Compare accredited BSN programs by cost, NCLEX pass rates, and outcomes near Royal Palm Beach.
How do you sort through BSN options near Royal Palm Beach when tuition, NCLEX pass rates, and drive times all compete for priority? Palm Beach County’s healthcare demand keeps climbing, with hospitals like HCA Florida JFK and Wellington Regional Medical Center frequently recruiting new grads.
A program’s location and accreditation type determine where you can complete clinical rotations and how quickly you sit for the NCLEX. Over a dozen schools operate within commuting distance, but net prices range from under $10,000 to over $40,000 per year after aid, and first-time NCLEX pass rates span from the mid-60s to above 95%. Admission slots are tight, and prerequisites, entrance exams, and GPA floors filter applicants long before interviews begin.
Royal Palm Beach residents have several accredited nursing programs within commuting distance, from public universities in Boca Raton to private colleges in West Palm Beach. The following schools stand out for their local clinical partnerships, flexible formats, and strong NCLEX preparation.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, FL | $5,000 – $17,000/yr | Palm Beach commuters wanting public BSN | |
Florida Atlantic University’s nursing school in Boca Raton is the closest public BSN option for Royal Palm Beach students, with hybrid delivery blending online coursework and on-campus clinicals. The program partners with major South Florida health systems like Baptist Health and Broward Health, providing strong local employment pipelines. FAU emphasizes holistic, caring-based nursing and offers 840 clinical hours.
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| #2 | HCI College | West Palm Beach, FL | $35,000 – $40,000/yr | Local learners seeking direct-entry ADN | |
HCI College’s West Palm Beach campus offers an ACEN-accredited Associate Degree in Nursing, just minutes from Royal Palm Beach. The 72-credit program combines online general education with in-person nursing lectures, labs, and clinical rotations in local hospitals. Small class sizes, day and evening schedules, and 24/7 tutor access support working adults pursuing RN licensure.
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| #3 | Florida International University | Miami, FL | ~$9,000/yr (est.) | International medical graduates transitioning to nursing | |
Florida International University’s Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing in Miami provides multiple BSN pathways, including a traditional track and an accelerated option for second-degree students. Its unique Foreign Educated Physician to BSN/MSN program serves internationally trained doctors in South Florida transitioning to nursing. FIU’s simulation center and clinical partnerships across Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties give students diverse hands-on experience.
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| #4 | Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | ~$30,000/yr (est.) | ||
Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale offers a fast-track Entry BSN that can be completed in under two years after prerequisites, along with an accelerated option for career changers. Campus locations in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, and Miami allow flexibility. Graduates routinely find employment at major Florida hospitals, and the school facilitates scholarships through hospital partners.
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| #5 | Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale, FL | ~$30,000/yr (est.) | ||
Keiser University’s Fort Lauderdale campus provides both a traditional 32-month BSN and an accelerated FastTrack BSN that can be completed in 16 months. Both programs feature small class sizes, one-course-at-a-time scheduling, and hands-on clinical rotations. The Mobile Simulation Lab and supportive faculty help students build confidence for the NCLEX-RN.
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| #6 | Miami Regional University | Miami Springs, FL | $20,000 – $25,000/yr | ||
Miami Regional University in Miami Springs offers a campus-based Direct Entry MSN for aspiring nurses who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field. The program boasts a 94% MSN passing rate and provides dedicated NCLEX exam preparation through its Center for Student Achievement.
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| #7 | Antigua College International | Miami Lakes, FL | $29,000/yr | ||
Antigua College International in Miami Lakes offers a hybrid BSN blending online theory with on-site labs and clinicals, ideal for Royal Palm Beach students who can commute periodically. The 42-month program includes 450 clinical hours and accommodates transfer credits for LPNs and RNs, with a small-group, personalized learning environment.
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| #8 | Miami Dade College | Miami, FL | $3,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Miami Dade College’s Benjamin Leon School of Nursing serves South Florida with an affordable RN to BSN online/hybrid program and a traditional campus-based ADN. The BSN path can be completed in three semesters and emphasizes cultural competency and evidence-based practice, while the ADN offers three concentration options and clinical partnerships throughout Miami-Dade and Broward.
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| #9 | SABER College | Miami, FL | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | ||
SABER College in Miami offers an intensive, full-time Associate of Science in Nursing program that blends classroom theory with lab and clinical practicum. Small class sizes and individualized attention support students through a curriculum covering medical-surgical, pediatric, psychiatric, and obstetric nursing. Graduates are eligible for the NCLEX-RN and Florida RN licensure.
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| #10 | Indian River State College | Fort Pierce, FL | $4,000/yr | ||
Indian River State College in Fort Pierce offers a traditional two-year ADN and an accelerated LPN/Paramedic to RN bridge. The program features a state-of-the-art Simulation Center, externship opportunities, and ACEN accreditation. With excellent NCLEX pass rates, it prepares students for nursing careers in hospitals and community settings along the Treasure Coast and beyond.
