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Florida Nursing Programs and Degrees Guide

    Identifying the best nursing program for your needs can be a daunting process, especially with all of the options available in Florida. The following guide to nursing schools contains important information on the undergraduate and graduate nursing programs offered in the state. Florida’s colleges and universities allow students to earn a nursing degree in the classroom or online in such concentrations as nursing administration and financial leadership, family nurse practitioner, and clinical nurse leader. There are also online programs that offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing, which can allow students a flexible and convenient alternative. Students can earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) entirely online from the University of Central Florida.

    Quick Facts

    • 104 schools with nursing programs in Florida are in our database (see below).
    • 81 colleges and universities offer associate’s degrees or certificates in nursing.1
    • 47 colleges and universities offer bachelor’s degrees in nursing.1
    • 20 colleges and universities offer master’s or advanced degrees in nursing.1
    • 6 schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges in 2018.2
    • 1 school ranked in the Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Nursing Majors in 2018.3
    • 8 schools ranked in US News Best Nursing Schools: Master’s programs.4
    • 9 schools ranked in US News Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice programs.4

    Top-Ranked Schools with Nursing Programs in Florida

    Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges 2018*

    • Florida International University (#56 in-state, #55 out-of-state)
    • Florida State University (#14 in-state, #4 out-of-state)
    • University of Central Florida (#36 in-state, #41 out-of-state)
    • University of Florida (#2 in-state, #2 out-of-state)
    • University of North Florida (#71 in-state, #62 out-of-state)
    • University of South Florida (#39 in-state, #23 out-of-state)

    *Institution-wide ranking.

    Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Nursing Majors 2018

    • Florida Southern College

    US News Best Nursing Schools: Master’s

    • Florida Atlantic University (#32 tie)
    • University of Miami (#32 tie)
    • University of South Florida (#55 tie)
    • Florida International University (#66 tie)
    • Florida State University (#66 tie)
    • Barry University (#82 tie)
    • University of Central Florida (#87 tie)
    • University of Tampa (#190 tie)

    US News Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice

    • University of Florida (#28 tie)
    • University of Miami (#42 tie)
    • Florida Atlantic University (#54 tie)
    • Florida International University (#66 tie)
    • Florida State University (#66 tie)
    • University of South Florida (#66 tie)
    • Barry University (#83 tie)
    • University of Central Florida (#101 tie)
    • University of North Florida (#114 tie)

    Continue reading below to learn more about the undergraduate and graduate nursing programs available in Florida.

    NCLEX Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Nursing Schools in Florida

    The following table allows you to easily compare not-for-profit Florida nursing schools on a variety of factors. Click on the arrows in the top row to sort the table. In addition to seeking a program that leads to licensure in your desired area of nursing, it’s advisable to consider accreditation as a factor in your decision. If you are considering education beyond the associate’s level, know that a degree from a school that holds accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is a common requirement for admission to master’s degree, ADN/LVN and RN to BSN, and specialized certificate programs. You should also check to ensure that the school you are considering is approved or accepted by the Florida Board of Nursing.

