Florida Online RN to BSN
The best Florida online RN to BSN nursing schools and programs are affordable and flexible so working RNs can complete the degree. Let’s face it, the sun shines brighter in the Sunshine State when you love what you do for work, have job security, and are making more money than you were less than two years ago.
Plus, if you’re in Miami or Orlando, you’re in one of the highest-paying cities for nurses in the US. All of this sounds like the end result of going back to school to obtain your Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited Florida university.
Methadology for the Online RN to BSN in Florida
While many BSN programs require clinicals, you have already completed these during your ASN coursework, and leave the next part of your degree fully online. The top 15 Florida programs are ranked evenly by 3 qualifications:
- Reputation (the institution’s CollegeConsensus.com Consensus Score)
- Cost (per online credit)
- Success Outcomes (from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard)
1. University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a public postsecondary school just 13 miles east of the Orlando’s city center. It has the largest student enrollment for a single campus in the entire country. Established in 1963, the state legislator created the institution as the Florida Technological University, in an attempt to create skilled workers who could plug into the US Space Program, at the Kennedy Space Center among others. UCF has over 200 degree offerings through their 13 colleges and 10 regional campuses which vary in size.
The College of Nursing at the University of Central Florida offers an extensive Post Licensure RN to BSN. Coursework for this program is entirely online, with reduced tuition and fee waivers. Students also have the opportunity to take classes in the traditional classroom setting upon request. The UCF College of Nursing program has three start dates and there are options for taking the program on a full time or part-time basis.
Location: Orlando Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
More: Visit the school to learn more about this RN to BSN program at the University of Central Florida.
2. University of Florida
The University of Florida (UF) is an American Public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant university with a high level of research conducted as an institution. The campus sits on 2,000 acres of land in Gainesville, Florida, and has been operational at this location since 1906.
Through UF Online, the schools offers an RN to Bachelors in Nursing for students who have an associate degree in nursing. The RN to BSN trains students to be leaders in a variety of healthcare fields and emphasizes a number of care settings. It prepares students to take their nursing career to the next level or to continue on and earn a master’s degree in nursing. Students attend on a part-time basis and complete 31 credits over 5 semesters. The format is entirely online with the same high quality education as their in-person classes. So students have the flexibility to remain employed in the nursing profession while completing the program.
Location: Gainesville, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
More: Visit the school to learn more about this RN to BSN program.
3. Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University is a private nonprofit postsecondary institution. Its beautiful campus is on 300 acres of land in the town of Fort Lauderdale Florida. NSU offers a comprehensive RN to BSN as a pathway for students to expand their nursing career options and further their skills and potential in the nursing field.
Most classes have the option of fulfillment fully online, with options to study at multiple locations. Students train in the critical hands-on fundamentals of nursing. But they also learn extensive background on policies that impact the nursing profession, and skills for cultural humility and working with diverse populations. Students can complete the program in as little as four semesters.
Location: Fort Lauderdale Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
More: Visit the school to learn more about this RN to BSN program.
4. Barry University
Barry University is a private liberal arts school with a Catholic foundation. The Adrian Dominican Sisters opened the school in 1940. Originally the Barry College of Women it educated only female students. The campus is located in the Miami Shores Suburb, just north of downtown.
Students can compete the RN to a BSN entirely online. This bachelor’s degree program is known for its affordability, as well as the flexibility that the online format allows. Following program prerequisites, this course of study can be accomplished with two classes per semester, with the ability to complete the program in as little as 15 months. Prospective students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and possess an unencumbered US RN License.
Location: Miami Shores, Florida
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
More: Visit the school to learn more about this RN to BSN program.
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5. Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University (JU) is a private postsecondary institution in Jacksonville Florida. Though the campus is in an urban center, it boasts waterfront views and forested paths. Established in 1934, it was originally a two-year college, called Jacksonville Junior College. In 1954, they began acting like a four-year degree-granting institution.
The university offers an online RN to BSN program for busy working nurses. This bachelor’s degree features eight week courses, with the ability to study with full time or part time status. Students participate in local practicum projects, so it is convenient for military service members to participate from any location. Most online faculty members also teach traditional in-class coursework, so online students don’t miss out on quality.
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
More: Visit the school to learn more about this RN to BSN program.
6. Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College (FSC) is a private college that sits in a town called Lakeland, on 110 acres of land. They are a private institution with a Methodist foundation that was established in 1883. The campus is the home to the world’s largest on-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. And the 70 buildings with historical significance on the campus are part of the National Historic Landmarks.
