Compare accredited nursing programs near Melbourne by cost, outcomes, and NCLEX performance.
Brevard County’s major health systems, Health First and Steward Health, increasingly require a BSN for new RN hires, giving degree-holders a clear advantage. The 10 programs ranked here span large public universities and smaller private colleges, with traditional campus, online RN-to-BSN, and hybrid formats. The ranking weighs tuition, net price, and graduate earnings to surface strong value. With Florida’s RN workforce growing faster than the national average, verifying a school’s NCLEX pass rates and clinical partnerships before enrolling can prevent costly delays and align students with high-demand roles.
From Melbourne's own campus to nearby Orlando and the Treasure Coast, these nursing programs offer a range of ADN and BSN paths designed for Space Coast students. We evaluated affordability, accreditation, and career preparation to help you find the right fit.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Eastern Florida State College | Melbourne, FL | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | Melbourne locals seeking low-cost ADN | |
Eastern Florida State College, based right in Melbourne, offers an Associate Degree in Nursing with a proven reputation for hands-on training and high job placement. Its ADN and transition pathways use simulation and clinical rotations throughout Brevard County, keeping learning local. A Money Back Guarantee underscores confidence in graduate success, and the program provides a seamless route to an online RN to BSN.
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| #2 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | $10,000/yr | Central Florida students seeking BSN | |
University of Central Florida is the largest BSN provider in the state and a primary destination for Melbourne students thanks to its Orlando and Cocoa locations. Traditional and second-degree BSN tracks feature rigorous clinicals across Central Florida, strong NCLEX pass rates, and a curriculum that includes service learning in underserved communities. The DirectConnect pathway with Eastern Florida State College creates a clear transfer option for pre-nursing students.
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| #3 | Indian River State College | Fort Pierce, FL | $4,000/yr | Treasure Coast students needing ADN | |
Indian River State College, located just south in Fort Pierce, provides an affordable ADN with a state-of-the-art simulation center and strong clinical externship opportunities. The program admits three times per year and requires a minimum 2.7 GPA and HESI entrance exam. Graduates benefit from excellent NCLEX pass rates and a solid reputation among regional healthcare employers.
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| #4 | Valencia College | Orlando, FL | ~$12,000/yr (est.) | ||
Valencia College's online RN to BSN is built for working nurses who already hold an ASN and a Florida RN license. The program can be finished in as little as one year, with rolling admissions and no application fee. It emphasizes evidence-based practice, leadership, and interprofessional collaboration to advance careers.
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| #5 | AdventHealth University | Orlando, FL | $30,000 – $35,000/yr | ||
AdventHealth University combines faith-based nursing education with hybrid flexibility and a low student-faculty ratio. Both the BSN and ADN options include clinical placements within the AdventHealth system, leading to high employment rates. Dedicated tutoring and a personal student experience manager provide extra support throughout the program.
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| #6 | Southern Technical College | Orlando, FL | $20,000 – $25,000/yr | ||
Southern Technical College offers a fast-track ADN at its Orlando campus, with day and evening scheduling options. Small class sizes and faculty with industry experience help students prepare for the NCLEX-RN. The program includes no-cost textbooks and materials, lowering the overall financial burden.
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| #7 | Webber International University | Babson Park, FL | $25,000 – $30,000/yr | ||
Webber International University's campus-based BSN admits small cohorts of 24 students for personalized attention. The four-year program uses simulation-based clinical education and requires a face-to-face interview. Transfer credits from regionally accredited institutions are accepted, adding flexibility for students with prior college experience.
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| #8 | Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology | Altamonte Springs, FL | $23,000/yr | ||
Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology provides BSN tracks in Altamonte Springs, from a traditional three-year path to an accelerated 16-month option for qualified students. The curriculum integrates simulation training and clinical experiences across multiple healthcare settings. An online RN to BSN is also available for working nurses seeking schedule flexibility.
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The following table displays in-state and out-of-state tuition as well as the average net price after financial aid for each nursing program. Net price is an institution-wide figure, not specific to the nursing program, so your actual cost may differ. High Pell Grant participation at many of these schools suggests robust need-based aid, but we encourage contacting each financial aid office for a personalized package.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price (Institution Average) | Pell Grant Recipients (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian River State College | $2,764 | $10,201 | $3,815 | 91.2% |
| Gulf Coast State College | $2,370 | $8,635 | $4,709 | 87.8% |
| Florida Gateway College | $3,100 | $11,747 | $5,364 | 93.1% |
| Miami Dade College | $2,838 | $9,661 | $5,463 | 96.8% |
| Lake-Sumter State College | $3,292 | $13,276 | $5,855 | 91.1% |
| Saint Johns River State College | $2,591 | $9,334 | $6,135 | 85.8% |
| Eastern Florida State College | $2,791 | $10,976 | $6,440 | 84.7% |
| University of Florida | $6,381 | $28,659 | $6,541 | 66.7% |
| Florida Atlantic University | $4,879 | $17,324 | $8,752 | 72.2% |
| Florida International University | $6,565 | $18,964 | $9,288 | 81.3% |
NCLEX-RN pass rates tell you the percentage of a program’s graduates who pass the national nursing licensure exam on their first attempt. It’s one of the most direct signals of how well a school prepares students for entry into practice.
