Online RN to BSN Programs in Florida

Best RN to BSN Online Programs in Florida

1. University of Central Florida

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length: 3 Semesters (Full-Time); 5+ Semesters (Part-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Compact State
• NCLEX Pass Rates: 96.18%

UCF’s Online RN to BSN is backed by a giant College of Nursing with lots of nursing scholarships, glowing reviews for its graduate nursing programs, and a great location. The College is situated in the UCF Academic Health Sciences Center, which has ties to a network of Central Florida medical centers & care facilities. You can use the sample plans of study to set your schedule. Courses are online and the last semester includes a Community & Public Health Practicum for RNs.

2. University of Florida

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length: 5 Semesters (Part-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Compact State
• NCLEX Pass Rates: 97.30%

UF’s Online RN to BSN surges into our #2 Florida spot thanks to its superb tuition numbers, excellent national rankings, and low debt rates. The College of Nursing is well-versed in healthcare education—the BSN graduating class is one of the largest in Florida—and packed with opportunities. It offers DNP & PhD programs—check out the BSN to DNP tracks. It’s active in practice (e.g. rural clinics, practice partnerships, etc.). And it receives plenty of funding from the NIH for research. It’s even working on AI.

3. Florida International University

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length: 3 Semesters (Full-Time); 4+ Semesters (Part-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: No
• NCLEX Pass Rates: 95.93%

Looking for a Florida program that’s flexible, popular with Hispanic students, and career-focused? Look no further than FIU’s Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences (NWCNHS) and its affordable 100% Online RN to BSN. It’s available on a full-time or part-time basis. It can be customized with electives. And it includes fieldwork for the Community Health course and a final 120-hour Senior Clinical Practicum. You could even consider progressing to the Post-BSN to DNP or BSN-to-PhD in Nursing.

4. University of West Florida

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 32
• Length: 3 Semesters (Full-Time); 4-5 Semesters (Part-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes
• NCLEX Pass Rates: 85.29%

Ignore the hiccup above—UWF’s School of Nursing has one of the highest NCLEX pass rates in the state (check out 90%+ figures from past years)! The school is part of the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health, which has particular interests in public health & community outreach, as well as clinical connections to Ascension Sacred Heart and Baptist Hospital. The affordable Online RN to BSN is 100% online—practicums can be completed in your community or workplace setting. If you enjoy the BSN experience, you may even wish to consider the Online MSN in FNP.

5. University of North Florida

• Program: Online RN-BSN Bridge Track
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length: 3 Semesters (Full-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes
• NCLEX Pass Rates: 93.02%

We give UNF a lot of credit for creating a thoughtful & affordable Online RN-BSN Bridge Track with career-focused elements. In addition to a community experience practicum in an agency of your choice, you’ll be encouraged to participate in nursing conferences, professional nursing organization meetings, and/or civic meetings. The School of Nursing is part of the well-regarded Brooks College of Health, which has stakes in health administration leadership and aging research. UNF also offers a smorgasbord of MSN and DNP programs if you’re considering graduate work.

Cheapest RN to BSN Online Programs in Florida

If you’re lucky enough to live in Florida and hold a state RN license, Florida is—hands-down—the most affordable place to earn an Online RN to BSN! Total tuition costs can fall under $5,000. That’s why scores of FL schools also appear in our national rankings of the Cheapest Online RN to BSN Programs (CCNE-accredited only). However, to give you the full picture, we cover both ACEN-accredited and CCNE-accredited schools in the following rankings.

1. Lake-Sumter State College

• Program: Online RN-BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 32
• Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: No
• Cost Info: Tuition & Fees
• NCLEX Pass Rates: 95.74%

LSSC’s ACEN-accredited Online RN-BSN is ridiculously affordable for Florida RNs. In the FAQ section, LSSC states that the total cost of tuition and textbooks for core courses and electives (30 credits) is less than $4,500. There will be minor one-off fees (e.g. application fee), but they’re very small.

2. University of Florida

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: No
• Cost Info: Tuition & Fees
• NCLEX Pass Rates: 97.30%

UF Online tuition rates for Florida residents in the Online RN to BSN are extraordinarily low! Even when you factor in required fees, you’re still paying next-to-nothing. Just bear in mind that UF Online is only able to accept students who have an active, unencumbered Florida RN license or enhanced licensure through the Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC).

3. Florida Gateway College

• Program: Online RN-BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 31
• Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: No
• Cost Info: Tuition & Fees
• NCLEX Pass Rates: 97.83%

FGC charges different tuition & fees for lower division and upper division courses. So we used the upper division rate & mandatory distance learning fee in our cost calculations for the Online RN-BSN. But we still got an amazing price for students with a current Florida RN license! It’s only a few hundred dollars more than UF Online.

4. Santa Fe College

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: No
• Cost Info: Tuition & Fees
• NCLEX Pass Rates: 91.18%

For Florida residents, SFC is almost the same price as FGC—check out the useful breakdown of total costs & distance learning fees on the Online RN to BSN program page! Out-of-state RN to BSN students pay a great deal more. If you’re planning on taking more credits to make up prerequisites, see SFC’s Cost of Attendance section for a tuition estimate.

5. Northwest Florida State College

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: Yes for AL Residents
• Cost Info: Tuition & Fees
• NCLEX Pass Rates: 92.73%

NWFSC’s Online RN to BSN is a steal for Florida residents. Even when you include the mandatory per credit hour Distance Learning fee and one-off course fees, the program is still cheap. See the Tuition & Fees page for details on all costs. Alabama residents should also know that NWFSC offers a special border tuition rate that’s only $1 more than the in-state per credit rate!

