Best colleges for nursing in Florida

    Florida International University ranks first in Florida for nursing value (#18 nationally, value score 86.4): graduates earn $98,635 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $11,462 a year.

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition · Source: College Scorecard field of study, reporting year 2025 · 38 Florida colleges ranked · Updated November 4, 2026

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    Best nursing colleges in Florida

    Florida International University ranks first in Florida for nursing value (#18 nationally, value score 86.4): graduates earn $98,635 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $11,462 a year. 38 Florida colleges qualify. At the median one, nursing graduates earn $89,285 and the average net price is $9,919 a year.

    Source: U.S. College Scorecard field of study, 2025

    What the data shows

    Key findings

    • 38 Florida colleges qualify. At the median one, nursing graduates earn $89,285 and the average net price is $9,919 a year.
    • The highest nursing earnings in the state are at Miami Dade College ($106,415), ranked #2 in the state once cost, debt and graduation rate count.
    • The lowest average net price among them is at St Petersburg College: $1,079 a year.
    Median earnings
    $89,285
    National: $85,171
    Median net price
    $9,919
    National: $18,014
    Median federal debt
    $15,250
    nursing graduates
    Public colleges
    27 of 38
    in this list

    38 colleges

    The Florida ranking

    Ordered by the national value score; the national rank is shown with each college. Earnings are medians 4 years after the bachelor's degree.

    1. Rank in Florida 1

      Florida International University

      Miami, FL · Public · #18 nationally

      86.4Value
      Earnings
      $98,635
      Net price
      $11,462
      Federal debt
      $14,000
      Graduation rate
      78%
    2. Rank in Florida 2

      Miami Dade College

      Miami, FL · Public · #22 nationally

      85.0Value
      Earnings
      $106,415
      Net price
      $3,814
      Federal debt
      $8,250
      Graduation rate
      47%
    3. Rank in Florida 3

      Indian River State College

      Fort Pierce, FL · Public · #32 nationally

      81.8Value
      Earnings
      $99,714
      Net price
      $2,617
      Federal debt
      $10,370
      Graduation rate
      43%
    4. Rank in Florida 4

      Gulf Coast State College

      Panama City, FL · Public · #38 nationally

      79.6Value
      Earnings
      $95,757
      Net price
      $2,865
      Federal debt
      $7,500
      Graduation rate
      43%
    5. Rank in Florida 5

      The University of West Florida

      Pensacola, FL · Public · #49 nationally

      75.8Value
      Earnings
      $89,346
      Net price
      $9,443
      Federal debt
      $12,260
      Graduation rate
      60%
    6. Rank in Florida 6

      Polk State College

      Winter Haven, FL · Public · #50 nationally

      75.5Value
      Earnings
      $94,269
      Net price
      $7,232
      Federal debt
      $10,000
      Graduation rate
      33%
    7. Rank in Florida 7

      Pasco-Hernando State College

      New Port Richey, FL · Public · #51 nationally

      75.3Value
      Earnings
      $92,673
      Net price
      $4,278
      Federal debt
      $11,625
      Graduation rate
      40%
    8. Rank in Florida 8

      Daytona State College

      Daytona Beach, FL · Public · #59 nationally

      73.5Value
      Earnings
      $91,166
      Net price
      $4,419
      Federal debt
      $12,000
      Graduation rate
      40%
    9. Rank in Florida 9

      Florida Gateway College

      Lake City, FL · Public · #60 nationally

      73.5Value
      Earnings
      $88,907
      Net price
      $4,420
      Federal debt
      $9,855
      Graduation rate
      48%
    10. Rank in Florida 10

      Florida Atlantic University

      Boca Raton, FL · Public · #68 nationally

      71.9Value
      Earnings
      $91,953
      Net price
      $10,394
      Federal debt
      $22,313
      Graduation rate
      64%
    11. Rank in Florida 11

