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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Panhandle Technical College | Chipley, FL | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN | — |
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland, FL | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-Leadership, DNP | CCNE |
| Florida SouthWestern State College | Fort Myers, FL | Public | ADN, BSN | ACEN |
| Florida State College at Jacksonville | Jacksonville, FL | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN, BSN | ACEN |
| Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | Public | BSN, DNP, Doctorate-CRNA | CCNE |
| Fort Myers Technical College | Fort Myers, FL | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN | — |
| Fortis College-Cutler Bay | Cutler Bay, FL | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Fortis College-Orange Park | Orange Park, FL | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Fortis Institute-Pensacola | Pensacola, FL | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Fortis Institute-Port Saint Lucie | Port Saint Lucie, FL | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| FVI School of Nursing and Technology | Miami, FL | Private for-profit | CNA, ADN | ACEN |
| Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay | Saint Petersburg, FL | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, ADN, BSN | ACEN |
| Galen Health Institutes-Gainesville | Gainesville, FL | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Galen Health Institutes-Miami Campus | Pembroke Pines, FL | Private for-profit | ADN, BSN | — |
| Galen Health Institutes-Sarasota | Sarasota, FL | Private for-profit | ADN | — |
| Gulf Coast State College | Panama City, FL | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, RN Diploma, ADN, BSN | CCNE, ACEN |
| Gwinnett Institute | Orlando, FL | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, ADN, BSN | — |
| HCA Florida Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing | Miami, FL | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN | — |
| HCI College | West Palm Beach, FL | Private for-profit | ADN | — |
| Herzing University-Orlando | Winter Park, FL | Private nonprofit | ADN, BSN | CCNE, ACEN |
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.