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Lincoln Trail College is celebrating historic success in its nursing program, with 100% of its 2025 graduates passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The achievement outpaces the national average of 87% and highlights LTC’s role in Illinois Eastern Community Colleges’ (IECC) highest-ever district-wide pass rate.
For the 2025 cohort, IECC nursing students achieved a 98% NCLEX pass rate across all campuses. Frontier Community College recorded a 94% pass rate, while Lincoln Trail College, Olney Central College, and Wabash Valley College each posted a perfect 100%.
“Our commitment to a student-centered environment has guided every decision within our nursing program,” said Dr. Alani Frederick, IECC Dean of Health Professions. “We continually evaluate our curriculum, teaching methods, and clinical experiences to ensure students have the best chance to obtain their RN license. The results speak for themselves.”
Angie Williams, Department Head of Nursing and Nursing Associate Professor at Lincoln Trail College, emphasized the impact of faculty and student collaboration. “A 100% pass rate reflects not only the hard work of our students, but also the dedication of our faculty and clinical partners,” Williams said. “Our instructors are committed to providing hands-on, real-world learning experiences that prepare graduates to succeed on the NCLEX and in their first nursing jobs.”
Williams added that the results strengthen the connection between LTC and the local healthcare community. “Hospitals and clinics in our area know that an LTC graduate is ready to provide safe, compassionate, and competent care from day one,” she said. “That confidence opens doors for our students and ensures our community benefits directly from their training.”
Dr. Frederick noted that IECC’s approach keeps programs responsive and relevant. “Our nursing faculty meet every semester to make curriculum edits, write classroom activities, discuss clinical experiences, and develop simulations,” she said. “This verifies that student education is adjusted in real time to reflect changes seen in practice and in research.”
Looking ahead, Williams said LTC intends to build on this momentum. “We are proud of what this year’s graduates accomplished, but we’re just as excited about the next group of students beginning their journey,” she said. “Our mission is to continue offering the supportive, rigorous program that helps our students succeed.”
Applications for IECC’s Nursing programs will open this fall for a Fall 2026 start.
