Compare tuition, NCLEX outcomes, and program details for every BSN option near Naples
Naples anchors a Southwest Florida healthcare market that is growing fast, driven by an aging population and new hospital construction. Area employers increasingly require the BSN to meet Magnet designation standards and fill complex care roles.
Options within a reasonable drive include public universities like the University of Florida, private colleges with accelerated timelines, and hybrid models. Net price gaps are substantial, and NCLEX-RN pass rates vary enough to affect first-time licensing success.
In the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metro, RN salaries top state and national medians, but return on investment depends on minimizing debt. For Naples students, public BSN programs with strong exam outcomes and in-state tuition often provide the best return.
Naples students have strong public-university options within Florida, many with affordable net prices and solid graduate outcomes. The programs below are ranked by overall value, weighing factors like net price after financial aid, institution-wide graduation rates, and long-term earnings data from the Department of Education.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | ~$7,000/yr (est.) | High return on investment | |
The University of Florida's BSN program combines top-20 national rankings with a remarkably low net price for in-state students. UF offers traditional, accelerated, and RN-to-BSN tracks, plus access to UF Health facilities and cutting-edge simulation labs. Graduates report a median 10-year earnings of $71,588, far outpacing typical nursing salaries.
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| #2 | Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | $11,000/yr | Fast 16-month BSN completion | |
Florida State University's BSN program packs rigorous clinical training into a fast 15-to-16-month sequence, ideal for students with prerequisites completed. The holistic admissions process weighs community engagement and work experience alongside a minimum 3.0 GPA. Graduates enter the workforce quickly with a median debt of $18,000 and median earnings of $61,675 at 10 years.
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| #3 | Florida International University | Miami, FL | ~$9,000/yr (est.) | Pathway for foreign-educated physicians | |
Florida International University packs three distinct nursing entry paths in Miami: a traditional BSN, an accelerated second-degree BSN, and a unique direct-entry MSN for foreign-educated physicians. FIU is a Hispanic-Serving Institution with an 81% Pell grant recipient rate and a net price of $9,288. The S.T.A.R. Center simulation lab provides advanced clinical training.
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| #4 | University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | $10,000/yr | ||
The University of South Florida's College of Nursing serves Tampa and beyond with traditional, accelerated, and veteran-specific BSN pathways. Known for a highly competitive Upper Division track, USF also offers a 16-month second-degree option and a V-CARE pathway leveraging prior military medical training. Institution-wide graduation rate stands at 77%, with median 10-year earnings of $57,743.
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| #5 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | $10,000/yr | ||
The University of Central Florida offers three BSN campus locations in Central Florida and one of the highest institutional graduation rates (78%) among large public universities. The Traditional BSN and accelerated Second Degree pathways both lead to strong NCLEX performance, consistently exceeding state and national pass rates. UCF's net price is $10,411, with 10-year median earnings of $58,308.
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| #6 | University of North Florida | Jacksonville, FL | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | ||
The University of North Florida in Jacksonville offers two BSN routes: a prelicensure program for students who have completed 60 credit hours and a direct-admit Freshman Nursing pathway. Both are community-based, hands-on programs with strong NCLEX preparation and a net price of $10,154. Median graduate debt is among the lowest at $15,531, and 10-year median earnings reach $56,343.
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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 selective private university with an 83.7% graduation rate and the highest 10-year median earnings in the ranking at $75,328. It offers a traditional four-year BSN, a 12-month accelerated BSN, and a hybrid RN-to-BSN for working nurses. Net price is significantly higher at $37,244, reflecting its private status and comprehensive resources.
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| #8 | Southeastern College-West Palm Beach | West Palm Beach, FL | ~$29,000/yr (est.) | ||
Southeastern College-West Palm Beach offers an Associate in Applied Science in Nursing, providing a direct route to RN licensure in 25 months. The program combines on-campus and hybrid delivery, with a high graduation rate of 87.5% and a net price of $28,820. Median earnings after 10 years are $41,200, and the TEAS exam is required for admission.
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| #9 | Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, FL | $5,000 – $17,000/yr | ||
Florida Atlantic University's hybrid BSN program in Boca Raton totals 840 clinical hours and awards a CCNE-accredited degree. FAU's net price is $8,752, making it one of the most affordable options in the ranking. The caring science philosophy underpins a curriculum that boasts a high NCLEX pass rate and eligibility for AHNCC holistic nursing certification.
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| #10 | Antigua College International | Miami Lakes, FL | $29,000/yr | ||
Antigua College International in Miami Lakes delivers a hybrid BSN program spanning 42 months. The curriculum integrates 1,500 lecture hours, 300 lab hours, and 450 clinical hours across 120 total credits. Financial aid is available, though net price is $29,211. Institutional graduation and earnings data are not yet published, making it a newer entrant in the region.