      University of South Florida

      Tampa, FL · Public · #69 nationally

      71.7Value
      Earnings
      $84,694
      Net price
      $8,648
      Federal debt
      $15,750
      Graduation rate
      78%
    12. Rank in Florida 12

      Florida SouthWestern State College

      Fort Myers, FL · Public · #82 nationally

      70.4Value
      Earnings
      $89,818
      Net price
      $4,782
      Federal debt
      $12,060
      Graduation rate
      34%
    13. Rank in Florida 13

      St Petersburg College

      St. Petersburg, FL · Public · #89 nationally

      69.6Value
      Earnings
      $91,608
      Net price
      $1,079
      Federal debt
      $18,122
      Graduation rate
      35%
    14. Rank in Florida 14

      University of Central Florida

      Orlando, FL · Public · #92 nationally

      69.3Value
      Earnings
      $83,737
      Net price
      $11,516
      Federal debt
      $12,500
      Graduation rate
      78%
    15. Rank in Florida 15

      Florida State College at Jacksonville

      Jacksonville, FL · Public · #102 nationally

      68.2Value
      Earnings
      $90,705
      Net price
      $8,717
      Federal debt
      $15,750
      Graduation rate
      38%
    16. Rank in Florida 16

      Santa Fe College-Florida

      Gainesville, FL · Public · #117 nationally

      66.5Value
      Earnings
      $89,675
      Net price
      $11,289
      Federal debt
      $19,593
      Graduation rate
      53%
    17. Rank in Florida 17

      University of Florida

      Gainesville, FL · Public · #131 nationally

      65.9Value
      Earnings
      $79,839
      Net price
      $5,969
      Federal debt
      $14,750
      Graduation rate
      92%
    18. Rank in Florida 18

      Northwest Florida State College

      Niceville, FL · Public · #143 nationally

      65.1Value
      Earnings
      $84,993
      Net price
      $3,738
      Federal debt
      $11,000
      Graduation rate
      40%
    19. Rank in Florida 19

      Palm Beach State College

      Lake Worth, FL · Public · #147 nationally

      64.7Value
      Earnings
      $85,210
      Net price
      $8,820
      Federal debt
      $10,500
      Graduation rate
      42%
    20. Rank in Florida 20

      Florida Gulf Coast University

      Fort Myers, FL · Public · #154 nationally

      64.1Value
      Earnings
      $86,452
      Net price
      $11,555
      Federal debt
      $18,163
      Graduation rate
      57%
    21. Rank in Florida 21

      State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota

      Bradenton, FL · Public · #159 nationally

      63.8Value
      Earnings
      $84,646
      Net price
      $5,913
      Federal debt
      $11,500
      Graduation rate
      40%
    22. Rank in Florida 22

      Florida State University

      Tallahassee, FL · Public · #164 nationally

      63.6Value
      Earnings
      $78,811
      Net price
      $8,605
      Federal debt
      $12,750
      Graduation rate
      86%
    23. Rank in Florida 23

      College of Central Florida

      Ocala, FL · Public · #166 nationally

      63.1Value
      Earnings
      $93,193
      Net price
      $12,950
      Federal debt
      $22,238
      Graduation rate
      43%
    24. Rank in Florida 24

      Pensacola State College

      Pensacola, FL · Public · #200 nationally

      60.4Value
      Earnings
      $83,371
      Net price
      $7,933
      Federal debt
      $11,298
      Graduation rate
      38%
    25. Rank in Florida 25

      University of Miami

      Coral Gables, FL · Private nonprofit · #201 nationally

      60.3Value
      Earnings
      $92,555
      Net price
      $36,483
      Federal debt
      $17,465
      Graduation rate
      84%
    26. Rank in Florida 26

      University of North Florida

      Jacksonville, FL · Public · #216 nationally

      58.9Value
      Earnings
      $79,454
      Net price
      $11,689
      Federal debt
      $13,750
      Graduation rate
      69%
    27. Rank in Florida 27

