibility while maintaining the same academic rigor and individualized student support as its on-campus model.

“The new hybrid option reflects how today’s nursing students learn and live,” said Dr. Cook. “We are expanding access without compromising quality. Students will continue to receive the robust clinical preparation, faculty engagement, and simulation-based learning experiences that define a Fairfield nursing education.”

Earning National Recognition for Nursing Education

The 100 percent NCLEX pass rate—averaging to 94 percent across all 2026 graduates—comes as Fairfield University continues to earn national recognition for academic quality and student outcomes. In U.S. News & World Report rankings for 2027, Fairfield ranked #109 among National Universities and #75 among undergraduate nursing programs.

Additionally, Fairfield’s Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies was recently redesignated as a Center for Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League of Nursing. It was one of only 20 schools to receive the honor in 2026, marking the Egan School’s third consecutive designation since 2018.

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