    SchoolADN or LVN ProgramBSN ProgramGraduate Nursing ProgramACEN/CCNE Accred.*NCLEX-PN First Time Pass Rate**# TakingNCLEX-RN First Time Pass Rate^# TakingNet Price^^
    Adventist UniversityNoYesNoACENN/AN/A94%51$16,557
    Ave Maria UniversityNoYesNoNoN/AN/AN/AN/A$20,693
    Barry UniversityNoYesYesCCNEN/AN/A82%158$24,610
    Bethune-Cookman UniversityNoYesNoACENN/AN/A67%36$16,193
    Broward CollegeYesYesNoACENN/AN/A96%279$9,417
    Cape Coral Technical CollegeYesNoNoNo97%29N/AN/A$6,525
    Chipola CollegeYesYesNoACEN100%567%67$4,418
    College of Central FloridaYesNoNoACENN/AN/A84%70$9,463
    Daytona State CollegeYesYesNoACENN/AN/A83%248$5,064
    Eastern Florida State College-CocoaYesNoNoNoN/AN/A90%75$5,800
    Eastern Florida State College-Palm BayYesNoNoNoN/AN/A100%47$5,800
    First Coast Technical CollegeYesNoNoNo78%60N/AN/A$10,543
    Florida A&M UniversityNoYesYesACENN/AN/A78%73$12,075
    Florida Atlantic UniversityNoYesYesACEN/CCNEN/AN/A81%77$13,360
    Florida Gateway CollegeYesYesNoACENN/AN/A80%99$4,677
    Florida Gulf Coast UniversityNoYesYesCCNEN/AN/A96%84$12,948
    Florida International UniversityNoYesNoCCNEN/AN/A88%138$11,552
    Florida National UniversityYesYesNoCCNEN/AN/A44%16$19,774
    Florida Panhandle Technical CollegeYesNoNoNo94%32N/AN/A$20,059
    Florida Southern CollegeNoYesNoCCNEN/AN/A81%32$23,395
    Florida SouthWestern State CollegeYesYesNoACENN/AN/A87%232$8,420
    Florida State CollegeYesYesNoACENN/AN/A80%308$7,173
    Florida State UniversityNoYesYesCCNEN/AN/A95%107$16,737
    Fort Myers Technical CollegeYesNoNoNo94%32N/AN/A$6,140
    Gulf Coast State CollegeYesYesNoACEN86%2890%118$4,577
    Herzing University-OrlandoYesYesNoACEN/CCNEN/AN/A82%49$22,688
    Hillsborough Community CollegeYesNoNoACENN/AN/A80%246$4,940
    Immokalee Technical CollegeYesNoNoNo77%26N/AN/A$4,656
    Indian River State CollegeYesNoNoACEN67%3783%88$1,807
    Jacksonville UniversityNoYesYesCCNEN/AN/A84%103$20,538
    Lake-Sumter State CollegeYesNoNoACENN/AN/A82%88$4,653
    Lorenzo Walker Technical CollegeYesNoNoNo76%42N/AN/A$7,419
    Miami Dade CollegeYesYesNoACENN/AN/A80%478$8,606
    North Florida Community CollegeYesNoNoNo83%1883%29$4,389
    Northwest Florida State CollegeYesYesNoACEN/CCNEN/AN/A94%53$8,746
    Nova Southeastern University-Fort LauderdaleNoYesYesCCNEN/AN/A85%159$24,833
    Nova Southeastern University-MiamiNoYesNoCCNEN/AN/A76%34$24,833
    Palm Beach Atlantic University-Bell GladeYesNoNoCCNEN/AN/A71%17$20,056
    Palm Beach Atlantic University-Lake WorthYesNoNoCCNEN/AN/AN/AN/A$20,056
    Palm Beach Atlantic University-West Palm BeachNoYesYesCCNEN/AN/A90%41$20,056
    Palm Beach State CollegeYesNoNoACEN95%1988%214$2,467
    Pasco-Hernando Community CollegeYesNoNoACENN/AN/A89%183$5,868
    Pensacola Christian CollegeNoYesYesCCNEN/AN/A97%91$10,656
    Pensacola State CollegeYesNoNoACEN89%1873%250$7,568
    Pinellas Technical College-ClearwaterYesNoNoNo84%38N/AN/A$13,776
    Pinellas Technical College-St. PetersburgYesNoNoNo89%59N/AN/A$13,776
    Polk State CollegeYesYesNoACENN/AN/A86%139$9,187
    Remington CollegeYesYesYesCCNEN/AN/A89%83$21,990
    Ridge Career CenterYesNoNoNo100%28N/AN/A$19,259
    Santa Fe CollegeYesNoNoACEN/CCNE94%1696%134$8,354
    Seminole State College of FloridaYesNoNoACENN/AN/A96%206$8,307
    South Florida State CollegeYesYesNoACEN95%2095%44$5,436
    Southeastern UniversityNoYesNoNoN/AN/AN/AN/A$19,679
    St. John’s River State CollegeYesYesNoACENN/AN/A83%84$6,823
    St. Petersburg CollegeYesYesNoACEN/CCNEN/AN/A91%331$7,499
    St. Thomas UniversityNoYesYesNoN/AN/AN/AN/A$23,212
    State College of FloridaYesYesNoACENN/AN/A96%111$10,102
    Tallahassee Community CollegeYesNoNoACENN/AN/A88%65$4,512
    University of Central FloridaNoYesYesCCNEN/AN/A97%243$14,745
    University of FloridaNoYesYesCCNEN/AN/A93%185$14,786
    University of MiamiNoYesYesCCNEN/AN/A96%164$33,284
    University of North FloridaNoYesYesCCNEN/AN/A94%112$13,244
    University of South FloridaNoYesYesCCNEN/AN/A90%193$11,355
    University of TampaNoYesYesACENN/AN/A100%46$26,269
    University of West FloridaNoYesYesCCNEN/AN/A94%49$14,372
    Utica CollegeNoYesNoNoN/AN/AN/AN/A$33,648
    Valencia Community CollegeYesNoNoACENN/AN/A96%196$5,872
    Withlacoochee Technical CollegeYesNoNoNo100%19N/AN/A$5,499

