2023 Best Nursing Schools in Florida
Finding the Best Nursing School for You
Out of the majors we analyze each year, nursing was the most popular one in Florida. In total, 21,209 people earned a degree or certificate in the field from a school in Florida.
There are so many nursing programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
The Best Nursing Schools in Florida ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 83 schools in Florida to see which ones offered the best programs for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
Featured schools near , edit
2023 Best Nursing Schools in Florida
Check out the nursing programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.
Top 15% Best Nursing Schools
Our analysis found West Coast University-Miami to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a degree in Florida. West Coast University-Miami is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Doral.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at West Coast University-Miami take out is $34,145. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $742.
Out of the 83 schools in Florida that were part of this year’s ranking, Chamberlain University - Florida landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Jacksonville, Chamberlain - Florida is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Chamberlain - Florida take out is $22,213. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $283.
Out of the 83 schools in Florida that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Florida landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the midsize city of Gainesville, UF is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Nursing majors at UF take out an average of $29,896 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $187.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rasmussen University - Florida. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in Florida list. Rasmussen University - Florida is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the small city of Ocala.
On average, nursing graduates from Rasmussen University - Florida take out $22,529 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $221, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay is a great place for nursing students. Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Saint Petersburg.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay take out is $30,556. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $133.
Read full report on Nursing at Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay
AdventHealth University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the large city of Orlando, AHU is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Nursing majors at AHU take out an average of $81,264 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $143.
University of Florida-Online did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #7 on the list. UF Online is a moderately-sized public school located in the midsize city of Gainesville.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at UF Online take out is $16,500. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $187.
University of South Florida - Main Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Florida ranking. Located in the large city of Tampa, USF Tampa is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at USF Tampa take out is $35,609. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $136.
Read full report on Nursing at University of South Florida - Main Campus
With a ranking of #9, Herzing University - Winter Park did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Herzing University - Winter Park is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Winter Park.
Nursing majors at Herzing University - Winter Park take out an average of $23,416 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $175.
Read full report on Nursing at Herzing University - Winter Park
Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Florida ranking. Located in the suburb of West Palm Beach, ANHO is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at ANHO accumulate an average of around $28,276 in student debt.
Full Nursing at Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations Report
With a ranking of #11, University of North Florida did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Located in the city of Jacksonville, UNF is a public college with a large student population.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from UNF carry an average student debtload of $29,728.
University of Miami ranked #12 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Florida list. U Miami is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Coral Gables.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from U Miami carry an average student debtload of $90,901. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $576, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Nursing Schools in Florida award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL |
| 14 | Polk State College | Winter Haven, FL |
| 15 | Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers, FL |
| 16 | Florida International University | Miami, FL |
Best Nursing Colleges in the Southeast Region
Explore all the Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 7,364 |
| Kentucky | 6,395 |
| Tennessee | 6,004 |
| Louisiana | 3,502 |
| Mississippi | 2,838 |
| Arkansas | 2,882 |
| North Carolina | 7,425 |
| West Virginia | 1,771 |
| Georgia | 7,112 |
| South Carolina | 3,296 |
| Virginia | 6,775 |
Nursing Related Rankings by Major
Nursing Focus Areas
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 262,974 |
| Family Practice Nurse/Nursing | 16,647 |
| Nursing Practice | 8,862 |
| Nursing Administration | 8,663 |
| Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 4,717 |
| Nursing Science | 4,701 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing | 2,895 |
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing | 2,075 |
| Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing | 2,011 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 1,768 |
| Critical Care Nursing | 747 |
| Geriatric Nurse/Nursing | 622 |
| Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery | 567 |
| School Nursing | 539 |
| Clinical Nurse Leader | 502 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist | 340 |
| Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing | 269 |
| Women’s Health Nurse/Nursing | 262 |
| Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing | 192 |
| Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing | 87 |
| Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing | 26 |
| Forensic Nursing | 23 |
| Palliative Care Nursing | 13 |
Most Popular Majors Related to Nursing
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 85,339 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
NursingDegreeSearch.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© NursingDegreeSearch.com – All Rights Reserved.