Compare NCLEX pass rates, tuition, program length, and outcomes for every accredited Florida LPN program.
Demand for LPNs in Florida continues to rise, but net prices across the state's programs range from $804 to $6,440 per year after aid, making the cost-quality trade-off central when evaluating affordable LPN programs. All programs on this list are campus-based, though some incorporate hybrid online components; the ranking weighs affordability alongside long-term earnings. Top performers like North Florida College and Chipola College combine low net prices with strong post-graduation wages. Florida's 2024 statewide NCLEX-PN pass rate of 80.8% lags behind the national average, so program choice directly affects your odds of licensure.
This ranking of Florida LPN programs prioritizes affordability and long-term earnings, giving extra weight to institutions where graduates see strong post-completion outcomes. Every school on the list is fully accredited and offers a direct route to NCLEX-PN licensure. Use the methodology notes below to understand how the top 10 were selected.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | North Florida College | Madison, FL | $1,000/yr | Rural residents needing low-cost RN pathway | |
North Florida College's Practical Nursing program serves rural North Florida with a strong pipeline to local healthcare employers. The college emphasizes an integrated LPN-to-RN bridge, allowing graduates to advance to an associate degree in nursing without leaving the region. With an affordable net price around $800 and a student-faculty ratio of 20:1, it's a practical choice for aspiring nurses in the Madison area.
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| #2 | Chipola College | Marianna, FL | $1,000/yr (net price) | Panhandle residents prioritizing employment outcomes | |
Chipola College in Marianna boasts a 100% first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate and 100% job placement within 12 months, making it a standout for career-focused learners. The three-semester program runs Monday through Thursday, accommodating working adults, and state-funded tuition assistance is available for Florida residents. Its rural Panhandle location ensures strong ties to regional healthcare providers.
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| #3 | South Florida State College | Avon Park, FL | $4,000/yr (net price) | Rural residents needing quick career entry | |
South Florida State College offers a fast-track practical nursing certificate that can be completed in about one year, ideal for those eager to enter the workforce quickly. Located in Avon Park, the program serves rural south-central Florida counties with close ties to local hospitals and long-term care facilities. Graduates benefit from an embedded pathway into the college's ADN program for seamless career progression.
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| #4 | Florida Gateway College | Lake City, FL | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Florida Gateway College's 12-month practical nursing certificate emphasizes high NCLEX-PN pass rates and a low student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1. The limited-access program prioritizes early application from Lake City and surrounding rural communities, with strong clinical ties to local hospitals and correctional health facilities. An affordable total cost and a pathway to the college's AS in Nursing make it a compelling option for regional students.
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| #5 | Miami Dade College | Miami, FL | $3,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Miami Dade College's LPN program stands out for its urban setting, offering clinical exposure in Miami's diverse hospital systems and community clinics. With a one-year curriculum and eligibility for federal financial aid, the program is an accessible entry point for the city's multilingual and first-generation student population. Graduates can seamlessly continue into MDC's extensive RN and BSN tracks.
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| #6 | Pensacola State College | Pensacola, FL | $4,000/yr | ||
Pensacola State College's ACEN-accredited practical nursing program combines classroom instruction with hospital-based clinicals in the western Panhandle. The program offers a structured bridge to the college's ADN, making it attractive for military-connected students and regional adults seeking a clear advancement ladder. Affordable tuition and a net price under $4,000 add to its appeal.
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| #7 | Gulf Coast State College | Panama City, FL | ~$5,000/yr (est.) | ||
Gulf Coast State College's 45-week Practical Nurse Certificate is designed for students in Gulf and Franklin counties, with small classes and personalized faculty support. The program's careful alignment with regional clinical sites ensures that graduates are well-prepared for local LPN roles in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice care. A 90% graduate recommendation rate speaks to the quality of the learning experience.
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| #8 | Pasco-Hernando State College | New Port Richey, FL | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Pasco-Hernando State College sets itself apart with a Money-Back Guarantee that refunds tuition if graduates aren't employed within six months. The program admits just 36 students per term, ensuring strong clinical placements within the Tampa Bay region. With a net price around $5,200 and a curriculum that includes obstetrics and mental health, it's a solid value for residents of Pasco and Hernando counties.
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| #9 | Saint Johns River State College | Palatka, FL | $6,000/yr | ||
Saint Johns River State College delivers its practical nursing program across two campuses in Palatka and Orange Park, covering a tri-county region of Northeast Florida. The program has posted a 100% NCLEX-PN pass rate for recent cohorts, reflecting rigorous preparation and strong clinical partnerships. Structured weekday classes and dedicated application windows make it accessible for local residents.
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| #10 | Eastern Florida State College | Melbourne, FL | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Eastern Florida State College's 12-month LPN certificate program in Melbourne serves the Space Coast with upgraded simulation labs and a clear path to the college's RN program. The curriculum spans medical-surgical, obstetric, pediatric, and geriatric nursing, and the program is eligible for federal financial aid. A September 1 application deadline and January start appeal to organized planners.
