This is the second consecutive year LWU nursing graduates have received a perfect score on the licensing exam.
by Venus Popplewell
COLUMBIA, KY (05/07/2026) Graduates from the Lindsey Wilson University nursing program continued a streak of success this year, posting a perfect pass rate on the required licensing examination for the second consecutive year.
All nursing majors who graduated from Lindsey Wilson’s nursing program in 2025 passed the National Council Licensure Examination, the nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the United States.
Known as the NCLEX, the 100% pass rate reflects the strength of the Lindsey Wilson curriculum and a nursing faculty committed to student success, according to Lindsey Wilson President William T. Luckey Jr.
“The 100 percent pass rate achieved by our 2025 graduates reflects the dedication of both our students and faculty,” said Luckey. “Their countless hours of preparation, combined with ongoing enhancements to the nursing curriculum, played a major role in this accomplishment.”
A total of 12 nursing graduates passed the examination on their first attempt, placing the Lindsey Wilson nursing program among the few institutions to accomplish this goal. Lindsey Wilson Director of Nursing Emiley Button said the achievement is also a testament to the nursing cohort’s hard work, preparation and passion for providing high-quality patient care.
“We want our nursing graduates to have excellent nursing knowledge when they graduate, and we also want them to be prepared to be effective team members in their workplace,” said Button, who has been with the Lindsey Wilson nursing program since its inception in 2009. “This group was eager to learn and willing to devote the time and effort to be successful.”
Lindsey Wilson nursing students spend 135 hours working alongside a nurse while performing the nurse’s duties to prepare for real-world practice, and they receive career advice through a special seven-week “Leadership in Nursing” class.
In the recently released “Top 10 Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky,” Lindsey Wilson was one of the top three schools mentioned. The leading educational website for nurses by nurses, Nurse.org independently researches schools and programs for nurses.
Before the start of the fall semester, the university received a grant from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education Healthcare Workforce Investment Fund to establish a healthcare training scholarship partnership between Lindsey Wilson and Taylor Regional Hospital in Campbellsville. This is the second grant Lindsey Wilson’s nursing program has received from the Education Healthcare Workforce Investment Fund. The previous one established a healthcare training scholarship partnership with T.J. Regional Health of Glasgow.
“This grant helps our program continue to educate and train nursing professionals for our area while partnering with one of our region’s most important healthcare providers,” said Button. “We appreciate the strong partnerships we enjoy with our local healthcare providers, and this grant is but one example of that strong partnership.”
Pictured: Lindsey Wilson University Class of 2025 nursing graduates, pictured in May 2025 with the university nursing faculty. The 12 nursing graduates achieved a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), the nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the United States.
(Venus Popplewell – Lindsey Wilson University)