Compare tuition, NCLEX pass rates, and outcomes for BSN programs serving Clearwater-area students.
Clearwater sits within the Tampa Bay healthcare corridor, where the median annual wage for registered nurses is $90,120 and hospital expansions continue to drive demand for BSN-prepared nurses. That salary reflects just how central nursing is to the region’s economy.
The city itself has few university nursing campuses, but strong BSN programs are clustered within a 30- to 75-mile radius. Students routinely commute to Tampa, St. Petersburg, and beyond for affordable public programs or rigorous private options, leveraging clinical placements in Clearwater’s own health facilities.
With new-graduate hiring increasingly competitive, program reputation and NCLEX performance can matter more than geography alone. A BSN that offers a balance of low net cost and high first-time pass rates often gives graduates an immediate edge in this tight labor market.
Choosing a BSN program near Clearwater depends on distance, affordability, and hands-on clinical access. The rankings below consider institutional quality and local relevance, highlighting schools that prepare graduates for Tampa Bay’s growing healthcare sector. Whether you need a direct-entry path or an accelerated second degree, these programs offer strong options within a commutable range.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | $10,000/yr | Tampa Bay commuters seeking local clinicals | |
The University of South Florida in Tampa is the most convenient major BSN provider for Clearwater students, with deep clinical partnerships across Tampa Bay’s hospitals and health systems. Its prelicensure pathways include an upper-division track, an accelerated second degree, and a veteran-to-BSN option, all offered on campus. USF’s public tuition and approximately $9,812 effective net price make it an accessible choice, and its 91% retention rate signals strong student support. Graduates benefit from the university’s integration with USF Health, creating a direct pipeline to local nursing jobs.
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| #2 | University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | ~$7,000/yr (est.) | Ambitious students pursuing research excellence | |
The University of Florida in Gainesville delivers the state’s top-ranked BSN program, combining rigorous academics with cutting-edge simulation labs and high NCLEX pass rates. As a public flagship, its effective net price of about $6,541 keeps costs low, and the 91% graduation rate underscores strong student outcomes. While not local to Clearwater, UF’s national reputation and multiple pathways, traditional, accelerated, and RN to BSN, attract ambitious students willing to relocate or manage a commute. Graduates enter the workforce with a degree that carries strong employer recognition across Florida.
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| #3 | Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | $11,000/yr | Holistic learners emphasizing community outreach | |
Florida State University’s BSN in Tallahassee emphasizes holistic admissions, valuing community engagement and work experience alongside academics. The program spans 15-16 months of full-time study, blending classroom learning with clinical rotations in diverse settings. As a public university, its effective net price hovers around $11,297, and a 96% retention rate reflects strong student satisfaction. FSU’s approach appeals to students looking for a rigorous, community-centered nursing education, though it requires a 3.0 GPA and completion of prerequisite courses with a C or better.
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| #4 | Florida International University | Miami, FL | ~$9,000/yr (est.) | ||
Florida International University in Miami offers a traditional BSN, an accelerated option, and a direct-entry MSN for foreign-educated physicians, all on campus. With an effective net price of about $9,288, this public university combines affordability with a state-of-the-art simulation center, and its 92% retention rate indicates strong student engagement. The programs serve South Florida heavily but are open to any qualified applicant, including those from the Clearwater area seeking a diverse, urban training environment. Small cohort sizes and multiple start dates add flexibility.
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| #5 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | $10,000/yr | ||
The University of Central Florida in Orlando delivers a traditional BSN and an accelerated second-degree pathway, both known for exceeding state and national NCLEX-RN averages. With an effective net price of roughly $10,411, the public university offers strong value, and its 92% retention rate highlights student commitment. Three campus locations and a cohort-based, lock-step curriculum provide a structured yet broadly accessible education. Clearwater students willing to commute to Orlando will find a well-regarded program, though it lacks Tampa Bay-specific clinical partnerships.
