Compare costs, NCLEX pass rates, and career outcomes for accredited practical nursing schools near Doral.
Where can you find an LPN program near Doral that balances clinic access with manageable cost? Among the seven schools ranked here, net prices span from roughly $800 at a North Florida public college to over $35,000 at a Miami private institute. Most are 12-14 month certificate tracks, with on-campus instruction and clinicals in area hospitals. Licensed practical nurses in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach metro earned a mean wage of $61,990 in 2024, per BLS, and health systems like Jackson and Baptist South Florida are steady employers. Yet NCLEX-PN pass rates can differ sharply, so checking recent performance data is a practical safeguard.
Our ranking evaluates LPN programs within a 75-mile radius of Doral, Florida, though we’ve included standout schools from other parts of the state when they excel on cost, outcomes, or unique features. Each school is assessed on net price, institution-wide graduation rate, and campus/online delivery options, with data drawn from federal sources and our own program research.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
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| #1 | FVI School of Nursing and Technology | Miami, FL | $35,000 – $40,000/yr | Miami-Dade students wanting local clinical placements | |
FVI School of Nursing and Technology operates a campus in Miami, putting its 14-month Practical Nursing program squarely in Doral’s backyard. The ACEN- and COE-accredited program blends classroom instruction with hands-on clinical rotations in South Florida healthcare facilities, and it includes NCLEX-PN preparation and job placement assistance specifically targeting the Miami-Dade market. Students benefit from a supportive learning environment with personalized tutoring, simulation labs, and financial aid options for those who qualify.
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| #2 | Jacksonville University | Jacksonville, FL | ~$25,000/yr (est.) | Career changers seeking a hospital-system pipeline | |
Jacksonville University’s 12-month Practical Nurse program provides intensive, campus-based training at its Healthcare Simulation Center and holds a formal partnership with Baptist Health, creating a work-promise pipeline for graduates who pass the NCLEX-PN. While currently not accepting applications, the program is approved by the Florida Board of Nursing and offers a fast-track entry into nursing, with the added benefit of articulation into JU’s broader nursing pathways should students decide to continue their education.
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| #3 | Chipola College | Marianna, FL | $1,000/yr (net price) | Budget-conscious learners prioritizing NCLEX pass rates | |
Chipola College’s 1,350-clock-hour Practical Nursing program in Marianna boasts a 100% first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate and 100% job placement rate within 12 months. The ACEN-accredited program spans three semesters with a spring start and includes classroom, lab, and clinical experiences, including evening and weekend rotations. State-funded tuition assistance is available for eligible Florida residents, and admission requires the TABE test, drug screen, and background check.
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| #4 | Gulf Coast State College | Panama City, FL | ~$5,000/yr (est.) | ||
Gulf Coast State College’s 45-week Practical Nurse Certificate at the Gulf/Franklin Campus delivers a direct path to LPN licensure with small class sizes and low in-state tuition. The selective-admission program covers medical-surgical nursing and comprehensive transitional care through 1,350 hours of training, and it enjoys a 90% graduate recommendation rate.
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| #5 | North Florida College | Madison, FL | $1,000/yr | ||
North Florida College’s Practical Nursing program in Madison provides ACEN-accredited education that prepares students for the NCLEX-PN with hands-on clinical training. The program starts each August, and the application period runs from March through June. While admission criteria are straightforward, the program is designed primarily to serve the North Florida region.
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| #6 | Florida Gateway College | Lake City, FL | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Florida Gateway College’s 12-month Practical Nursing certificate in Lake City stands out for its NCLEX-PN pass rates that exceed state and national averages. The 1,350-clock-hour program includes extensive clinical rotations across diverse healthcare settings, and admission requires both TABE and TEAS exam scores. With a low student-to-faculty ratio and an estimated total cost around $7,319, it offers an affordable, high-quality path to LPN licensure.
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| #7 | Pensacola State College | Pensacola, FL | $4,000/yr | ||
Pensacola State College’s 1,350-hour Practical Nursing program combines classroom teaching, simulation, and clinical rotations in Panhandle-area hospitals. The ACEN-accredited certificate prepares students for the NCLEX-PN and also serves as a stepping stone to the college’s ADN program. Admission requires the HESI A2 exam, along with a background check and drug screen.
