Compare NCLEX pass rates, tuition, and program formats across Jacksonville's top-ranked BSN programs.
Jacksonville’s major health systems, Baptist Health, Mayo Clinic, and UF Health, drive steady demand for BSN-prepared nurses, making the city a practical nursing hub. Within the metro, a small cluster of accredited BSN programs competes for students, while state universities elsewhere in Florida funnel graduates into Jacksonville hospitals.
Tuition varies sharply among the available options, and NCLEX pass rates signal how ready graduates are to meet licensure standards. Accelerated and RN-to-BSN pathways add flexibility for career changers and working nurses, but admissions requirements remain a hurdle for many.
Employer preferences in Jacksonville increasingly favor BSN over associate-degree preparation, a trend that amplifies the value of choosing a program with strong clinical placements and solid first-time NCLEX results.
Jacksonville's top BSN programs blend rigorous academics with hands-on clinical training, preparing students for successful nursing careers. Our ranking highlights schools that offer strong graduation outcomes, affordable net prices, and pathways tailored to different life stages, from first-time freshman to working RN. Whether you prefer a traditional campus experience or a fully online completion, these Jacksonville-area programs deliver value and quality.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of North Florida | Jacksonville, FL | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | First-time college students entering nursing directly | |
As Jacksonville's public research university, UNF offers two distinct prelicensure BSN tracks: a traditional prelicensure pathway for transfer and second-degree students, and a Freshman Admit program for students entering directly from high school. Both routes emphasize community-based clinicals, utilize the school's advanced MedNexus Simulation Center, and prepare graduates to serve vulnerable populations. With a 69% graduation rate and a net price around $10,000, UNF combines strong academics with an attractive return on investment.
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| #2 | Jacksonville University | Jacksonville, FL | ~$25,000/yr (est.) | Career changers pursuing fast-paced accelerated BSN | |
Jacksonville University is a private institution known for its cutting-edge nursing labs featuring AI-driven mannequins and virtual reality simulations. The school offers a 28-month traditional BSN and a 12-month accelerated second-degree BSN, both in a structured, lock-step cohort format. Students benefit from a partnership with Baptist Health, a Magnet-designated hospital system, and dedicated one-on-one support from the first semester. Median graduate earnings top $68,000, reflecting strong career outcomes.
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| #3 | Florida State College at Jacksonville | Jacksonville, FL | $0 – $5,000/yr | Working RNs needing flexible online completion | |
Florida State College at Jacksonville provides a flexible, fully online RN-to-BSN program tailored for current registered nurses who hold an associate degree or diploma. The 120-credit curriculum can be completed in three semesters and includes a unique Global Scholars Distinction that integrates international perspectives. With a net price under $5,000 and a 100% job placement rate among graduates, FSCJ makes advancing your education both accessible and career-enhancing.
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Rankings built on prestige often overlook what students pay and earn after graduation. Our approach leans on public data that reveals which programs in Jacksonville deliver genuine value.
NCLEX pass rates are presented in a later section for you to cross-reference, but they are not blended into the ranking formula. Pass rates vary by reporting scope and year, and a high pass rate at one school may mask low enrollment or selective admission. We surface them transparently so you can weigh them alongside cost and earnings data.
The net price is an average after aid, not a sticker price. Students with similar financial profiles can pay noticeably different amounts based on merit aid, transfer credits, and residency. Use each program's financial aid office to get a personalized estimate.
Public universities like UF list higher sticker prices but offer substantial aid that brings actual costs down. State colleges such as Saint Johns River start low, yet after factoring in grants and scholarships the net costs are often surprisingly close. For Pell-eligible students, these net figures can narrow even further.
When you’re evaluating a nursing school, the reputation of the institution often feels like a safe bet, but the hard numbers from NCLEX pass rates reveal how well a program actually prepares students for licensing.
To put local performance in context, Florida’s overall NCLEX-RN pass rate for 2024 stood at 84.9%, according to state-board summaries. That trails the national average of 91.16% for the same year, a gap that reflects ongoing challenges in Florida nursing education. These averages mix all first-time test-takers, including candidates from associate degree and bachelor’s programs across public and private schools.
A program’s own pass rate tells you much more than a state or national number. Consistently high rates suggest strong curriculum alignment with the NCLEX, effective clinical placements, and solid student support. Conversely, a pattern of rates below 80% often signals deeper issues: outdated instruction, insufficient remediation, or weak admission standards. Florida’s Board of Nursing does collect and release program-level pass rates, but for the Jacksonville BSN programs covered in this guide, recent public summary reports did not include school-specific figures at the time of writing.2
Because state and national snapshots can hide wide variation between programs, asking a school directly for its last three years of NCLEX performance is a reasonable step. The Board of Nursing’s website also posts annual reports that may include more granular data. If a Jacksonville BSN program declines to share its pass rates or cannot point you to a recent publication, treat that as a caution flag. Your licensing timeline and career start depend on passing this exam; choosing a program with a transparent, consistently strong record is one of the surest ways to protect that investment.