The Florida Southern College offers an innovative RN to Bachelors of Science in Nursing degree. The program is entirely online with a hybrid option. Courses have the flexibility to accommodate working nursing professionals. Accelerated options allow students with full-time status to complete 36-48 credit hours per year in seven-week terms. This degree program provides students with the foundation to continue their studies. Many graduate continue to earn an advanced degree following the RN to BSN program. Additionally, graduates of the program also qualify for leadership roles in the field of nursing.
Location: Lakeland, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
More: Visit the school to learn more about this Florida RN to BSN program.
7. Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) is a faith-based private postsecondary institution. It embraces an interdenominational Christian worldview for a liberal arts education. Established in 1968, its picturesque campus is just one mile from the Atlantic Ocean’s Intercoastal Waterway. Education at PBA is high quality with low student to faculty ratio. It offer over fifty undergraduate and graduate programs and a variety of degree specializations.
The RN to BSN at Palm Beach Atlantic University is entirely online. This flexible format allows students to remain committed to their personal and professional obligations while successfully completing their RN to BSN program. The bachelor’s degree program features a holistic approach to nursing practice and healthcare with biblical, historical, and practical guidance. Florida residents qualify for up to $3,000 in financial aid. And all students have a direct pathway to graduate studies enabling leadership opportunities in the fields of nursing. Prospective students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher in their previous educational endeavors.
Location: West Palm Beach, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
More: Visit the school to learn more about this Florida RN to BSN program.
8. Florida International University
Florida International University, also known as FIU, is an American metropolitan public research university in the greater Miami region. FIU was established in 1943, by a founding body that was connected to the state legislature, as an advocacy measure for public education. Today, they are classified as offering the highest level of research by the Carnegie Foundation and are considered a research institution by the Florida State Legislature. They belong to the state university system of Florida, offering 12 campuses spread throughout the state. They are the largest university in South Florida, and the second-largest in the state, with a total enrollment topping 55,000.
The Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Florida International University offers an online RN to BSN. This program is for nurses who work in the field and are ready for the next step. Each student is placed in a clinical setting for experiential learning sections, enabling them to grow hands-on experience while skill-building. Graduates of the program are well-positioned to further their education in pursuit of a master’s degree in nursing or engage in the profession with their RN to BSN.
Location: Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
More: Visit the school to learn more about the RN to BSN program at Florida International University.
9. University of North Florida
The University of North Florida offers an RN to Bachelors of Science in Nursing Program for students who are already registered nurses. One of the features of the program is the online track that is open to anyone in the country who holds an active RN licensure in their state of residence. This particular track makes it possible for students to complete the course of study in one year, with the equivalent of three traditional semesters. A new cohort is admitted every 8 weeks, and students take 2 courses per 7-week term. Students are given the high-level skills of providing comprehensive healthcare in a variety of settings to diverse populations.
UNF was founded in 1972 and has since become a member institution of the State University System of Florida. Their stunning campuses take up 1,300 acres of land surrounded by a nature preserve on Jacksonville’s southside.
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
More: Visit the school to learn more about this Florida RN to BSN program.
10. Broward College
Broward College is a public state college located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that is connected to the larger Florida College System. This post-secondary institution was originally conceived in 1953, though they did not take on their current name until 2008. Broward is known for offering two-year degrees, though they expanded to offer four-year degrees as reflected by their name change.
Broward College offers a comprehensive RN to BSN nursing program, designed to elevate current nurses to the next level of management and leadership positions in the nursing field. This program is offered with a combined hybrid format of both online coursework and classes that meet in person, both of which are supplemented with lab work and clinical components. Each class is administered within an 8-week framework, that includes weekly lectures and expands on current topics like end-of-life care, and legal ethics. Prospective students must apply with a 2.5 GPA or above, and a registered nurse license in the state of Florida.
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
More: Visit the school to learn more about this Florida RN to BSN program.
11. University of South Florida
The University of South Florida in the bustling city of Tampa holds the unique distinction of the first independent state university. Built in the 20th century, it opened its doors to students in 1956. The campuses of the USF System include three member institutions: USF Tampa, USF St. Petersburg, and USF Sarasota-Manatee. With just over 50,000 enrolled at USF, this large public university is also a space-grant university.
In the RN to BSN program at the USF, students are offered a comprehensive and affordable, fully online Bachelors of Sciences in Nursing program that is for students who are already working as nurses in the field. This flexible learning format gives BSN students the tools and skills to be competitive in the fields of nursing. A wide array of nursing topics are in the BSN courses including nursing management, health assessment, clinical pharmacology, nursing code of ethics, leadership in nursing, and community health nursing. The foundations are infused with liberal arts courses that cover such topics as the biology of aging and issues that concern rural elderly.
Location: Tampa, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
More: Visit the school to learn more about this Florida RN to BSN program.
12. Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University opened its doors to students in 1964 with a dedication from president Lyndon B. Johnson. The Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic has an RN to BSN nursing program. Flexibility offered by the online format allows students to continue working while fulfilling their coursework.
Obtaining a BSN allows students to have greater job security while building the foundations to either continue on to a master’s degree program, or progress in the nursing field upon graduation. The program works at an accelerated pace and builds on the nursing experience students already have. And most BSN students are able to graduate within 24 months of starting.
Location: Boca Raton, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
More: Visit the school to learn more about this Florida RN to BSN program.
13. University of West Florida
In 1963, the State University System of Florida established a public research university on what is nearly the westernmost tip of north Florida. In the Gulf Coast county of Escambia, the school serves students who mostly from the surrounding communities of Pensacola. This space-grant institution is also a welcomes a significant number of students who are military personnel.
The University of West Florida has an online RN to BSN nursing program. It focuses on the skills necessary to help diploma or ASN holding nurses become clinical generalists. Leaders, managers, and nurses who are trained in thinking critically are going to make a difference in taking the healthcare industry well into the 21st century.
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
More: Visit the school to learn more about this Florida RN to BSN program at the University of West Florida.
14. Santa Fe College
Santa Fe College in Gainesville is a member institution of the Florida College System. It serves the students of central Florida, around the state, and around the country. With its roots as a community college, Santa Fe College still takes seriously how important small classes and accessible instructors can be to the success of students.
The RN to BSN program at Santa Fe College takes the instruction that registered nurses receive in the first two years of their degree and deepen it. With a focus on both the theory and practice of nursing, the RN to BSN program will prepare graduates to become leaders in their field.
Location: Gainsville, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
More: Visit the school to learn more about this Florida RN to BSN program.
15. Florida National University
A relatively young school, Florida National University began its first classes in 1988. With a 94% Latinx/Hispanic student body, FNU is proud to serve many Hispanic students. But it does not qualify as a Hispanic Serving Institution because of its status as a for-profit college.
The fully online RN to MSN option at FNU is innovative and is the only one on this list that makes getting your BSN just one stop on the journey to your career goals. The program prepares its BSN students to become professional nurses and nursing supervisors. Students learn health assessment, nursing theories, and concepts, research, leadership, informatics, and health promotion across various healthcare settings. FNU awards graduates a Bachelor of Science degree upon completion of the RN to MSN program, as well as the Master of Science in Nursing.
Location: Hialeah, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
More: Visit the school to learn more about this Florida RN to BSN program.
16. University of Tampa
Location: Tampa, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
More: Visit the school to learn more about this Florida RN to BSN program.
17. Miami Dade College
The Benjamin Leon School of Nursing at Miami Dade College School of Nursing offers and online RN to BSN degree. Students can complete this bachelor’s degree in nursing program entirely online with the exception of two clinical courses.
Location: Miami, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE and ACEN accredited institution
More: Visit the school to learn more about this Florida RN to BSN program.
18. Daytona State College
The Bob and Carol Allen School of Nursing at Daytona State College offers and online RN to BSN degree.
Location: Daytona, Florida
Accreditation: ACEN
More: Visit the school to learn more about this Florida RN to BSN program.
19. Seminole State College
Seminole State College of Florida offers and online RN to BSN degree. The program’s industry focused curriculum was developed in conjunction with Central Florida health providers. Additionally students can complete a BSN in as little as 12 months.
Location: Sanford, Florida
Accreditation: ACEN
More: Visit the school to learn more about this Florida RN BSN program.
20. Pasco-Hernando State College
The fully online program at Pasco-Hernando State College provides educational mobility to the licensed Registered Nurse with an associate degree or diploma in nursing. This RN to BSN program bridges the student’s knowledge in nursing to healthcare practice at the baccalaureate and master’s level. Online instruction and clinical experiences provide the knowledge, clinical expertise, leadership, and role development required for professional nursing practice.
Location: Port Richey, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
More: Visit the school to learn more about this Florida RN BSN program.
How Do You Become a Nurse in Florida?
Nursing professionals are in great demand in Florida. The Sunshine State has been one of the most popular retirement states in the country for many decades. So, earning a degree from one of the top nursing schools in Florida offers tremendous job security for Registered Nurses.
Students interested in nursing careers must begin by searching the many nursing schools in Florida. Remember to consider an accredited online nursing school in Florida, which is typically offered by the many available top nursing schools in Florida.
How Do You Choose a Nursing School in Florida?
One of the ways to determine if a school is a good fit, and a quality degree, is to research the school’s NCLEX Florida pass rates. Florida NCLEX pass rates by the school are often listed on websites dedicated to advising students about different programs available in Florida. Some top nursing schools in Florida disclose their NCLEX Florida pass rates on the school’s proprietary website.