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| #6 | University of North Florida | Jacksonville, FL | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | ||
The University of North Florida in Jacksonville offers a prelicensure BSN and a direct‑entry freshman admit nursing program, both focused on community‑based learning. With an effective net price near $10,154 and an 85% retention rate, this public university provides a supportive environment. The prelicensure track accepts students with at least 60 credits and emphasizes hands‑on clinicals, while the freshman admit path guarantees a BSN in four years for a small cohort of 50. Jacksonville is a drive from Clearwater, but UNF’s community partnerships make it a solid regional choice.
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| #7 | University of Miami | Coral Gables, FL | $37,000/yr (net price) | ||
The University of Miami in Coral Gables is a private research university with a traditional, accelerated, and RN‑to‑BSN pathway. Its effective net price of about $37,244 reflects its private status and substantial financial aid packages, with a relatively low median graduate debt of $17,500. UM’s 94% retention rate and strong post‑graduation earnings make it a compelling option for students who can manage the cost, though it is geographically distant from Clearwater. The CCNE‑accredited programs emphasize interprofessional collaboration and clinical partnerships with over 200 sites, including UHealth.
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| #8 | Southeastern College-West Palm Beach | West Palm Beach, FL | ~$29,000/yr (est.) | ||
Southeastern College in West Palm Beach awards an Associate in Applied Science in Nursing, a 25‑month pathway geared toward entry‑level nursing employment. The private institution has an effective net price of about $28,820 and requires the TEAS exam, health clearances, and background checks for admission. Its 87.5% graduation rate is high, but the 67% retention rate suggests some students may face challenges. While this program prepares for NCLEX‑RN, it is not a BSN and is located on Florida’s southeast coast, making it less convenient for Clearwater residents.
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| #9 | Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, FL | $5,000 – $17,000/yr | ||
Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton offers a hybrid BSN with 840 clinical hours, accredited by CCNE and known for high NCLEX‑RN pass rates. As a public institution, its effective net price sits at roughly $8,752, making it an affordable choice, though the 62.6% graduation rate is lower than peers. The program emphasizes caring science and holistic nursing, with eligibility for AHNCC certification upon graduation. While FAU is in South Florida, its hybrid format may attract Clearwater students who can manage occasional travel for in‑person requirements.
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| #10 | Antigua College International | Miami Lakes, FL | $29,000/yr | ||
Antigua College International in Miami Lakes is a private, for‑profit institution offering a hybrid BSN over 42 months. Its effective net price of approximately $29,211 reflects the institution’s tuition level, though limited Scorecard data (no graduation rate or earnings figures) makes outcomes harder to assess. The curriculum totals 2,250 hours, including 1,500 lecture hours and 450 clinical hours, focusing on clinical judgment, leadership, and ethics. Clearwater students considering this program should note the distance and the lack of publicly available earnings data.
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Choosing a nursing program isn't just about reputation. It's about whether graduates pass the NCLEX, finish on time, and land jobs that justify the cost. We rank schools by combining the outcomes that matter most to future nurses.
Our composite ranking weighs four pieces of public data in a single picture. NCLEX first-time pass rates capture how well a program prepares you for licensure, the hurdle every new nurse must clear. Institution-wide graduation rate reflects the likelihood you'll finish your bachelor's degree once enrolled (not a nursing-specific figure, but a strong signal of student support). Net price after aid is the average amount students actually pay, not the sticker price, and helps you gauge affordability without guesswork. Finally, we factor median earnings after attendance from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard to estimate whether graduates see a salary that repays the investment.
All schools sit within a 75-mile radius of Clearwater, which conveniently captures the full Tampa Bay metro area: St. Petersburg, Tampa, and the surrounding communities. If the net price shown is a rough estimate, it's because federal averages can vary by income level; we present the typical figure so you can compare programs on even ground. Graduation rates are institution-wide, meaning they include all majors, not just nursing, but remain a useful benchmark for student success.
Many directories simply list nearby schools without explaining why those schools appear. By showing exactly which metrics matter and where the numbers come from, you can trust the ranking to reflect real student outcomes, not marketing claims or superficial prestige.
The sticker price can be misleading. The figures below reflect the average net price after grants and scholarships, giving a clearer picture of what students actually pay. Public colleges in the region show a tight range, with Indian River State College the most affordable and the University of Florida at the higher end.
