PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (WAGM) -Northern Maine Community College’s registered nursing program has been ranked No. 2 in Maine for 2025 by NursingExplorer.com, a national education resource that evaluates nursing programs based on graduate success on licensure examinations.

The NMCC program earned the recognition with a 96.60% weighted average pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses over the past three years, placing the college among the top-performing nursing programs in the state. The ranking comes as demand for qualified nurses remains strong across Maine, particularly in rural and northern communities.

“These results demonstrate the dedication of our students, faculty and clinical partners who work together to ensure graduates are prepared for the realities of today’s health care environment,” said Andrew Gagnon, RN, MSN, CCRN, NR-P, CHSE, department chair of nursing, EMS and allied health at Northern Maine Community College. “We are proud to see our program recognized for its consistent quality as we continue preparing nurses to serve communities across Aroostook County and throughout Maine.”

Maine is home to approximately 15 nursing education programs, with most concentrated in southern and central population centers such as Portland, Lewiston, Bangor and Augusta. This distribution can create access challenges for students in more rural regions, making northern training opportunities especially important for local workforce development.

“Northern Maine Community College is proud to provide nursing education that meets the highest standards while remaining accessible to students in northern Maine,” said Doug Binsfeld, Ed.D., president of Northern Maine Community College. “Our graduates make a meaningful impact in rural communities and are equally prepared to pursue opportunities in larger health care settings across the state.”

Employment prospects for nurses in Maine remain favorable, driven by an aging population and ongoing workforce shortages. Maine’s participation in the Nurse Licensure Compact also allows licensed nurses to practice in more than 30 participating states, expanding career mobility and professional opportunities for graduates.

According to NursingExplorer.com, rankings are based on NCLEX pass-rate data collected over a three-year period. Results are weighted by the number of test takers in each cohort, with additional emphasis placed on more recent outcomes to reflect current program performance.

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