JCC Associate Degree in Nursing Program Ranked #3 in New York State

Jefferson Community College (JCC) associate degree in nursing program has received high ranks by Nursing Schools Almanac (NSA). The College’s nursing program ranks #3 among sixty-eight associate degree programs in New York State!  

To help empower aspiring nurses to find the best-suited programs and kick-start their nursing careers, the research team at NSA compiled an extensive database of nursing student performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) from 2011 through 2020. Graduates of JCC’s nursing program hold a high 95.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate! NCLEX, a licensure requirement of all RNs, is used by state boards across the United States to help assess a student’s competency. 

Dr. Scott D. Schaeffer, Associate Vice President of the School of STEM and Health Professions at JCC says, “The rigor in our nursing program, our dedicated nursing faculty and staff and our state-of-the-art nursing lab facility is why Jefferson Community College nursing graduates are highly successful when taking the NCLEX! The Covid-19 pandemic tested the strength of our nursing program and all those connected to it. These rankings are an indication that our program remains strong and vital.” 

Dr. Marie A. Hess, Nurse Administrator at JCC, says, “Being ranked #3 in the state is a testimony to the preparedness of our nursing graduates. It’s rewarding to see them pass their NCLEX quickly and consequently starting their nursing careers sooner. Their dedication to the nursing field during this pandemic has been unparalleled. JCC students strive to reach the high standard set by the College and their success speaks to the character rooted in each of them and the quality of care they are capable of providing.”  

Jefferson remains the only community college in the North Country to offer a nursing degree program in two formats, a traditional weekday format and a weekend format. JCC nursing students, taught in state-of-the-art nursing laboratories and lecture facilities, gain experiential learning and increased nursing simulation laboratory time resulting in more practice time producing optimum results. Partnerships between Jefferson and Samaritan Medical Center, Lewis County General Hospital, Upstate Medical University and St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center provide top-notch clinical opportunities for JCC students. Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, JCC’s nursing degree program can be completed in two years.