Compare costs, NCLEX pass rates, and program formats for BSN programs accessible from Brandon, FL.
How do you pick a nursing school near Brandon when the area's largest hospital employers (Tampa General, BayCare, and AdventHealth) hire hundreds of new RNs each year?
The answer lies in proximity: Brandon sits just outside Tampa, so students can access clinical rotations at major facilities while commuting to BSN, ADN, and accelerated programs at the University of South Florida, Hillsborough Community College, and nearby schools.
Florida's ongoing nursing shortage keeps starting wages competitive, but admission to the strongest prelicensure tracks remains selective, making careful program research essential.
Nursing students in the Brandon area have access to a variety of accredited BSN and ADN programs within a 45-mile radius, from public universities to private colleges and community colleges. The following schools stand out for their nursing education quality, affordability, and proximity to Brandon, with options ranging from traditional four-year degrees to accelerated paths for career changers and working nurses.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | $10,000/yr | Public university with strong local clinical partnerships | |
The University of South Florida, located in Tampa just a short drive from Brandon, is the area's flagship public research university for nursing. It offers multiple BSN pathways, including an accelerated second-degree option, and has broad clinical partnerships with major Tampa Bay hospitals. The institution-wide graduation rate is strong, and net price for in-state students is competitive.
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| #2 | Florida Southern College | Lakeland, FL | $29,000/yr (net price) | Private college with 100% job placement rate | |
Florida Southern College in Lakeland provides a direct-entry BSN program that begins nursing courses in the first year, along with over 500 clinical hours and high-fidelity simulation. The college reports a 100% job placement rate for its nursing graduates and NCLEX pass rates in the 90th percentile. Its small class sizes and supportive community are hallmarks of this private liberal arts institution.
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| #3 | Florida College | Temple Terrace, FL | $24,000/yr | Faith-based BSN with small class sizes | |
Florida College in Temple Terrace offers a faith-based BSN program accredited by CCNE, weaving Christian principles into nursing practice. Students benefit from a state-of-the-art simulation center and clinical placements throughout Tampa Bay. Small cohort sizes and personalized attention are central to the learning experience.
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| #4 | The University of Tampa | Tampa, FL | $36,000/yr | ||
The University of Tampa's four-year BSN is designed for first-time nursing students and includes annual international travel courses. The program boasts a 95% first-time NCLEX pass rate, and its Tampa campus is easily commutable from Brandon. Students gain clinical experience in diverse settings across the region.
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| #5 | Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay | Saint Petersburg, FL | $28,000/yr | ||
Galen College of Nursing's Tampa Bay campus in St. Petersburg offers an accelerated three-year BSN with multiple start dates per year. With no application essays and a free application, the program is designed for accessibility, and students receive dedicated academic advising and on-demand tutoring.
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| #6 | Pasco-Hernando State College | New Port Richey, FL | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Pasco-Hernando State College, located in New Port Richey, offers an online RN-to-BSN completion program as well as several pre-licensure associate tracks, including options for LPN and paramedic transitions. Its low in-state tuition makes it an affordable choice, and the RN-to-BSN can be completed entirely online.
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| #7 | Polk State College | Winter Haven, FL | $9,000/yr (net price) | ||
Polk State College in Winter Haven features an affordable RN-to-BSN hybrid program that can be finished in as few as three semesters, along with an associate degree in nursing for new students and a transition track for experienced healthcare professionals. The RN-to-BSN total tuition is under $4,500, making it one of the most cost-effective pathways in the region.
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| #8 | Hillsborough Community College | Tampa, FL | $4,000/yr (net price) | ||
Hillsborough Community College's ACEN-accredited associate degree in nursing is offered at multiple Tampa campuses close to Brandon. The 72-credit program includes a capstone and clinical simulation labs, preparing students for the NCLEX-RN. Its low tuition and cohort flexibility appeal to cost-conscious students.
