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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Johns River State College | Palatka, FL | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN, BSN | — |
| Santa Fe College | Gainesville, FL | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN, BSN | CCNE, ACEN |
| Seminole State College of Florida | Sanford, FL | Public | ADN, BSN | ACEN |
| Sheridan Technical College | Hollywood, FL | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN | — |
| South College | Knoxville, TN | Private for-profit | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN, BSN, ABSN, RN-BSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, RN-MSN, Post-Master's-FNP, DNP, DNP-Leadership, MSN-DNP, Doctorate-CRNA, BSN-DNP | CCNE, COA |
| South Florida State College | Avon Park, FL | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN, BSN | ACEN |
| South University-Tampa | Tampa, FL | Private for-profit | BSN, MSN-FNP, DNP | — |
| South University-West Palm Beach | Royal Palm Beach, FL | Private for-profit | BSN, MSN-FNP | — |
| Southeastern College-West Palm Beach | West Palm Beach, FL | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, ADN, BSN | — |
| Southeastern University | Lakeland, FL | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN | CCNE, ACEN (candidate) |
| Southern Technical College | Fort Myers, FL | Private for-profit | ADN | — |
| St Petersburg College | St. Petersburg, FL | Public | ADN, BSN | CCNE, ACEN |
| St. Thomas University | Miami Gardens, FL | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, Post-Master's, DNP | CCNE |
| State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota | Bradenton, FL | Public | ADN, BSN | ACEN |
| Suncoast Technical College | Sarasota, FL | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN | — |
| Tallahassee State College | Tallahassee, FL | Public | CNA, ADN, BSN | ACEN |
| Taylor College | Ocala, FL | Private for-profit | ADN | ACEN |
| The College of the Florida Keys | Key West, FL | Public | ADN, BSN | ACEN |
| The University of Tampa | Tampa, FL | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, Post-Master's, DNP | CCNE |
| Tom P. Haney Technical College | Panama City, FL | Public | LPN/LVN | — |
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.