2023 Best Nursing 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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Nursing Degree Search has created the Best Nursing Schools in Florida to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 47 schools in Florida to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
Top Nursing Schools in Florida
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named University of Florida the best school in Florida for nursing students working on their degree. University of Florida is a large public school located in Gainesville, Florida that handed out 18,084 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $34,570 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $218 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UF graduates make an average of $51,332 annually.
Out of the 47 schools in Florida that were part of this year’s ranking, Rasmussen University - Florida landed the # 2 spot on the list. Rasmussen University - Florida is a private for-profit institution located in Ocala, Florida. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 4,205 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $22,566 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $168. Once they receive their degree, Rasmussen University - Florida graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,940 during the early year of their career.
Out of the 47 schools in Florida that were part of this year’s ranking, University of South Florida - Main Campus landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in Tampa, Florida, the large public school awarded 14,285 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,630 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $205, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from USF Tampa, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,747 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of North Florida. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Florida list. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, the fairly large public school handed out 4,847 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,300 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $170 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UNF graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,563 during the early year of their career.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means University of Miami is a great place for nursing students. U Miami is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Coral Gables, Florida. It awarded 6,348 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $58,013 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $649 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, U Miami graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,957 during the early year of their career.
Florida State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #6 on the list. Tallahassee, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 13,632 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Florida State accumulate an average of $33,087 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $217, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Florida State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,027 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #7, Polk State College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Located in Winter Haven, Florida, the medium-sized public school awarded 2,489 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $13,560 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Polk State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,275 during the early years of their career.
Florida Gulf Coast University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #8 on the list. FGCU is located in Fort Myers, Florida and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3,719 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $25,535 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $241. During the early years of their career, FGCU graduates make an average of $43,420 annually.
With a ranking of #9, Florida International University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. FIU is located in Miami, Florida and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 18,426 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from FIU accumulate an average of $36,395 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $174. During the early years of their career, FIU graduates make an average of $47,774 annually.
University of Central Florida landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. UCF is a public institution located in Orlando, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 20,166 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $28,349 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $221. Once they receive their degree, UCF graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,595 during the early year of their career.
State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list. State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota is a public institution located in Bradenton, Florida. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,224 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota accumulate an average of $12,356 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,325 during the early years of their career.
Nova Southeastern University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Florida ranking. NUS Florida is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6,259 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from NUS Florida accumulate an average of $103,690 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $513, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, NUS Florida graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $61,266 during the early year of their career.
Miami Dade College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in Miami, Florida, the large public school awarded 16,153 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,646 in student loans. During the early years of their career, MDC graduates make an average of $37,255 annually.
Jacksonville University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #14 on the list. Jacksonville, Florida is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 1,413 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from JU accumulate an average of $50,806 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, JU graduates make an average of $47,551 annually.
With a ranking of #15, Valencia College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. This large public school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it awarded 17,631 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $15,450 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $102 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Valencia College graduates make an average of $37,350 annually.
North Florida College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Florida ranking. NFC is a small public school situated in Madison, Florida. It awarded 433 degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, NFC graduates make an average of $40,855 annually.
Florida SouthWestern State College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. FSW is located in Fort Myers, Florida and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,916 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $12,872 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from FSW, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,021 during the early years of their career.
Palm Beach Atlantic University landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in West Palm Beach, Florida, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 727 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $59,535 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Palm Beach Atlantic graduates make an average of $38,754 annually.
Santa Fe College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. This fairly large public school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 3,109 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $15,796 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $119 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Santa Fe College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,905 during the early year of their career.
Broward College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the large public school awarded 13,441 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,988 in student loans. During the early years of their career, BC graduates make an average of $42,319 annually.
With a ranking of #21, Florida Southern College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Lakeland, Florida, and it awarded 857 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Florida Southern accumulate an average of $29,089 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $424 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Florida Southern, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,102 during the early years of their career.
The University of West Florida landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in Pensacola, Florida, the fairly large public school handed out 4,639 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UWF accumulate an average of $23,019 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $239. Once they receive their degree, UWF graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,369 during the early year of their career.
Florida Gateway College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Florida list. FGC is located in Lake City, Florida and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 970 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $7,849 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, FGC graduates make an average of $35,950 annually.
Chipola College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Florida list. Marianna, Florida is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 511 students in 2021-2022.
After graduating from Chipola, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,619 during the early years of their career.
Palm Beach State College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Florida list. Palm Beach State College is a large public school located in Lake Worth, Florida that handed out 5,792 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Palm Beach State College accumulate an average of $9,617 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Palm Beach State College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,671 during the early years of their career.
Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region
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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.
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