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Most Naples-area nursing programs are at public Florida institutions, keeping in-state costs low. Gulf Coast State College stands out as the most affordable, with in-state tuition of $2,370 and a net price after aid of just $4,709. However, sticker prices can be deceiving: University of Florida’s out-of-state tuition ($28,659) is more than four times its net price ($6,541), illustrating how financial aid dramatically reduces the actual cost. Remember that net price figures are institution-wide averages; individual aid packages vary based on family income and other factors.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price After Aid | Median Graduate Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf Coast State College | $2,370 | $8,635 | $4,709 | $7,147 |
| Saint Johns River State College | $2,591 | $9,334 | $6,135 | $12,000 |
| Indian River State College | $2,764 | $10,201 | $3,815 | $8,023 |
| Eastern Florida State College | $2,791 | $10,976 | $6,440 | $12,250 |
| Miami Dade College | $2,838 | $9,661 | $5,463 | $9,252 |
| Florida Gateway College | $3,100 | $11,747 | $5,364 | $6,992 |
| Lake-Sumter State College | $3,292 | $13,276 | $5,855 | $6,750 |
| Florida Atlantic University | $4,879 | $17,324 | $8,752 | $17,236 |
| University of Florida | $6,381 | $28,659 | $6,541 | $15,000 |
| Florida International University | $6,565 | $18,964 | $9,288 | $16,500 |
NCLEX-RN pass rates are published annually by the Florida Board of Nursing and show the share of first-time test-takers who succeed on the licensing exam. They serve as a direct signal of how well a program prepares students for entry-level nursing practice. Employers and state licensing boards alike pay attention to these numbers; a consistently low pass rate can limit job prospects in competitive markets.
For the 2025 calendar year, Florida’s overall first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate was 81.82%, a few points below the national average of 86.71%, according to the Florida’s 2026 nursing education report. Among Naples-area BSN programs with published data, both Keiser University’s accelerated BSN track and Rasmussen University’s BSN program landed just above the state figure. Keiser posted an 82.4% pass rate, while Rasmussen reported 82.1%.1 These results indicate that graduates are passing the exam at rates comparable to the statewide benchmark.
Florida Gulf Coast University and Jersey College Naples have not yet released NCLEX pass rates for the 2025 reporting period. Prospective students should request the most recent data directly from the schools or check the Florida Board of Nursing's website for updates. Until program-level figures are available, it is difficult to assess how these pathways compare to the regional averages.
Strong NCLEX performance is a proxy for curriculum quality, clinical preparation, and faculty support. Programs with pass rates consistently above the state and national averages often have robust remediation resources and rigorous accreditation standards. For graduates, a first-time pass means entering the workforce without delay, which directly impacts earnings and career momentum.
The path to a BSN in the Naples area varies by your previous education and nursing experience. Use this side-by-side view to find the timeline that fits your goals.
When choosing a BSN program, Naples students must weigh the flexibility of online coursework against the structured environment of on-campus learning. Both paths lead to the same RN licensure, but the day-to-day experience differs significantly.
Choosing where to launch your nursing career is as important as selecting the right degree. RN salaries in the Cape Coral–Fort Myers–Naples metro area sit comfortably above both the Florida state median and the national benchmark, making southwest Florida a financially attractive market.
In 2023, registered nurses in the Naples metro earned a median annual wage of $82,810, roughly $2,000 above the state median ($80,960) and on par with the national median ($81,220). The earning range is wide: the 10th percentile salary was $64,750, while the top 10% pulled in $103,650. That means nurses who advance into specialty roles, leadership, or per-diem shifts can push well past the six-figure mark without leaving the region.
Compared to the rest of Florida, Naples offers a slight premium at the median, but the real advantage shows at the upper end. Statewide, the 90th percentile wage reaches $105,580, just a few thousand more than the local figure, indicating that high-earning potential in the metro is competitive with pricier coastal markets like Miami or Tampa.
Collier County’s rapidly aging population continues to drive healthcare hiring. Hospital expansions, including growth at NCH Healthcare System, and a steady increase in outpatient surgery centers and specialty clinics are creating a steady pipeline of RN openings. While official metro-level employment totals are not yet published, the state of Florida employed approximately 197,600 registered nurses in 2022, and the Naples area accounts for a meaningful share of that workforce.
Earlier sections broke down BSN program costs, and those figures start to look modest when weighed against a mid-career RN salary that can surpass $100,000 locally. Even accounting for Southwest Florida’s cost of living, the salary-to-debt math for a well-chosen BSN program is bullish, especially if you lock in in-state tuition or accelerated pathway pricing.
Prospective nursing students in Naples often have questions about program quality, costs, and timelines. Below, we answer common queries using data and insights from the article to help you make an informed decision.