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Every metric in our ranking comes from public data sources you can verify yourself. We pull from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). These datasets track things like what students actually pay, how much they earn after leaving school, and whether they complete their programs. Using federal data keeps the comparison fair and consistent across every school.
Our composite score balances cost and outcomes equally. Five factors drive the ranking:
Programs that keep costs low and deliver solid earnings and completion rates rise to the top. Our affordable filter explicitly rewards schools that combine lower net prices with strong outcomes, so you won’t see high-cost programs dominating the list just because their graduates earn more.
Two numbers warrant a closer look. First, the graduation rate: since IPEDS can’t isolate each program, this figure reflects the entire college. A school with many part-time or transfer students may show a lower rate even if the LPN track performs well. Second, net price is an institutional average after aid, not a guarantee of your actual cost. Use it as a realistic baseline, then consult the school’s net price calculator for a personalized estimate. These data points work best when you compare them side by side, watching how earnings and debt move together. That’s exactly what the ranking does.
Before diving into the rankings, here are the headline numbers that define Florida's licensed practical nursing education landscape. These figures are drawn from the 10 schools in our analysis and reflect recent data on cost, time commitment, and outcomes.
Understanding the true cost of an LPN program means looking beyond sticker price. Net price, shown below, is the amount students actually pay after grants and scholarships, calculated as a school-wide average. For aspiring LPNs in Florida, community colleges are often the most affordable path: three schools stand out with net prices under $2,000 per year: North Florida College ($804), Chipola College ($1,133), and Manatee Technical College ($1,808).
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Florida College | $2,994 | $11,460 | $804 | N/A |
| Chipola College | $3,120 | $8,950 | $1,133 | N/A |
| Manatee Technical College | N/A | N/A | $1,808 | N/A |
| South Florida State College | $3,165 | $11,859 | $3,877 | $7,368 |
| Pensacola State College | $2,361 | $9,463 | $3,957 | $7,500 |
| Florida State College at Jacksonville | $2,657 | $9,631 | $4,128 | $13,562 |
| Gulf Coast State College | $2,370 | $8,635 | $4,709 | $7,147 |
| Pasco-Hernando State College | $3,155 | $12,032 | $5,203 | $9,535 |
| Florida Gateway College | $3,100 | $11,747 | $5,364 | $6,992 |
| Miami Dade College | $2,838 | $9,661 | $5,463 | $9,252 |
Most Florida LPN programs require 1,350 clock hours to graduate. At schools like Santa Fe College, Florida Gateway College, and Eastern Florida State College, that total encompasses both classroom instruction and hands-on clinical training. Some programs, such as Tampa Medical College, pack 1,616 hours into an accelerated 46-week format. Full-time students typically finish in 11 to 14 months, while part-time pathways can extend to 18 months to accommodate working adults and career changers.
The standard LPN certificate in Florida aligns with the state's Health Science Core – Practical Nursing framework (program code 8418400). Full-time cohorts at public technical and community colleges usually span three semesters, starting each January or August. For example, Eastern Florida State College admits a new class every January and delivers its 1,350-hour curriculum in a continuous, on-campus sequence. Students who need a slower pace can often choose part-time or evening tracks, adding several months to the timeline but keeping the total clock-hour requirement unchanged.
The curriculum is built around foundational nursing knowledge and direct patient care skills. Core courses include:
Each course blends theory with lab practice and culminates in clinical application. The curriculum meets Florida Board of Nursing standards, ensuring graduates are prepared for entry-level practice and ready to take the NCLEX-PN licensing exam.
Clinical training accounts for roughly half of total program hours. Santa Fe College, for instance, allocates 50% of its 1,350 clock hours to direct patient care experiences. That translates to about 675 hours of supervised practice, falling within the typical 500–700 hour range for Florida LPN programs. Clinical schedules at Santa Fe run Monday through Sunday with varying shifts, reflecting real-world nursing demands.
Rotations take place in a variety of settings:
Programs arrange placements locally, often partnering with major healthcare systems to expose students to diverse patient populations.
While LPN didactic coursework is delivered on-campus, many Florida programs build flexibility into clinical schedules. Santa Fe College's clinical rotations include weekend and evening options, which helps students balance other responsibilities. Several schools offer part-time or evening-only tracks specifically designed for working adults. These paths reduce the weekly time commitment but extend the overall length of the program, often to 18 months or longer. Prospective students should confirm scheduling details directly with each program, as not all schools provide weekend or evening cohorts.
Most Florida LPN programs keep admission requirements straightforward, but the most affordable and in-demand schools are growing more selective.
Many Florida community and technical colleges have open enrollment or first-come-first-served policies, but seats in nursing programs are limited. Even at open-admission schools, the practical nursing cohort can be small, so meeting the minimums is no guarantee.