      Saint Johns River State College

      Palatka, FL · Public · #249 nationally

      56.4Value
      Earnings
      $80,690
      Net price
      $7,955
      Federal debt
      $12,750
      Graduation rate
      46%
    28. Rank in Florida 28

      Florida Southern College

      Lakeland, FL · Private nonprofit · #326 nationally

      51.1Value
      Earnings
      $93,335
      Net price
      $26,211
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      68%
    29. Rank in Florida 29

      Nova Southeastern University

      Fort Lauderdale, FL · Private nonprofit · #390 nationally

      46.6Value
      Earnings
      $88,004
      Net price
      $27,714
      Federal debt
      $22,250
      Graduation rate
      62%
    30. Rank in Florida 30

      Jacksonville University-Florida

      Jacksonville, FL · Private nonprofit · #407 nationally

      45.3Value
      Earnings
      $89,191
      Net price
      $28,424
      Federal debt
      $20,390
      Graduation rate
      49%
    31. Rank in Florida 31

      The University of Tampa

      Tampa, FL · Private nonprofit · #414 nationally

      44.3Value
      Earnings
      $89,223
      Net price
      $40,584
      Federal debt
      $25,000
      Graduation rate
      69%
    32. Rank in Florida 32

      Barry University

      Miami, FL · Private nonprofit · #441 nationally

      42.7Value
      Earnings
      $93,608
      Net price
      $22,902
      Federal debt
      $29,000
      Graduation rate
      39%
    33. Rank in Florida 33

      Herzing University-Orlando

      Winter Park, FL · Private nonprofit · #442 nationally

      42.7Value
      Earnings
      $91,010
      Net price
      $20,060
      Federal debt
      $28,468
      Graduation rate
      38%
    34. Rank in Florida 34

      Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale

      Fort Lauderdale, FL · Private nonprofit · #443 nationally

      42.7Value
      Earnings
      $89,773
      Net price
      $32,640
      Federal debt
      $25,000
      Graduation rate
      58%
    35. Rank in Florida 35

      Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

      Tallahassee, FL · Public · #457 nationally

      41.6Value
      Earnings
      $73,658
      Net price
      $15,220
      Federal debt
      $16,113
      Graduation rate
      61%
    36. Rank in Florida 36

      AdventHealth University

      Orlando, FL · Private nonprofit · #495 nationally

      39.0Value
      Earnings
      $87,330
      Net price
      $30,906
      Federal debt
      $23,184
      Graduation rate
      53%
    37. Rank in Florida 37

      Palm Beach Atlantic University

      West Palm Beach, FL · Private nonprofit · #678 nationally

      15.3Value
      Earnings
      $76,008
      Net price
      $28,724
      Federal debt
      $25,204
      Graduation rate
      53%
    38. Rank in Florida 38

      Southeastern University

      Lakeland, FL · Private nonprofit · #686 nationally

      4.1Value
      Earnings
      $61,909
      Net price
      $34,297
      Federal debt
      $24,250
      Graduation rate
      43%

    Method: the same value score as the national nursing ranking (earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate, each a national percentile). Data: College Scorecard, reporting year 2025; 2026–27 edition, verified Nov 2026.

    Questions about nursing colleges in Florida

    What are the best colleges for nursing in Florida?

    By CollegesRef value score, the top 3 Florida colleges for nursing are Florida International University (value score 86.4), Miami Dade College (value score 85) and Indian River State College (value score 81.8). The score weighs graduate earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate.

    Which Florida college has the highest earnings for nursing graduates?

    Miami Dade College: its nursing graduates have median earnings of $106,415 4 years after the bachelor's degree.

    What is the most affordable nursing college in Florida on this list?

    St Petersburg College has the lowest average net price of the ranked Florida colleges, $1,079 a year after grants. A family's own price depends on income and aid.

    How many Florida colleges are ranked for nursing?

    38 Florida colleges have a nursing bachelor's program with enough graduates and reported earnings, plus a published net price and graduation rate. Ranks shown are national; the state rank is their order within Florida.