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Pursuing a BSN near Royal Palm Beach, FL, means weighing the costs across public institutions that offer nursing programs. The table below compares annual in-state and out-of-state tuition alongside the average net price after financial aid. Net price figures are institution-wide averages and may differ from your individual aid package.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian River State College | $2,764 | $10,201 | $3,815 |
| Gulf Coast State College | $2,370 | $8,635 | $4,709 |
| Florida Gateway College | $3,100 | $11,747 | $5,364 |
| Miami Dade College | $2,838 | $9,661 | $5,463 |
| Lake-Sumter State College | $3,292 | $13,276 | $5,855 |
| Saint Johns River State College | $2,591 | $9,334 | $6,135 |
| Eastern Florida State College | $2,791 | $10,976 | $6,440 |
| University of Florida | $6,381 | $28,659 | $6,541 |
| Florida Atlantic University | $4,879 | $17,324 | $8,752 |
| Florida International University | $6,565 | $18,964 | $9,288 |
First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates serve as a transparent measure of how well a BSN program prepares graduates for the licensing exam they must pass to practice as a registered nurse. A strong pass rate signals that a program's curriculum aligns with the clinical reasoning and knowledge tested on the exam. For students weighing multiple BSN options near Royal Palm Beach, this metric offers an objective way to compare program outcomes beyond marketing materials or tuition costs.
The most recent complete-year data shows a clear performance gap. According to the Florida Center for Nursing's 2026 report, Florida's 2025 statewide first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for BSN graduates sits at 81.82%.1 The national average for the same period ranges from 86.7% to 87.5%, placing Florida 47th among all states. This gap underscores the importance of carefully evaluating individual program performance rather than relying on statewide averages alone.
While statewide trends offer context, the pass rates of specific schools are the data points that matter most to prospective students. The Florida Board of Nursing publishes annual NCLEX outcomes for every approved BSN program, including those near Royal Palm Beach such as Palm Beach State College, Palm Beach Atlantic University, South University West Palm Beach, Florida Atlantic University, and Keiser University. Because these figures can shift from year to year, reviewing several years of data reveals whether a program consistently exceeds the Florida average or struggles with stability. Checking the board's latest published report directly gives the clearest picture of how effectively a nursing school in the Royal Palm Beach area turns classroom and clinical training into licensure success.
BSN admissions across Florida are leaning more heavily on holistic review, but quantitative benchmarks like GPA and entrance exam scores still serve as the first gate. For students targeting programs near Royal Palm Beach, the exact numbers shift annually, so going directly to each school’s nursing page is essential.
Among nearby options, Palm Beach State College, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Florida Atlantic University, and Keiser University each set their own exam requirements. Some require the TEAS with a composite score above 65%, while others accept the HESI A2. Minimum cumulative GPAs often sit between 2.5 and 3.0, but competitive cohorts may only admit students with a 3.4 or higher. Prerequisite courses typically include anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, and nutrition, though credit-hour specifics differ. Application windows for fall starts frequently close in February or March, while spring cohorts may have August deadlines. Always confirm on the program’s website.
Clinical rotations in Palm Beach County hospitals and clinics are a cornerstone of the BSN experience. Partnerships with facilities like Wellington Regional Medical Center, Jupiter Medical Center, or the VA Medical Center in West Palm Beach give students direct patient-care exposure. Because these affiliations can change, the nursing program’s clinical coordinator can provide the most current list. Additionally, CCNE and ACEN accreditation reports often detail the geographic reach and types of clinical sites utilized.
For general labor market trends, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook publishes national and state-level employment projections for registered nurses, not program-specific outcomes. To confirm a particular BSN program’s NCLEX pass rates, graduation figures, or specialty accreditation status, contact the Florida Board of Nursing or review its publicly available reports. The Florida Nurses Association also offers career guidance and can help you evaluate top nursing schools in Florida from a practitioner’s perspective.
Starting with precise, institution-specific information will help you meet application requirements and choose a program that aligns with your clinical interests in Palm Beach County.
Registered nurses in the West Palm Beach metro area earn competitive wages, with local median pay topping both state and national benchmarks. Below are key salary percentiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to help you gauge earning potential in Palm Beach County.
Prospective nursing students often have questions about program options, costs, and admissions near Royal Palm Beach. The following answers address common concerns to help you make an informed choice. Whether you're comparing BSN tracks or wondering about online flexibility, we've got you covered.
Nursing education rankings have shifted toward measurable student outcomes, driven by a broader demand for transparency in higher education. Our list for the Royal Palm Beach area evaluates each school’s combined value using tuition and net price estimates, institution-wide graduation rates, program-level earnings data, and delivery format flexibility.
We pull from three primary sources: the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS databases, along with information reported directly by schools. Graduation rates cover the entire institution, not just nursing majors, and net price is an average across all aid recipients, so your actual cost may differ. Program-level earnings offer a useful benchmark, but individual salaries vary by specialty, shift, and location.