    *The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredits ADN/ASN/BSN programs. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits BSN/MSN/DNP programs.5,6
    **NCLEX-PN pass rates reported are for first-time undergraduates testing between August 1 2014-May 30 2014.7 You can compare these pass rates to the national average through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
    ^NCLEX-RN pass rates reported are for first-time undergraduates testing between July 1 2014-June 30 2015.7 You can compare these pass rates to the national average through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
    ^^The National Center for Education Statistics calculates net price from the total estimated cost of attendance, including includes tuition, books, room and board, and other expenses, for in-state students minus the average financial aid award (such as grants and scholarships).

    Schools in Florida with Nursing Degrees

    Associate’s in Nursing Programs

    Seminole State College
    At Seminole State College (SSC) students can expect to gain an education focused on developing technical as well as critical thinking skills. Graduates of Registered Nurse (RN) program at SSC are well-equipped to meet healthcare requirements in their surrounding communities. The curriculum is designed to help each student to gain a strong foundation in the four main components of nursing’s conceptual framework: person, environment, health, and nursing. While building on this foundation, nursing students at SSC have the opportunity to pursue further professional development through involvement with the Florida Nursing Student Association (FNSA). FNSA’s leadership activities provide many opportunities, including access to scholarship funding. The RN program at SSC is fully accredited by both the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Florida State Board of Nursing.

    St. Petersburg College
    St. Petersburg College (SPC) offers several degree programs for students pursuing a career in nursing. SPC provides options for obtaining an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) for those with prior nursing education as well as for those without. Students with previous nursing experience who hope to obtain an ADN may appreciate the LPN to RN or the paramedic to RN transitional degree programs. Each program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and prepares students for the national exam required to become a Registered Nurse. As part of the learning experience, students can expect a combination of hands-on and classroom-based education with the added flexibility of daytime and evening classes. Students who would like to build on their RN credentials may transfer into SPC’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program.

    Bachelor’s in Nursing Programs

    Florida State University
    Florida State University confers the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to students who successfully complete the four-year program. The first two years of the program focus on general college requirements with the second two years dedicated to fulfilling nursing core and elective coursework. Nursing majors may opt to expand their resume and their experience by studying or interning abroad. The Nursing Department offers scholarship opportunities for eligible students. Graduates of the BSN program are prepared to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) with the university boasting a 95 percent pass rate for graduates taking the exam for the first time.

    University of Florida
    The University of Florida’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is divided into two parts. Students spend their freshmen and sophomore years completing core college requirements in math, English, and science before then focusing their studies on the nursing curriculum in the junior and senior years. The Generic BSN program requires nursing majors to gain hands-on experience through clinical practicums. Prospective applicants to the program must fulfill foreign language requirements and maintain a minimum 2.8 GPA. The Nursing Department also features an Accelerated BSN program for students who already possess a bachelor’s degree in another field. The accelerated program spans four semesters.

    Utica College – Florida
    Utica College, with its main campus in New York, operates a satellite campus in St. Petersburg, Florida that offers a 16 month, online Accelerated BSN (ABSN) program. Designed to allow students to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 16 months, this program includes 62 credit hours of nursing coursework and approximately 600 clinical experience hours in Tampa Bay healthcare facilities. With a focus on professional nursing knowledge and skills, the curriculum includes courses in Care of the Obstetric Population, Care of the Aging Population, Medical/Surgical Nursing Care, and Trends in Professional Nursing. The ABSN program holds approval from the Florida Commission for Independent Education and accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

    Master’s in Nursing Programs

    Florida Atlantic University
    Graduate students at Florida Atlantic University can pursue a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in one of seven tracks, including family nurse practitioner, nursing administration and financial leadership, clinical nurse leader, nurse educator, advanced holistic nursing, and adult/gerontological nurse practitioner. An individualized track, which requires 30 credits, allows students to tailor their studies to their career goals. All graduate students, regardless of their concentration, must successfully pass four core nursing courses in advanced nursing practice grounded in caring, philosophical and theoretical foundations of nursing, nursing research and evidence based practice, and advanced nursing practice: roles, policy, and finance.

