Mega Doctor News
By Selene Rodriguez
South Texas College earned the highest nursing pass rate in Texas among schools of comparable size in 2025, with 99.43% of graduates passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) on their first attempt, according to preliminary results.
The NCLEX, administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, serves as the national licensing exam required for individuals seeking to become registered nurses in the United States.
With 174 of 175 graduates passing the exam, this marks the second consecutive year the college has ranked at the top of comparable programs statewide after posting a 98.14% pass rate last year. The program’s results also exceeded the Texas average of 88% and the national average of 86.7%.
“These results are truly outstanding,” said STC President Ricardo J. Solis, Ph.D. “Our commitment to health care education is reflected in achievements like this time and again. We are thrilled with these results, but above all, we are incredibly proud of every student who made this accomplishment possible.”
In 2025, STC graduated more than 350 nurses from its Associate Degree Nursing and Vocational Nursing programs, with the latter posting a 91.95% pass rate and adding 165 new licensed vocational nurses to the region’s health care workforce.
“As a nurse, it means everything to know we’re graduating competent, compassionate nurses who will care for our own community,” said STC Interim Dean of Health Science Professions Margo Vargas-Ayala, DNP. “We’re so proud to witness our students graduate ready to build careers, support their families and make a difference in the lives of the patients they serve.”
In 2023, the NCLEX introduced the Next Generation NCLEX, a redesigned exam emphasizing clinical judgment through scenario-based questions that mirror real-world patient care. Since then, STC’s pass rates have steadily improved, rising from 81.85% in 2022 to 91.30% in 2023 and 98.14% in 2024.
Vargas-Ayala said STC’s scenario-based teaching approach helped students adapt and succeed, preparing them for the evolving demands of nursing education.
“Nursing students learn best through scenarios and that’s now how they’re tested,” Vargas-Ayala said. “In Nursing, you must analyze complex situations and make critical decisions for patients. Our faculty train students to work through real patient scenarios, so when they sit for the exam, they’re now applying the same critical thinking skills they practice throughout the program.”
Victor Garza, ADN program chair, said the achievement reflects the dedication and hard work of the faculty and staff who prepare students for the demands of the profession.
“Their commitment to our students and their passion for teaching are what make results like this possible,” he said. “They work tirelessly to ensure our graduates are prepared to succeed and provide safe, high-quality care for their patients.”
Sharing the sentiment, Solis added that the milestone also reflects the strength of the college’s Nursing programs and the impact graduates will have on the region.
“We continue to demonstrate that we graduate the best nurses not only in our region, but across the state,” Solis said. “Ultimately, this is a win for our community. We are proud to graduate exemplary nurses who will provide compassionate, high-quality care to the people we serve.”
