Performance of schools in August and September 2026 NLE

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) released the performance of schools in the August and September 2026 Nurses Licensure Examination (NLE) on Sept. 18, 2026. Of the 37,359 examinees nationwide, 28,652, or 76.75%, passed. There were 28,273 first-time examinees who took the examination. The average passing percentage among first-time examinees was 85.83%. St. Paul University – Iloilo ranked No. 1 nationally, with a 100% passing rate, among schools with 100 or more examinees and at least an 85% passing percentage. Central Philippine University and the University of St. La Salle ranked Nos. 4 and 10, respectively, in the same category. Likewise, West Visayas State University ranked No. 1 nationally, with a 100% passing rate, among schools with 50 to 99 examinees and at least an 85% passing percentage.

In Western Visayas, 11 out of 17 nursing schools performed above the national passing percentage. Other high-performing nursing schools in Western Visayas with 50 or more examinees and at least an 85% passing percentage were State University of Northern Negros (96.69%), Filamer Christian University (90.98%), Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod (90.22%), and Saint Anthony College of Roxas City (85.26%). There were six nursing schools in Western Visayas with successful examinees who garnered the 10 highest places: Central Philippine University with one topnotcher (No. 4); Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod with two topnotchers (one No. 5 and one No. 8); University of Saint La Salle with two topnotchers (one No. 5 and one No. 10); West Visayas State University with four topnotchers (one No. 6, one No. 9, and two No. 10); Saint Paul University – Iloilo with one topnotcher (No. 7); and State University of Northern Negros with one topnotcher (No. 9). Western Visayas produced 2,254 passers out of 2,612 takers, or an 86.29% passing percentage. This was higher than the national passing percentage. Of the 2,447 first-time examinees, 2,223, or 90.85%, passed.

Region VI produced 1,489 passers out of 1,735 takers, or an 85.82% passing percentage. This was higher than the national passing percentage. Of the 1,603 first-time examinees, 1,468, or 91.58%, passed. Likewise, this was higher than the national passing percentage for first-time examinees.

Finally, results showed that in Western Visayas, the average passing percentage among first-time examinees from CHED autonomous schools was 90.93%, while the average among first-time examinees from CHED deregulated schools was 91.30%. The average passing percentage among first-time examinees from state universities was 99.33%. The average passing percentage among first-time examinees from other private schools was 88.00%. The average passing percentage of first-time examinees in Region VI was greater than that of Western Visayas.

Therefore, it is safe to conclude that the nursing curriculum in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is effective in Western Visayas and in the country as a whole. The performance of CHED autonomous and deregulated schools was higher than that of other private schools. Autonomous schools are private higher education institutions (HEIs) that have demonstrated top-quality performance in academics, institutional integrity, and leadership in education. CHED deregulated schools are private HEIs that meet high standards of academic and program excellence and institutional quality. Both autonomous and deregulated schools have the freedom to manage their own academic programs and design their own curricula. State universities registered the highest passing performance among schools in Western Visayas, with 99 out of 100 first-time examinees passing. This is the fruit of their efforts to comply with CHED requirements for the issuance of a Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC).