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.
The following ranking blends federal data on cost, graduation rates, and alumni earnings with our internal program research to identify strong nursing options. While many schools sit outside Jacksonville, each offers a BSN track that can feed into the metro area's healthcare workforce. Full methodology appears in the next section.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | ~$7,000/yr (est.) | Ambitious students seeking national prestige | |
The University of Florida's BSN program combines a top-20 national reputation with an exceptionally low net price of $6,541 for in-state students. A 91% graduation rate and median earnings of $71,588 ten years out signal strong completion and career momentum. With traditional, accelerated, and RN-to-BSN paths, UF equips students for a high-ROI nursing career.
| |||||
| #2 | Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | $11,000/yr | Fast-track candidates with prior credits | |
Florida State University delivers a 15-16 month accelerated BSN for students who already hold 60 credits, making it one of the most efficient public pathways in the state. A net price of $11,297 and an 86% graduation rate pair with median earnings of $61,675 to offer solid value. Holistic admissions weigh community involvement and work experience alongside a minimum 3.0 GPA.
| |||||
| #3 | Florida International University | Miami, FL | ~$9,000/yr (est.) | Diverse students needing multiple entry points | |
Florida International University serves a majority Pell-eligible student body with a net price of $9,288 and a graduation rate of 74%. Beyond the traditional BSN, FIU offers an accelerated option for degree holders and a direct-entry MSN for foreign-educated physicians, making it uniquely versatile for Miami-area and bilingual students. Median earnings reach $60,249 with graduate debt typically $16,500.
| |||||
| #4 | University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | $10,000/yr | ||
The University of South Florida’s Upper Division BSN pathway is a traditional five-semester program for students without a prior bachelor’s, while its accelerated second-degree track compresses the curriculum into 16 months. With a net price of $9,812 and a 77% graduation rate, USF also serves veterans through the V-CARE pathway that translates prior medical training into nursing credit. Median alumni earnings land at $57,743.
| |||||
| #5 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | $10,000/yr | ||
UCF’s traditional BSN spans five semesters across three Central Florida campuses and consistently posts NCLEX pass rates above state averages. The second-degree BSN completes in just four semesters for those already holding a non-nursing bachelor’s. A net price of $10,411 and median earnings of $58,308 make UCF a mainstream choice with strong employer demand and a graduation rate of 78%.
| |||||
| #6 | University of North Florida | Jacksonville, FL | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | ||
The University of North Florida is the only Jacksonville-based public BSN option in this list, with a prelicensure track that admits semesterly and a direct-entry Freshman Admit Nursing cohort limited to 50 students. Its net price of $10,154 and graduation rate of 69% are solid, though median earnings of $56,343 are modest. The community-engaged curriculum ties clinicals directly to local agencies, making it a natural choice for those planning to work in Jacksonville.
| |||||
| #7 | University of Miami | Coral Gables, FL | $37,000/yr (net price) | ||
The private University of Miami carries a net price of $37,244 but couples an 84% graduation rate with the highest median earnings in the list at $75,328. Graduate debt is only $17,500, reflecting generous institutional aid for the 46% Pell-receiving student body. The traditional four-year BSN is on campus, while the accelerated track takes just 12 months and the RN-to-BSN runs in a hybrid format for working nurses.
| |||||
| #8 | Southeastern College-West Palm Beach | West Palm Beach, FL | ~$29,000/yr (est.) | ||
Southeastern College’s West Palm Beach campus offers an ASN, not a BSN, as its main prelicensure track. The program reports a high 87.5% graduation rate and charges a net price of $28,820. However, median earnings of $41,200 are below the four-year degree programs, and the retention rate of 67% signals a mixed student experience. For Jacksonville-area students, the campus is in West Palm Beach, not far from the metro.
| |||||
| #9 | Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, FL | $5,000 – $17,000/yr | ||
Florida Atlantic University’s hybrid BSN is one of the most affordable public options with a net price of $8,752, though its graduation rate is a lower 62.6%. The curriculum includes 840 clinical hours across diverse settings, and its high NCLEX pass rates and AHNCC certification eligibility add career value. Median earnings of $56,746 and typical debt of $17,236 make it a reasonable pick for students comfortable with a hybrid format.
| |||||
| #10 | Antigua College International | Miami Lakes, FL | $29,000/yr | ||
Antigua College International provides a hybrid BSN over 42 months in Miami Lakes. Its net price of $29,211 and a low 33% retention rate are cautionary, and earnings data are not yet available. The program does offer 450 clinical hours and emphasizes small-group, interactive classes. For Jacksonville residents, the distance and lack of published outcomes make it a less certain investment.
| |||||
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.1 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.