Palm Beach State makes this explicit: hitting the required 75 HESI cumulative score does not assure admission. Eastern Florida State sets a 69% TEAS Reading cutoff, but the final selection weighs more than test scores. South Florida State College’s requirement for three professional references adds another filter.
At the less selective end, Florida Gateway College stands out. Its published TEAS cutoff of 55% is the lowest among listed programs, making it a strong option if your exam scores are a concern. The school itself describes admission as “relatively less competitive,” so meeting that threshold puts you in a good position.
LPN programs have integrated online tools for lectures and assignments, but you won't find a fully online pathway in Florida because the state requires substantial clinical hours. When a program is labeled "online," it almost always refers to a hybrid model that combines web-based didactic coursework with required in-person labs and clinical rotations.
Florida regulations mandate that practical nursing students complete supervised patient care in clinical settings. That means even the most tech-forward programs balance online lectures with hands-on training at campus labs and local healthcare facilities. So as you evaluate options, expect a blend of virtual and on-site learning rather than a fully remote experience.
Among the 28 ranked schools in our directory, only one delivers its LPN curriculum in a hybrid format: Manatee Technical College in Bradenton. This 11-month program offers an evening hybrid option that splits instruction into 661.50 online hours and 688.50 on-campus hours. Enrollees attend practical labs and clinicals in person while completing didactic coursework virtually, making the schedule more manageable for students who work during the day.
A handful of additional Florida programs also incorporate online or hybrid delivery, though they don't appear in our top 28. Lake Technical College runs a part-time hybrid LPN track, and Rasmussen University offers a 15-month hybrid option. United Career Institute lets students complete lectures from home, then attend hands-on labs at the school or a healthcare facility, finishing in as few as 12 months. Tampa Medical College blends synchronous and asynchronous online learning with in-person labs and clinicals.
In practice, a hybrid week might involve 2-3 days of online coursework (live or recorded lectures, discussion boards, quizzes), 1-2 days on campus for skills labs and simulations, and 1-2 days at a clinical site under instructor supervision. Schools typically arrange clinical placements, but distance learners sometimes need to commute to sites or coordinate with local facilities approved by the program.
The biggest advantage is flexibility: you can study theory at your own pace and avoid daily commutes for lectures. This is especially helpful if you're balancing a job or family responsibilities. The trade-off: self-discipline is essential to stay on track with online modules, and the in-person components can't be skipped. You'll still need reliable transportation for on-campus labs and clinical shifts, which may occur during evenings or weekends depending on the school. If you thrive with structure and face-to-face instruction, a traditional campus program might suit you better, but for those who need a more adaptable path, a hybrid LPN program can be a smart entry point into nursing.
Florida's 2024 statewide NCLEX-PN pass rate of 80.8% sits below the national average of 88.4%, making program choice a critical factor in your licensure journey. The licensure process is straightforward, but every step matters from graduation to exam day.
Processing timelines vary, but most candidates wait four to six weeks from the date they submit a complete application to receiving their ATT. Plan your exam date accordingly, especially if you're targeting a specific job start date.
Program pass rates are a transparent indicator of how well a school prepares students for licensure. The Florida Center for Nursing publishes quarterly pass rate data by program, and the NCSBN dashboard lets you filter results by state and year. While 80.8% is the 2024 Florida average, many programs consistently outperform that number. Schools with pass rates below 70% warrant extra scrutiny.
When researching LPN programs in Florida, look for multi-year trends. A single down year might reflect a cohort anomaly, but a persistent dip signals deeper issues. Our directory of accredited LPN programs in Florida highlights schools with strong track records, and you can verify each program's latest rates directly through the Board of Nursing's education portal.
Most LPN programs build NCLEX review into the final semester. Beyond classwork, you can:
On exam day, expect a five-hour window for up to 205 questions (computerized adaptive format). Arrive early, bring your ATT and ID, and avoid bringing any personal items into the testing room. After you pass, the Board issues your Florida LPN license, and you're ready to begin your career.
Licensed Practical Nurses in Florida earn a median annual wage of $60,080, with the top quarter earning over $63,260. For nurses who advance to an RN role through a bridge program, median earnings jump to $82,850. While LPN employment is projected to grow 3% nationally, RN roles are expanding faster at 5%, underscoring the value of continued education.
| Measure | Florida LPNs | Florida RNs |
|---|---|---|
| 25th Percentile | $53,430 | $77,070 |
| Median Annual Wage | $60,080 | $82,850 |
| 75th Percentile | $63,260 | $99,260 |
| Mean (Average) | $60,320 | $88,200 |
| Total Employment | 36,470 | 218,100 |
| National Projected Job Growth (2024-2034) | 3% | 5% |
If you're considering a career as a licensed practical nurse in Florida, you likely have questions about program length, costs, and licensure. Below, we answer the most common questions students ask about LPN training in the Sunshine State.
If the top-ranked programs don't align with your location or preferred schedule, these additional accredited Florida LPN options provide solid training across the state. Each listing highlights key facts like net price, format, and program strengths to help you compare quickly.
