Top Nursing Schools in Florida
This page lists 132 schools in Florida that reported awards in licensed nursing education to the U.S. Department of Education for 2023-24 — including 63 practical/vocational nursing (LPN/LVN), 63 associate degree (ADN), 72 bachelor's (BSN), 25 master's and 18 Doctor of Nursing Practice award levels. By ownership, 72 public, 19 private nonprofit and 41 private for-profit. 65 appear in the CCNE or ACEN accreditor directories for at least one nursing program level. The largest concentrations are in Miami (11), Tampa (7), Orlando (6) and Fort Myers (5).
Data last reviewed: October 6, 2026
Sources: IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education) / CCNE directory / ACEN directory / official school websites
Listing does not certify educational quality or guarantee licensure eligibility. Verify details with the school before applying.
Listed alphabetically. Inclusion is editorial selection, not a ranking — see our methodology. How schools are selected
Schools (134)
| School | Location | Ownership | Nursing awards / programs | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chipola College | Marianna, FL | Public | CNA, ADN, BSN | ACEN |
| City College-Altamonte Springs | Altamonte Springs, FL | Private for-profit | ADN | — |
| College of Central Florida | Ocala, FL | Public | ADN, BSN | ACEN |
| Compu-Med Vocational Careers Corp | Hialeah, FL | Private for-profit | ADN | — |
| Concorde Career Institute-Jacksonville | Jacksonville, FL | Private for-profit | ADN | ACEN (candidate) |
| Daytona College | Ormond Beach, FL | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN (candidate) |
| Daytona State College | Daytona Beach, FL | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN, BSN | ACEN |
| Eastern Florida State College | Melbourne, FL | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN, BSN | CCNE, ACEN |
| Emerald Coast Technical College | DeFuniak Springs, FL | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN | — |
| Erwin Technical College | Tampa, FL | Public | LPN/LVN | — |
| Excelsior University | Albany, NY | Private nonprofit | ADN, LPN-RN, BSN, RN-BSN, MSN, MSN-Informatics, MSN-Leadership, MSN-Nurse Educator | ACEN |
| First Coast Technical College | Saint Augustine, FL | Public | LPN/LVN | — |
| Florida Academy of Nursing | Miramar, FL | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, BSN | — |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | Tallahassee, FL | Public | BSN, MSN | ACEN |
| Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, FL | Public | BSN, MSN, Grad Cert-PMHNP, DNP, PhD | CCNE |
| Florida College | Temple Terrace, FL | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Florida Gateway College | Lake City, FL | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN, BSN | CCNE, ACEN |
| Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers, FL | Public | BSN, MSN, DNP | CCNE |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | Public | BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, Grad Cert, Grad Cert-PMHNP, DNP, PhD | CCNE |
| Florida National University-Main Campus | Hialeah, FL | Private for-profit | ADN, BSN, MSN-Leadership, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-FNP | CCNE |
Before you apply in Florida
- Prelicensure nursing programs must be approved by the state's board of nursing. Check the board's current list for the campus you will attend.
- Program accreditation (CCNE, ACEN or CNEA) is separate from state approval and from the institution's own accreditation. Each school page shows which records we found and where.
- Online programs based in another state may not accept residents of Florida. See online coursework and clinical requirements.