What’s the difference between a traditional BSN, an accelerated BSN, and an RN-to-BSN program, and which one matches your situation? Nursing schools in Jacksonville offer several distinct routes to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, each tailored to a different starting point and career timeline. The right choice depends on whether you are entering college for the first time, changing careers with a degree in hand, or already working as a registered nurse.
Designed for first-time college students and those starting their nursing education from scratch, traditional BSN programs span roughly 48 months of on-campus study. University of North Florida (UNF), Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), and Keiser University all offer this pathway. Students complete general education requirements alongside nursing prerequisites, then progress through clinical rotations at Jacksonville-area hospitals and clinics. The extended timeline allows you to build clinical skills gradually and often opens up more scholarships and financial aid opportunities.
If you already hold a bachelor’s degree or an associate degree in another field, an accelerated BSN (ABSN) can shrink the timeline to 12–16 months. Jacksonville University runs two on-campus ABSN tracks: a 12-month option for those with a prior bachelor’s degree (minimum 2.50 GPA) and a 16-month second-degree track that also accepts an associate degree. UF’s Jacksonville campus also hosts an accelerated program. These compressed schedules are intense, often requiring full-time study and limiting your ability to work during the program, but they get you into clinical settings fast.
Licensed RNs who already hold an associate degree in nursing or a nursing diploma can complete their BSN in 12–24 months through an RN-to-BSN program. Every major Jacksonville school offers this path: UNF, Jacksonville University, Chamberlain University, FSCJ, and Keiser University all have RN-to-BSN tracks. These programs are typically delivered online or in hybrid formats, letting working nurses in the Jacksonville metro area keep their jobs while earning the degree. Chamberlain also offers an evening/weekend BSN option, which spans about 36 months and combines on-campus and online learning for added flexibility.
Before applying, confirm specific prerequisites at each school. Accelerated tracks almost always require a completed degree and minimum GPA, while RN-to-BSN programs need an active RN license and an associate or diploma in nursing. Since many RN-to-BSN courses are online, you can live in Jacksonville or surrounding areas without commuting to campus, a significant advantage for nurses with long shifts.
Before choosing a BSN program, it's helpful to know what registered nurses typically earn in the area. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for the Jacksonville metropolitan area. Look up the most recent data for SOC code 29-1141 (Registered Nurses) to see the current median and mean annual wages. This provides a realistic earnings benchmark as you weigh tuition costs and post-graduation goals.
BSN students complete hundreds of clinical hours, and the quality of those rotations depends on a school's network of partner hospitals and health systems. Jacksonville's leading nursing programs maintain formal agreements with major regional employers, including:
While affiliations vary by school and change annually, programs like UNF, Jacksonville University, Chamberlain1, FSCJ, and Keiser all leverage these relationships. Many students receive job offers from clinical sites before graduation.
Since partnership contracts evolve, the most reliable way to get an up-to-date list is to contact each school's clinical placement coordinator directly. Program websites often house a dedicated 'clinical affiliations' page, but formal agreements may shift between academic years without a web update. A quick phone call or email to the nursing department ensures you know exactly where you'll be training.
Admission to Jacksonville's BSN programs varies considerably by school. The table below outlines key requirements for major programs, including minimum GPAs, entrance exams, and prerequisite expectations. Note that deadlines and admission types are subject to change; always confirm with each program directly.
| School | Program | Minimum GPA | Prerequisite GPA | Entrance Exam | Prerequisites | Admission Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Florida | Prelicensure BSN | 3.00 | 3.40 | None | 6 of 8 prerequisites, including 3 of 4 sciences, by deadline | Competitive-entry; cohort size 110 |
| Jacksonville University | Traditional BSN | 2.50 | N/A | None | Associate's or Bachelor's degree required | Not specified |
| Chamberlain University Jacksonville | BSN | N/A | N/A | N/A | 122 credit hours total | Not specified |
| Florida State College at Jacksonville | RN-to-BSN (N200) | N/A (requires current RN license) | N/A | N/A | Current RN license | Not a prelicensure BSN program |
Deciding on a nursing program can raise many questions. Below we answer the most common inquiries about BSN programs in Jacksonville, Florida, from cost and admissions to NCLEX performance and program flexibility.