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The table below compares costs for LPN programs near Doral, FL, sorted from lowest to highest average net price. Net price is an institution-wide average after financial aid, so your actual cost may differ. Median debt at completion and estimated 10-year monthly payments are shown where available, though payment data for these programs is not yet reported through federal data sources.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Average Net Price (After Aid) | Median Debt at Completion | Estimated 10-Year Monthly Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Florida College | $2,994 | $11,460 | $804 | N/A | N/A |
| Chipola College | $3,120 | $8,950 | $1,133 | N/A | N/A |
| Pensacola State College | $2,361 | $9,463 | $3,957 | $7,500 | N/A |
| Gulf Coast State College | $2,370 | $8,635 | $4,709 | $7,147 | N/A |
| Florida Gateway College | $3,100 | $11,747 | $5,364 | $6,992 | N/A |
| Jacksonville University | $48,150 | $48,150 | $25,180 | $22,000 | N/A |
| FVI School of Nursing and Technology | N/A | N/A | $35,514 | $9,396 | N/A |
NCLEX-PN pass rates are the most direct public measure of how well a practical nursing program prepares students for licensure. A consistently high pass rate signals strong curriculum, quality clinical experiences, and effective exam preparation. A low or declining pass rate can indicate problems with instruction, resources, or student support. Employers and state boards track these numbers closely.
The Florida Board of Nursing publishes annual NCLEX-PN pass rates for every approved LPN program in the state through its online comparison tool. Because 2024 data is the most recent full-year reporting period available, applicants should review those figures before committing to any program. Check each school’s multi-year trend, not just a single year’s result. Programs within commuting distance of Doral fall primarily in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties; we recommend searching the Board’s tool by county to see all local options.
While pass rates tell part of the story, they don’t capture everything about program value. Federal data on former students’ earnings and graduation rates adds useful context, even though these figures are institution-wide rather than program-specific. For the seven programs that appear in our ranking:
These earnings figures reflect the outcomes of all students at each institution, not only LPN graduates. Still, they can help you gauge the economic mobility a school tends to deliver.
The Florida Board of Nursing labels programs that fall short of standards as “Approved/Probationary” or may impose conditional approval. Before enrolling, verify a program’s current status on the Board’s website. Programs on probation may face restrictions on admissions or clinical placements. Statuses can change between review cycles, so always check the latest board announcement.
The journey from student to licensed practical nurse in Doral follows a straightforward path. Most full-time students complete their training in about 12 to 18 months, after which they sit for the NCLEX-PN and apply for state licensure.
Advancing from licensed practical nurse to registered nurse opens up more responsibility, higher pay, and broader career paths. In the Doral area, several schools offer LPN-to-RN bridge tracks, but program availability, format, and requirements can shift from year to year. Here’s how to track down current options.
Miami Dade College and Broward College, two of the top nursing schools in Florida, have long-standing LPN-to-ADN bridge programs. West Coast University also offers an LPN-to-BSN bridge at its Miami campus. These are solid starting points, but always check each school’s latest admissions cycle directly.
Online information may be outdated. Call admissions offices to ask about campus or hybrid delivery, prerequisite courses, duration, and application deadlines. The staff can often clarify details that website brochures omit. Check the Florida Board of Nursing website for a directory of approved prelicensure RN programs in Miami-Dade County. This state list confirms program status and provides official contact information.
Use the Florida Center for Nursing’s data portal to compare schools by graduation rates, NCLEX-RN pass rates, and employment outcomes. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook offers broader RN job and wage projections, helping you gauge the return on investment for a bridge program.
Licensed practical nurses in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach metro area earned an average of $61,990 in 2024 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The wage distribution stretches from about $50,090 at the 10th percentile to $74,420 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the range of experience levels and work settings across the region.
The Miami metro mean sits roughly $1,900 above the Florida average of $60,080 and about $2,260 above the nationwide median of $59,730. While the cost of living in Miami-Dade runs higher than many other parts of the state, the local wage premium helps offset that. Many Doral graduates find that entry-level positions start near the 10th percentile and advance quickly with experience, especially in high-demand settings like skilled nursing and home health.
Nationally, the BLS projects a 3% increase in LPN jobs from 2024 to 2034, with about 54,400 openings each year due to a combination of growth and replacement needs. In Miami-Dade, several forces fuel steady demand: a large and aging population, a dense network of outpatient clinics and ambulatory surgery centers, and a growing home healthcare sector. These factors make the area particularly resilient for new graduates, even as overall national growth appears modest.
Program-specific earnings for recent Doral-area graduates are not yet reported through federal post-college earnings data for the schools ranked here. However, the BLS metro figures provide a dependable benchmark. New LPNs can expect salaries within the lower half of the metro range in their first year, with median progression toward the higher percentiles as they gain credentials and shift into specialty roles. For the latest personalized earning estimates, applicants should contact schools directly and ask about graduate employment outcomes.
Florida’s Board of Nursing now releases detailed NCLEX-PN pass-rate reports, making local LPN program comparisons more transparent than ever.
Our search focused on schools within a 75-mile radius of Doral, covering the full Miami-Dade metro area and parts of southern Broward County.
We evaluated each program based on these criteria:
We refresh these rankings when new data comes out, so you can trust that the list reflects the latest information.
Below are answers to common questions about starting a practical nursing career near Doral, Florida. Use these details to compare program lengths, costs, and requirements as you plan your next steps.