Eastern Florida State College reported an 81.94% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for its most recent graduating cohort.1 That sits just above the 2026 Florida statewide average of 81.82%, which places Florida 47th nationally.2 Other Melbourne-area programs, such as the campuses of Jersey College and Arizona College, have not yet published independently verified NCLEX data through the Florida Board of Nursing, so direct comparisons aren’t possible for these newer entrants.
Federal earnings data for Melbourne nursing programs is not yet available. For context, federal data from other Florida BSN programs shows a median of roughly $55,000 to $75,000 several years after graduation, though amounts vary widely by location and employer. When evaluating a school, ask admissions staff about graduate job-placement rates and starting salary ranges in Brevard County, as local market conditions can differ meaningfully from statewide figures.
NCLEX pass rates aren’t static. They can dip or climb with changes in cohort size, curriculum updates, or the exam’s difficulty threshold. For the most current numbers for any program, check the Florida Board of Nursing’s website directly, which publishes official pass-rate reports.
Traditional prelicensure programs bring students to campus for labs and classroom instruction, but many working nurses accelerate their careers through fully online RN-to-BSN tracks that never set foot in a lecture hall. Understanding these pathways, and the clinical and accreditation frameworks that support them, helps you pick the right program in Melbourne.
Accreditation verifies that a program meets quality standards essential for licensure and graduate school. Prelicensure associate degrees (ADN) typically hold accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), while baccalaureate and master’s programs often carry Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) approval. For Melbourne students, Eastern Florida State College’s ADN holds ACEN continuing accreditation, ensuring graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN. When evaluating any program, confirm its current accreditation status with the Florida Board of Nursing.
Hands-on clinical experience defines nursing education, and Melbourne students benefit from major regional hospitals. Key placement sites include Health First Holmes Regional Medical Center, Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital, and Parrish Medical Center. Jersey College’s Melbourne campus lists Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital and Melbourne Regional Medical Center as direct clinical partners. Broader coordination comes via the Nursing Consortium of Florida’s centralized clinical placement system, which streamlines rotations for many Brevard County programs. Additionally, Orlando Health offers a summer student nurse externship (June 1–July 25, 2026) that provides paid clinical exposure.
Eastern Florida State College’s prelicensure ADN uses a hybrid format with on-campus components and clinicals across Brevard County. Its RN-to-BSN completion program is entirely online, designed for working nurses who need flexibility. Nationally, RN-to-BSN pathways are overwhelmingly online, ideal for Melbourne nurses balancing jobs and family. For those seeking a hybrid BSN directly, some ranked Florida programs like Florida Atlantic University and Antigua College International offer hybrid BSNs that combine online coursework with local clinical placements. While these programs may require occasional travel to campus, they often arrange clinical rotations near your home community. Always confirm that online programs can secure clinical sites in Brevard County before enrolling.
Securing a spot in a competitive nursing program often means balancing a tight timeline of prerequisites with entrance exam preparation and early application deadlines. The process rewards students who plan ahead and understand what each school expects.
Eastern Florida State College, a primary pathway in Brevard County and one of the top nursing schools in Florida, requires a minimum 3.0 GPA, with no prerequisite grade lower than a C. Applicants must take the TEAS VII exam and score at least 69 percent. Prerequisite courses include BSCC 1010, BSCC 2093, BSCC 2094, and MCBC 2010, so completing these early is critical.1 Other programs, such as those at Jersey College Melbourne and Arizona College Melbourne, set their own thresholds, but most expect a similar foundation in sciences and a competitive entrance exam score.
Eastern Florida State College has a firm application deadline for the Fall term: the second Thursday in March. Because seats fill quickly and admissions are competitive, submitting all materials well before that date is wise. You can take the TEAS up to three times per year, but you must arrange for official test scores to be sent directly to the school.1
The effort is worthwhile. Registered Nurses in the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville metro area earn a median annual wage of $79,560,1 offering a solid return on your educational investment.
Prospective nursing students in Melbourne often have similar questions about programs, costs, and outcomes. Below, we answer the most common queries based on data and insights covered in the earlier sections.
