Kauaʻi Community College ranked top nursing school in Hawaiʻi for 2026 based on passing test scores

Kaua’i Community College topped the list of best nursing schools in Hawaiʻi for 2026 in the 10th annual rankings by RegisteredNursing.org.

There were eight schools analyzed statewide, with the rankings based on the passing scores on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses.

Kauaʻi Community College achieved 100% passing rates of its students for the past six years, said Maria Fabro, nursing program coordinator at Kaua’i Community College.

“We are very happy about that,” she said.

Fabro said the recognition also highlights the college’s commitment “not only to its excellence in nursing education but also to the significant local impact, so that our students can take care of themselves and their ‘ohana’s without having to leave Kaua’i.”

The community college offers a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. It is a rigorous two-year pathway designed to prepare students for licensure as Registered Nurses.

The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses is administered by all state boards of nursing in the United States to assess a student’s competency and is required for licensure.

The college provides a curriculum that emphasizes evidence-based practice, clinical judgment, professional standards, and hands-on clinical experiences.

Graduates enjoy seamless transfer opportunities to the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa to pursue higher education, while the military-friendly environment and rigorous clinical preparation make this program a top choice for those seeking a strong foundation in healthcare, according to RegisteredNursing.org.

Last week, 100% of the 17 students in the Spring 2025 Registered Nurses program successfully passed their board exams and graduated, Fabro said.

The University of Hawaii at Mānoa had a 98.92% pass rate of its 92 students.

“Kaua’i Community College belongs to the community, and we wouldn’t have this good recognition if it weren’t for the many, many individuals in our community and the encouragement they provide,” Fabro said.

A lot of preparation goes into training the students, who are provide resources to help them prepare for the tests, so they are ready to answer the high-level, critical thinking questions.

Most of the Kauaʻi Community College nursing graduates continue their education at UH Mānoa, pursuing a bachelor’s degree that shares a similar curriculum.

“There is always a need for healthcare,” Fabro said. “Our two-year program also offers students additional programs, such as family orientation, to support the students’ success.”

Program support includes scholarships, mental health resources, and assistance with basic needs such as food from the pantry and financial aid. With the help of community members and individual sponsors, a supportive environment is created for the students, Fabro said.

Students demonstrate their value and commitment to the Garden Isle’s rural community by participating in clinical rotations and volunteering at events like the aid station at the Kaua’i Marathon.

The program continues to generate strong interest on the island, attracting most of its new students from across the state and, at times, from the mainland.

According to records at Kaua’i Community College, a one-year post-graduate survey shows that in 2021, 86% of students secured employment within one year of graduation.

In 2022, that number was 91.6%, followed by 100% in 2023 and 82% in 2024.

Fabro said with local graduates, hospitals on Kauaʻi can hire more local nurses, decreasing the need to bring in travel nurses.

Members of the community college’s teaching team of Sharon Ehlers, Julie Moseley, Jessica Tatsuda-Merrell, Tammie Napoleon, Nicole Love, and recently retired nursing coordinator, Maureen Tabura, said in a combined message to potential students: “You can get a great nursing education at a reasonable cost, and not leave home. We are here to serve Kauaʻi students. You don’t have to attend an expensive school to receive a great education.”

With increasing resources and advancing technology on Kaua’i, the program is becoming more competitive, resulting in better hands-on patient care and expanded access to healthcare on the island.

Last month, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust awarded $10.6 million to the Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waimea for the development and enhancement of a new magnetic resonance imaging suite and a Simulation Learning Lab that will offer hands-on training and educational support to medical staff, nursing and students interested in healthcare careers.

Kaua’i Veterans Memorial Hospital plans to partner with local programs so that the hospital “can grow our next radiology techs, MRI techs and CT scanning techs,” said Sherry Lauer, regional chief quality and compliance officer with Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.

Fabro adds that the nursing program at the community college, along with its programs and assistance, “opened a lot of doors for me, and it opened my eyes to what is available outside of this island.”

The assistance gave her the help she needed to pursue higher education while taking care of her dad, who was debilitated early.

Fabro was also able to pursue her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, “a few years ago, my doctorate degree as well, all long distance, online, and UH Mānoa ranks high in online programs, so we have it here and it’s available.”

She said the community college’s nursing program “provides a sustainable livelihood to help students take care of their families. ‘Ohana is so important here in Hawaiʻi.”