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| #9 | St Petersburg College | St. Petersburg, FL | $1,000/yr | ||
St. Petersburg College provides both an online RN-to-BSN program recognized as a Tampa Bay Times 2024 Best of the Best and a hybrid associate in nursing with strong job placement rates. The ASN program offers evening and weekend options, and graduates can seamlessly transition to the college’s BSN completion program.
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| #10 | Galen College of Nursing | Sarasota, FL | $28,000/yr | ||
Galen College of Nursing in Sarasota, further south, offers accelerated three-year BSN and two-year ADN programs with four start dates per year. Like its Tampa Bay campus, it provides a free application, TEAS-based admission, and extensive student support services including tutoring and academic advising.
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Our rankings weigh four data points to identify programs that balance affordability, student success, and career readiness.
Because many nursing students commute from Brandon, we set a 75-mile radius from downtown, pulling in accredited nursing programs in Florida from Tampa, Lakeland, Sarasota, and beyond. Only schools with publicly available data and a recognizable nursing pathway were considered.
The following table compares in-state and out-of-state tuition, net price (the amount students actually pay after financial aid), and median graduate debt for BSN programs within an expanded search radius of Brandon, FL. All institutions listed are public, so the net price typically reflects in-state costs after aid. Where College Scorecard data is available, median debt figures are included; monthly 10-year repayment estimates are not yet reported for these programs.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price | Median Graduate Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian River State College | $2,764 | $10,201 | $3,815 | $8,023 |
| Gulf Coast State College | $2,370 | $8,635 | $4,709 | $7,147 |
| Florida Gateway College | $3,100 | $11,747 | $5,364 | $6,992 |
| Miami Dade College | $2,838 | $9,661 | $5,463 | $9,252 |
| Lake-Sumter State College | $3,292 | $13,276 | $5,855 | $6,750 |
| Saint Johns River State College | $2,591 | $9,334 | $6,135 | $12,000 |
| Eastern Florida State College | $2,791 | $10,976 | $6,440 | $12,250 |
| University of Florida | $6,381 | $28,659 | $6,541 | $15,000 |
| Florida Atlantic University | $4,879 | $17,324 | $8,752 | $17,236 |
| Florida International University | $6,565 | $18,964 | $9,288 | $16,500 |
Nursing programs near Brandon, FL deliver strong NCLEX-RN pass rates, with top schools consistently exceeding both the Florida state average and the national benchmark.
The University of South Florida's Tampa campus, one of the top nursing schools in Florida, has a 10-year average first-time NCLEX pass rate of 91%, comfortably outpacing the Florida statewide average of 81.8% and the national average of 86.7%1 for the 2025 testing cycle. Another well-regarded BSN program in the Tampa Bay area reports an even higher 10-year average of 99%, placing it among the most reliable pathways for students preparing for licensure. These figures reflect sustained program quality rather than a single-year snapshot.
The Florida Board of Nursing mandates that prelicensure nursing programs maintain a first-time NCLEX pass rate of at least 80%1. Falling below this threshold triggers a corrective action plan. The Brandon-area programs highlighted here sit well above that floor, signaling graduates are thoroughly equipped to pass the licensing exam on their first attempt. Prospective students can verify current annual pass rates directly on the Florida Board of Nursing website, as data is updated each cycle.
Program-level earnings for local BSN graduates are not yet published, but the regional benchmark from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows what registered nurses across the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area earn. This gives incoming nurses a realistic salary target.
Becoming a registered nurse in Brandon, Florida, follows a clear pathway from prerequisite coursework to state licensure. A traditional BSN typically takes four years, while accelerated programs for career-changers can be completed in 12-18 months. Florida's Board of Nursing enforces specific requirements including a Level II background check and passing the NCLEX-RN exam.
Choosing a nursing program in the Brandon area involves weighing factors like cost, program length, and NCLEX outcomes. Here are answers to common questions from prospective students.
