2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Florida
With all the nursing programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best 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. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
The Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Florida ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 34 schools in Florida to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school us, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
Featured schools near , edit
Top Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Florida
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Rasmussen University - Florida to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a associate degree in Florida. Rasmussen University - Florida is located in Ocala, Florida and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,014 associate degrees to qualified students.
If you want to attend Rasmussen University - Florida, expect to pay an average of $13,842 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $21,089 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Rasmussen University - Florida does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 93% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Polk State College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Florida list. Polk State is located in Winter Haven, Florida and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,605 associate degrees to qualified students.
Full-time students from Florida pay an average of $3,366 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Polk State. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $12,271. On average, associate degree students take out $12,473 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Polk State. In fact, around 79% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Miami Dade College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Florida list. Located in Miami, Florida, the large public school awarded 10,398 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Florida pay an average of $2,838 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend MDC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,661. Associate Degree recipients from MDC accumulate an average of $13,654 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at MDC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 82% took at least some of their classes online.
Out of the 34 schools in Florida that were part of this year’s ranking, Valencia College landed the # 4 spot on the list. This large public school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it awarded 8,600 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Florida pay an average of $2,474 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Valencia College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,383. On average, associate degree students take out $14,788 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Valencia College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2020-2021 year, about 84% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Santa Fe College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Florida list. Gainesville, Florida is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 2,487 students in 2021-2022.
Students from Florida who attend Santa Fe College full time pay an average of $2,563 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,189. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,615 in student loans.
Santa Fe College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 55% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #6, Florida SouthWestern State College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in Fort Myers, Florida, the fairly large public school handed out 2,240 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $3,401 in tuition and fees if they attend FSW full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $12,979. On average, associate degree students take out $12,150 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that FSW does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 63% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
North Florida College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. This small public school is located in Madison, Florida, and it awarded 223 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Florida pay an average of $2,994 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend NFC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,460.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since NFC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 72% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Broward College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Florida ranking. BC is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 6,046 associate degrees to qualified students.
Full-time students from Florida pay an average of $2,830 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend BC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,952. Associate Degree recipients from BC accumulate an average of $9,156 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at BC. In 2020-2021 about 67% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in Bradenton, Florida, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,631 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Florida pay an average of $3,074 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,595. Associate Degree recipients from State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota accumulate an average of $11,602 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 72% took at least some of their classes online.
Palm Beach State College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Florida list. Palm Beach State College is a large public school located in Lake Worth, Florida that handed out 4,046 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Florida pay an average of $3,050 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Palm Beach State College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,910. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,892 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Palm Beach State College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 77% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
St Petersburg College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #11 on the list. SPC is a public institution located in St. Petersburg, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3,899 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $2,682 in tuition and fees if they attend SPC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,286. On average, associate degree students take out $19,937 in loans while pursuing their degree.
SPC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 76% took at least some of their classes online.
Florida State College at Jacksonville landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Florida State College at Jacksonville is a large public school located in Jacksonville, Florida that handed out 3,210 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $2,657 in tuition and fees if they attend FSCJ full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,631. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,098 in student loans.
Online courses are available at FSCJ, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 78% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Florida Gateway College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Lake City, Florida is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 469 students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at FGC is $3,100. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,747. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,865 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at FGC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 71% took at least some of their classes online.
Hillsborough Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Florida ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Tampa, Florida, and it awarded 3,920 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at HCC is $2,506. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,111. On average, associate degree students take out $16,096 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at HCC. In fact, around 78% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale ranked #15 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Florida list. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and it awarded 3,134 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $23,248. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $22,865 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 48% took at least some of their classes online.
Chipola College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Chipola College is a small public school located in Marianna, Florida that handed out 289 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Florida who attend Chipola full time pay an average of $3,120 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,950.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Chipola does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 62% took at least some of their classes online.
Seminole State College of Florida ranked #17 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Florida list. Located in Sanford, Florida, the fairly large public school handed out 2,593 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Seminole State is $3,131. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,456. On average, associate degree students take out $15,581 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Seminole State. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 73% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
College of Central Florida did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #18 on the list. College of Central Florida is a medium-sized public school located in Ocala, Florida that handed out 1,016 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Florida pay an average of $2,710 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend CF. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,517. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,656 in student loans.
CF does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 73% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Daytona State College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Florida ranking. Located in Daytona Beach, Florida, the fairly large public school awarded 1,973 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Florida pay an average of $3,106 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Daytona State College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,994. On average, associate degree students take out $13,278 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Daytona State College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 65% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #20, Gulf Coast State College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in Panama City, Florida, the small public school awarded 616 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Students from Florida who attend GCSC full time pay an average of $2,370 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,635. On average, associate degree students take out $10,951 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at GCSC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 57% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Pasco-Hernando State College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Florida ranking. PHSC is a public institution located in New Port Richey, Florida. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,392 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Florida who attend PHSC full time pay an average of $3,155 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,032. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,216 in student loans.
Online courses are available at PHSC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 77% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #22, Pensacola State College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in Pensacola, Florida, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,490 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $2,365 in tuition and fees if they attend Pensacola State full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,475. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,218 in student loans.
Pensacola State does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 63% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #23, Indian River State College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Indian River State College is a fairly large public school located in Fort Pierce, Florida that handed out 2,279 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Florida pay an average of $2,764 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Indian River State College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,201. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,917 in student loans.
Indian River State College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2020-2021 about 66% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Saint Johns River State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #24 on the list. Located in Palatka, Florida, the medium-sized public school awarded 941 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Students from Florida who attend St. Johns River Community College full time pay an average of $2,830 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,347. On average, associate degree students take out $16,519 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at St. Johns River Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 62% took at least some of their classes online.
Tallahassee Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #25 on the list. Tallahassee Community College is located in Tallahassee, Florida and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,516 associate degrees to qualified students.
Students from Florida who attend Tallahassee Community College full time pay an average of $2,026 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,062. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,185 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Tallahassee Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 86% took at least some of their classes online.
Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
View Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools Nationwide >
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.