Cornerstone’s 2025 Nursing Graduates Earn Second 100% NCLEX Pass Rate
Congratulations to Cornerstone University’s second cohort of Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates. The 2025 graduates achieved a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) — the national exam every nursing graduate must pass to become a licensed registered nurse. Our community is proud of this accomplishment, which follows the 100% pass rate of the 2024 inaugural cohort. It reflects the hard work of our students, the quality of their preparation, and the university’s commitment to a Christian worldview of nursing, health care, and science.
Cornerstone’s nursing program was created to address Michigan’s demand for nurses who meet national standards by preparing graduates ready to deliver strong, competent care with the love of Christ. Through extensive clinical partnerships, students work alongside seasoned professionals, applying their training in hospitals, clinics, and other health care environments that reflect the demands and pace of the industry.
“Achieving a second consecutive 100% NCLEX pass rate says a great deal about our students, faculty, and clinical partners,” said Dr. Nathan Lanning, dean of the School of Health, Science & Technology. “It’s also a clear expression of the Cornerstone Advantage™ — strong academics, immersive clinical training, and character formation — preparing nurses who are ready on day one. I’m proud of these graduates and grateful for the teams who invested in them. Michigan needs nurses who pair clinical excellence with Christlike compassion; these graduates are ready to serve patients and communities with skill and integrity.”
Having recently joined Cornerstone’s academic leadership team, Dean Lanning brings decades of scientific research, academic leadership, mentorship, and a Christ-centered commitment to program development and innovation. The nursing program and students will benefit from his expertise as a cellular and molecular biologist with deep knowledge developed through tenures at Van Andel Institute, Michigan State University, and California State University.
“We are so proud of this second group of graduates for achieving a 100% NCLEX pass rate,” shared Dr. Misty Emmons, chief nursing administrator, director of nursing, and assistant professor of nursing. “As our second cohort of students, they collectively strove for excellence in their educational endeavors, while actively seeking ways to connect their faith to the profession of nursing. They are prepared to face today’s healthcare challenges, and I am confident that they will make a difference in the lives of those they encounter.”
Guided by experienced scholars and practicing clinicians, students thrive in classroom, clinical, and simulation settings intentionally designed to provide a cohesive CCNE-accredited curriculum based in experiential learning, ready to excel at the bedside, as nurse leaders, and more.
Cornerstone thanks partners like Corewell Health, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, Trinity Health, and more. From this experiential learning, many students secure job offers before graduation and are already serving patients across the state after successfully passing the NCLEX.
This additional NCLEX success also embodies the Cornerstone Advantage™ — a distinctive educational approach combining moral clarity with academic excellence, experiential learning, leadership, and career readiness. As the demand for nurses and healthcare professionals grows exponentially in Michigan and beyond, Cornerstone’s trusted nurses are ready to answer the call to honor God by helping others heal.
“Cornerstone has developed my sense of calling into the field of nursing. I feel prepared to glorify God as a registered nurse because of my professors’ teachings.” — Christian Hiler (‘25 BSN), Registered Nurse Emergency Department, Trinity Health
Join us in celebrating these 20 outstanding Cornerstone nurses and their calling to serve in Michigan!
For more information about Cornerstone’s CCNE-accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing program or the wide range of pre-medical and other health care-related degrees, including the B.S. in Healthcare Management, contact admissions@cornerstone.edu.
