FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT (June 17, 2025) — Sacred Heart University’s Dr Susan L Davis RN and Richard J Henley College of Nursing (DHCON) is proud to announce that the Class of 2024 achieved another outstanding pass-rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
Graduates of the four-year Bachelor of Science (BSN) in nursing program had a passing rate of 98%, while graduates of the second degree accelerated BSN program earned a rate of 96%. The NCLEX-RN is an exam that nursing candidates must pass to be licensed and enter the profession.
“Thanks to dedicated and talented faculty and staff, the DHCON continues to educate nursing students at a level of excellence,” said Karen Daley, DHCON dean. “Their commitment to graduating the highest-quality nursing students is recognized across the state and nationally.”
The NCLEX-RN exam is designed to be the final step in preparation to becoming a nurse. The exam tests students on their ability to provide the best possible care to a patient. Additionally, the exam confirms that nurses have the appropriate clinical knowledge required to work in a wide variety of settings.
This year’s performance cements the fact that for the last five years, the University’s NCLEX-RN pass-rate has been 95% or above. That achievement is a true testament to the unrelenting efforts of the DHCON students, staff, and faculty.
SHU has the largest nursing program in the state. This May, the DHCON graduated its largest class in the history of the college and in the fall, it will enroll more than 1,050 students into the nursing program. Daley said the DHCON and its graduates are helping to alleviate the nursing shortage in the northeast.
After another year of success, Daley is professionally and personally grateful for the chance to work with such a highly-motivated staff and faculty. “I am humbled and proud of all this group of educators does to ensure the success of our students in the nursing programs,” she said.
About Sacred Heart University
As the second-largest Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the US, Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century.
SHU offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs on its Fairfield, Connecticut, campus.
Sacred Heart also has a campus in Dingle, Ireland, and offers online programs.
More than 10,000 students attend the University’s eight colleges and schools: College of Arts and Sciences; School of Communication, Media and the Arts; School of Social Work; School of Computer Science and Engineering; College of Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education and Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business and Technology; and the Dr Susan L Davis RN and Richard J Henley College of Nursing.
Sacred Heart, a Laudato Si’ campus, stands out from other Catholic universities as it was established to be led by the laity.
This contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, and at the same time cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change — in their own lives, professions, and in their communities.
The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 390 Colleges: 2025 Edition, and Best Business Schools: 2024 Edition.
Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliate station, WSHU Public Radio, a Division I athletics program, and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance, and theatre. sacredheart.edu.