    University of Central Florida
    The University of Central Florida’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program features four areas of concentration: nurse educator (online), nursing leadership and management (online), family or adult gerontology nurse practitioner (traditional), and adult gerontology clinical nurse practitioner (traditional). Students in both the online and the traditional programs may fulfill degree requirements on a full-time or a part-time basis. Graduate students pursuing the family or adult gerontology nurse practitioner or clinical nurse practitioner tracks must complete core program coursework in theory, pathophysiology, health assessment, and health assessment lab. Applicants to the nurse practitioner and clinical nurse tracks must submit GRE scores with their application materials. Qualified students generally receive acceptance into the nursing program.

    Student Reviews

    Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.

    Broward College
    3501 Davie Rd
    Davie, FL 33314
    (954) 201-7350
    https://www.broward.edu/

    Student Review: “The nursing program at Broward College is a very good program. They offer various campuses where you can take your classes I am at the south campus. They have revamped their building and have the latest in technology. The professors are very hands on and motivating. Class sizes are not too big and the professors encourage you to work with each other in order to achieve a better learning experience. All in all, I have really enjoyed my first-year experience in the nursing program and I’m looking forward to beginning clinical at Broward college and would recommend it to anyone looking to enter a nursing program in south Florida.” – Student at Broward College
    stars-4

    Florida A&M University
    1601 S Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
    Tallahassee, FL 32301
    (850) 599-3000
    https://www.famu.edu/

    Student Review: “Attending FAMU was the best experience of my life. While the nursing program was extremely difficult and challenging I feel that it accurately prepared me for the real world of nursing. The best thing about the nursing program was the sense of being a family. Majority of the students I started with I ended with and we still communicate to this day. There weren’t many things that I disliked but I do feel like the staff wasn’t on the same page all of the time as it relates to what is expected out of the program. Early clinical call times at the hospital also caused high stress levels and anxiety. Overall I wouldn’t trade my experience in FAMU’s nursing school for anything in the world. Thank you.” – Student at Florida A&M University
    stars-5

    University of South Florida
    4202 E Fowler Ave
    Tampa, FL 33620
    (813) 974-2011
    https://www.usf.edu/

    Student Review: “So I went to the University of South Florida for my nursing degree. Indeed it was hard and I had to stay up many a night studying and working my butt off to get excellent grades but it totally paid off. Just about everything I learned in this program helped me in my career. They even helped me land my first job in nursing! Also, they gave help in passing the NCLEX which was a very challenging exam. Almost all of the professors not only had extensive knowledge in the field but great personalities as well. I highly recommend this program to anyone considering the field of nursing.” – Student at University of South Florida
    stars-5

    State College of Florida
    5840 26th St W
    Bradenton, FL 34207
    (941) 752-5000
    https://www.scf.edu/

    Student Review: “The nursing program at State College of Florida was not my first program choice, but it turned out to be a great decision. I went through most of my pre-requisites online, and then applied and got accepted into the nursing program. There are information sessions very often that explain what is expected of you and what you need to be successful in the program – I attended one before I applied to the program and it was helpful. The class times aren’t very flexible, but there was lots of help available and an academic resource center that you could visit for extra help. Through this nursing program, students got experience relevant to the field and I found that I learned lots of valuable skills to be successful in my nursing career.” – Student at State College of Florida
    stars-4

    References:
    1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
    2. Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-best-college-values-college-finder/index.php#Tile
    3. The Princeton Review. The Best 382 Colleges, 2018 Edition. New York, Penguin Random House, 2018.
    4. US News Top Graduate Nursing Schools: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-nursing-schools
    5. Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN): http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programSearch.htm
    6. Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE): https://directory.ccnecommunity.org/reports/accprog.asp
    7. Florida Department of Health: https://mqa-internet.doh.state.fl.us/MQASearchServices/NursingPrograms