Students should also apply to the state’s nursing board as they will eventually be required to obtain a Florida Board of Nursing endorsement before they can begin to work. Be certain to understand all the Florida Board of Nursing license renewal requirements.
With a Florida Board of Nursing endorsement, each nurse is responsible for the license renewal. The Florida Board of Nursing license renewal is available on the nursing board’s website.
What are the Admissions Requirements for RN to BSN Programs?
Admission requirements for Florida RN to BSN programs vary from one Florida college to another. In general, all prospective students must submit some or all of the below admission criteria items to prospective Florida schools and nursing programs.
- BSN applicants should hold a current and unencumbered Florida Registered Nurse or active Florida RN license / an unencumbered Florida RN license or enhanced licensure through the Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC)
- have an ADN or diploma in nursing from an accredited college complete general education courses and prerequisite courses and meet all university or college admission requirements
- submit official transcripts with a GPA of 2.8 or higher on all previous coursework
- complete a background check
- submit immunization documentation
What Do You Learn in an Online RN to BSN in Florida?
The online RN to BSN program in Florida will prepare nurses to take on more complex roles as RNs. BSN courses include topics such as health informatics, community-oriented practice, health promotion, nursing research, health care policies, advanced pathophysiology, community health assessments, advanced pharmacology, public health nursing, and leadership development. The program also covers topics such as interdisciplinary collaboration, Evidence-Based Practice (EBP), teaching and learning, and information literacy.
How Long are Online RN to BSN Programs at Florida Colleges?
Online RN to BSN programs at Florida colleges vary in length, depending on the school and the student’s personal situation. Generally, the RN to BSN programs range from 12 to 24 months in length, although it is possible to complete the program faster depending on the number of transfer credits accepted.
How is the Job Market for Nurses in Florida?
With national job growth for registered nurses at 6%, many of the 500,000 new jobs are earmarked for BSN holders. Not only that, the ASN or Diploma RN license may soon be a thing of the past. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is working to make a BSN the minimum degree required for licensure in nursing. Additionally, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program recommends that hospital staff be 80% BSN-holding nurses.
Are Nurses in High Demand in Florida?
The job market for nurses in Florida depends upon two primary factors. The first factor, as one would expect, is based on demand. The second is based on the job location. An increasing demand for nurses in Florida is due to an aging baby-boomer population. Other factors include obesity and diabetic issues, and lack of of preventative care. Some of the best nursing jobs in Florida are in major metropolitan areas near cutting-edge teaching hospitals.
What Kinds of Nursing Jobs are there in Florida?
Overall, job growth in the nursing profession should surpass the growth of the overall economy. The state of Florida offers many job opportunities for RN jobs in Florida. In general, the state of Florida employs the fourth most registered nurses in the country. RN jobs in Florida are available in positions that offer specialty positions like:
- Ambulatory Nurse
- Clinical Nurse Manager
- Endoscopy Nurse
- Gerontology Nurse
- Operating Room Nurse
- Radiology Nurse
How Much Do Nurses Earn in Florida?
Median nursing salaries in Florida tend to fall slightly under the national average. However, the cost of living in Florida is also lower than many places int eh US. But the Florida cities of Tampa, Miami, and Orlando all rank among the highest-paying cities for nurses.
How much does an LPN make in Florida? According to the BLS, the average salary for a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Florida is $55,860 per year. And the salary range for LPNs in Florida is typically between $39,920 and $64,960.
The BLS average yearly nurse’s salary for a licensed RN in the state of Florida is $79,910. And the average RN salary in Florida per hour is around $38.42. A Florida nurse’s salary depends on the job’s location in Florida, and the nature of the nursing work.
| Type | Florida | US May 2022 Mean Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| CNAs | $33,390 per year (BLS) | $36,220 per year (BLS) |
| LPNs | $53,780 per year (BLS) | $55,860 per year (BLS) |
| RNs | $79,910 per year (BLS) | $89,010 per year (BLS) |
| Nurse Midwives | $97,690 per year (BLS) | $122,450 per year (BLS) |
| Nurse Practitioners | $110,310 per year (BLS) | $124,680 per year (BLS) |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $174,390 per year (BLS) | $205,770 per year (BLS) |
Nursing in Florida
Nursing in Florida, like the rest of the country, will grow because of the tremendous demand for nursing professionals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates that the nursing profession will grow through the year 2031. And to grow at a pace faster than the overall economy.
But, busy working nurses have many options for a convenient, affordable online degree designed for registered nurses. A BSN student with an active RN license can enroll in one of the many online programs and advance their careers. In state and out of state students can both gain further education with an online accredited program for RNs. So if you are and RN in Florida and interested in earning a BSN, apply today and change your future!
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