Size doesn't guarantee success: smaller cohorts often match or surpass the first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates of large public universities. In the Tampa Bay area, all BSN programs near Clearwater exceed the statewide average for nursing schools in Florida, but their pass rates still vary enough to affect your decision.
Florida’s statewide first-time NCLEX-RN average for BSN graduates is 84.9% (2024)2, while the national average sits at 91.16%2. Every program listed above clears the state benchmark, and most beat the national figure. The combined pass rate for Tampa Bay BSN programs is 95.9%1, signaling that the region’s nursing schools consistently prepare students well above both state and national norms.
BSN programs near Clearwater fall into three distinct categories depending on your educational background and career stage. Traditional tracks are for students starting from scratch, accelerated options serve those with a prior bachelor's degree, and RN-to-BSN programs help current registered nurses advance their credentials.
These programs admit students without prior nursing experience and combine general education, nursing theory, and clinical rotations. In the Clearwater area, campus-based pre-licensure BSN options include Galen College of Nursing's 3-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing in Tampa Bay, Arizona College of Nursing's 3-year BSN in Tampa, South University's Tampa campus BSN, and Rasmussen University's hybrid BSN near Tampa/Brandon. Most traditional BSNs take about three to four years to complete.
Accelerated or second-degree BSNs are designed for individuals who already hold a bachelor's in another field and want to transition into nursing quickly. Near Clearwater, Galen College of Nursing and Rasmussen University both offer accelerated tracks. These intensive programs typically run 12 to 18 months, building on previous college credits to focus solely on nursing coursework and clinicals.
For registered nurses with an associate degree or diploma, RN-to-BSN programs provide the most flexible path to a bachelor's. Many Florida schools deliver these programs fully online, making them ideal for working RNs in Clearwater. St. Petersburg College offers a fully online RN-to-BSN, and Galen, Rasmussen, and Keiser University also have RN-to-BSN options, often with part-time or self-paced schedules. Completion time is usually one to two years.
What salary can new BSN graduates expect for their nursing careers in Clearwater? The latest data for registered nurses in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area put the median annual wage at $90,120 (about $43.33 per hour)1. That is slightly below the national RN median of $93,600 per year but outpaces Florida’s overall average of $80,9602. While starting pay for BSN holders typically lands below these medians, the figures signal a strong earning trajectory for graduates who remain in the region.
Graduates from nursing programs near Clearwater benefit from a dense network of healthcare facilities. Leading employers include: - BayCare Health System, anchored by Morton Plant Hospital in downtown Clearwater. - AdventHealth, with multiple campuses across the Tampa Bay area. - HCA Florida, which operates several acute-care hospitals in the region. These systems routinely hire new BSN-prepared nurses, and many offer tuition reimbursement or residency programs to support continued education2.
Florida’s demand for registered nurses is projected to grow faster than the national average over the next decade, driven by an aging population and expanding medical services. Specific program-level earnings for recent BSN alumni in the local rankings are not yet available, but the regional salary data and hiring trends point to a favorable job market for Clearwater-area nursing graduates.
Choosing the right BSN program involves careful comparison of accreditations, costs, and outcomes. Below we tackle five frequently asked questions from aspiring nurses in Clearwater, drawing on data covering schools within a 75-mile radius. Our goal is to help you filter options and understand what to look for in a nursing program near Clearwater.
Beyond the top-ranked programs, Clearwater-area students can explore these additional BSN and nursing degree options across Florida. Use the directory to compare formats, tuition, and locations.
Which BSN program near Clearwater fits your career timeline and budget? The Tampa Bay metro offers several accredited tracks, from traditional four-year degrees to accelerated and RN-to-BSN options. While all programs exceed Florida's average NCLEX-RN pass rate, first-time results still differ enough to warrant a close look. Net price after aid, often lower than advertised, adds another layer of comparison, with public colleges like Indian River State College keeping costs competitive.
Request program brochures, explore school websites, or scroll up to the directory to compare the full list of schools within reach.