Fastest Online RN to BSN Programs in Florida

To appear in our Fastest Florida rankings—and our list of the Fastest Online RN to BSN Programs in the country—schools had to offer programs that lasted less than 3 semesters. Any Online RN to BSN that was one year or more was excluded.

1. Lake-Sumter State College

• Program: Online RN-BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length: 2 Semesters (Full-Time); 5 Semesters (Part-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: No
• NCLEX Pass Rates: 95.74%

In its helpful FAQ section, LSSC states that its 100% Online RN-BSN can be finished in 2 semesters (15 credits per semester). You’ll be able to start in the fall, spring, or summer semester. All coursework is online; clinical practicums in the Capstone and Community Health Nursing can be completed in your local community.

2. Southeastern University

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length: 2 Semesters (Full-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes
• NCLEX Pass Rates: 79.07%

On the hunt for a Christian program? If you have all the religious prerequisites in hand, SEU’s speedy Online RN to BSN takes 2 semesters. On this schedule, you might complete 5 courses/16 credits in the fall semester and 4 courses/14 credits in the second semester. The second semester will involve a community nursing practicum and a capstone project. See the Undergraduate Catalog for a full list of prerequisites.

2. Jacksonville University

• Program: Online RN-BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length: 9 Months (Full-Time); Part-Time Plans Available
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes
• NCLEX Pass Rates: 90.91%

JU’s 30-credit Online RN-BSN was another program we found in Florida that matched our speed criteria! On a full-time, turbo-charged schedule, you can complete your BSN in 9 months; part-time study and Cohort-Based options are also available. Better yet, Online RN to BSN courses are 8 weeks long and there are no mandatory log-in times.

RN to BSN Scholarships in Florida

RN to BSN Requirements in Florida

RN Licensure: Online RN to BSN degrees are classified as “post-licensure” programs—you’ll usually be expected to be a licensed RN when you start. Some schools will accept applicants who are still waiting to sit the NCLEX exam. Ask the RN to BSN coordinator for details.

• If you need to get your state licensure sorted before you begin, visit the Florida Board of Nursing.
• While you’re there, you might want to check out the NCLEX pass rates for your shortlist of Florida schools. These statistics are for 4-year BSN programs that lead to licensure, but they can still serve as a useful quality marker.

State Authorization: Do you live outside of Florida?

• You’ll notice that many Florida colleges & universities expect Online RN to BSN applicants to either a) hold a Florida RN license; or b) live in a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state. Check the admissions requirements to ensure you’re eligible to apply.
• We also recommend you look at any fine print on state authorization. Due to distance learning regulations, Online RN to BSN programs in Florida may not be able to accept students from certain states.

Florida Online RN to BSN Programs: FAQs

Are Florida Online RN to BSN Programs Really That Cheap?

Yes—especially if you are a Florida resident applying for a public program.

• In-state tuition rates at Florida public universities & state colleges are often extraordinarily low. This rule applies to both ACEN- and CCNE-accredited options.
• Out-of-state tuition rates for Online RN to BSN programs at public schools are usually much more expensive.

Once you start looking at private options, this rule no longer applies. For example:

• Southeastern University, a private Christian school in Florida, charges the same low tuition rate to all students. It’s one of the Cheapest Online RN to BSN Programs in the country.
• St. Thomas University, a private Catholic school in Florida, also has a super-affordable Online RN to BSN.

Do I Need a Florida RN License to Apply for Florida Online RN to BSN Programs?

It depends. Some schools—including a number of affordable Florida state & community colleges—want to see a Florida RN license in your application. Even Palm Beach Atlantic University, which is a private Christian school, lists this requirement.

But there are plenty of alternatives! UWF accepts out-of-state RNs to its Online RN to BSN. So do UCF, SFC, and NWFSC—the list goes on. Read the admissions requirements carefully to learn if you’re eligible to apply.

Are There Any 100% Online RN to BSN Programs Available in Florida?

Absolutely! In fact, many of the schools that appear in our rankings of the Best Online RN to BSN Programs in Florida offer 100% online degrees. In this scenario, all of your coursework will be delivered through distance learning, often through asynchronous delivery (no log-in times).

But it’s important to note you may still be required to travel to sites for clinical practicums & fieldwork. Sometimes these field hours can be completed in your place of employment; sometimes you will need to work at community/public health sites. Check the curriculum section for details.

Is Statistics a Prerequisite for Florida Online RN to BSN Programs?

Usually. You’ll see it being mentioned in admissions requirements for Online RN to BSN programs from big public universities (e.g. UCF, UNF, UWF, etc.) and Florida state & community colleges (e.g. SFC).

When in doubt, ask the RN to BSN program coordinator for clarification. Remember, too, that you may be able to complete missing prerequisites after you initially apply for the program as co-requisites.

Can I Opt for an Online RN to BSN to MSN Program in Florida?

Yes. If you’re curious about graduate work or need a BSN on your résumé for employment reasons, you can enroll in an Online RN to BSN to MSN program instead of an Online RN to BSN. These accelerated programs will allow you to earn both degrees in less time than it would take to earn them separately.

Examples of CCNE-accredited programs in Florida include:

• Jacksonville University’s Online RN-MSN
• Herzing University’s Online RN to BSN to MSN
• Nova Southeastern University’s Online RN to MSN