Graduates of the Mennonite College of Nursing (MCN) at Illinois State University achieved a 94 percent pass rate on the national nursing licensure examination (NCLEX-RN) for 2014, even in the face of increasingly stringent standards.

Illinois State continues to exceed both the state and national averages, which dropped from last year. The national passing rate fell from 83 percent to 82, while the state of Illinois rate dropped from 85 to 84 percent.

“MCN graduates continue to demonstrate mastery on the licensure examination,” said MCN Acting Dean H. Catherine Miller. “Even with our increase in enrollment, MCN’s pass rate again exceeds the state and national averages. We have dedicated faculty who work extremely hard to prepare our students to be successful.”

MCN graduates have exceeded the state and national averages for the NCLEX-RN for more than 10 years, as reported by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation in the governor’s office.