Compare costs, NCLEX pass rates, and outcomes for accredited nursing programs near Orange Park.
Orange Park sits roughly 15 miles south of downtown Jacksonville, placing nursing students within commuting distance of major health systems like Baptist Health, UF Health Jacksonville, and Ascension St. Vincent’s. That proximity translates into steady demand, but also into employers who increasingly expect a BSN at the point of hire.
Aspiring nurses in the area can pursue traditional on-campus BSNs, RN-to-BSN bridges, or online options with local clinical placements at nursing schools in Jacksonville Florida, each with distinct cost and time implications.
Program sticker prices mask wide net-cost differences once financial aid is factored in, and admission cutoffs for competitive tracks often run above published minimums. In a metro where BSN preference is hardening, choosing a school that balances affordability with strong NCLEX outcomes matters more than prestige.
Orange Park nursing students have strong local and regional options for earning a BSN or advancing their nursing careers. The schools below are ranked by their combination of institutional quality, program outcomes, and accessibility within a 65-mile radius. Each profile highlights the program format, institution-wide graduation rate, and net price to help you make an informed choice.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of North Florida | Jacksonville, FL | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | Northeast Florida residents needing local clinicals | |
University of North Florida delivers the region's most accessible public BSN, with multiple start dates and clinicals throughout Northeast Florida, including Clay County. The institution-wide graduation rate is 69%, with a net price near $10,150 for in-state students. Its Freshman Admit Nursing track guarantees a BSN pathway for local high school seniors.
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| #2 | University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | ~$7,000/yr (est.) | High-achieving students targeting top-ranked programs | |
University of Florida's BSN is the state's top-ranked program, earning a No. 1 spot from U.S. News. With an institutional graduation rate of 91% and net price around $6,500 for in-state students, it offers a high-value pathway. Students train in a modern simulation lab and gain clinical experience at UF Health hospitals.
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| #3 | Jacksonville University | Jacksonville, FL | ~$25,000/yr (est.) | Second-career students wanting accelerated tracks | |
Jacksonville University combines rigorous classroom learning with immersive VR and AI simulation labs, plus clinical partnerships at Baptist Health. With a 51% institution-wide graduation rate and private net price around $25,180, it caters to both traditional and accelerated students. The 12-month accelerated BSN is a standout for career changers.
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| #4 | Santa Fe College | Gainesville, FL | ~$11,000/yr (est.) | ||
Santa Fe College offers an affordable mix: a hybrid ASN with clinicals at North Florida Regional Medical Center and a fully online RN-to-BSN. The institution-wide graduation rate is 53%, and net price around $11,100. Its ASN evening/weekend track adds flexibility for working students.
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| #5 | Florida State College at Jacksonville | Jacksonville, FL | $0 – $5,000/yr | ||
Florida State College at Jacksonville provides a fully online BSN for RNs, featuring a distinctive Global Scholars Distinction program. With a 37% institution-wide graduation rate and net price near $4,100, it is among the most economical choices. The program reports a 100% graduate satisfaction rate.
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| #6 | Saint Johns River State College | Palatka, FL | $6,000/yr | ||
Saint Johns River State College offers an online RN-to-BSN that is popular among associate-degree nurses in the region. The institution-wide graduation rate is 49%, and net price is approximately $6,135. The program boasts a 99.3% graduate satisfaction rate.
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| #7 | Florida Gateway College | Lake City, FL | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Florida Gateway College's ASN program in Lake City records strong outcomes, with a 95.4% NCLEX pass rate and 100% job placement. The institution-wide graduation rate is 54%, and net price around $5,360. Small class sizes and personalized instruction define the experience.
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| #8 | Galen Health Institutes-Gainesville | Gainesville, FL | $30,000/yr | ||
Galen Health Institutes-Gainesville provides a direct-entry ADN with four start dates per year and no application fee. The institution-specific graduation data is not reported, but the private net price is about $29,560. Students benefit from on-demand tutoring and clinical learning labs.
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The net price figures below represent the average amount students pay after receiving financial aid, calculated across all undergraduates at each institution; they are not guaranteed quotes for nursing programs. The table spans a wide cost range, from about $3,800 to over $9,000 per year, providing a quick overview of affordability.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price (After Aid) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Nursing school admission standards continue to drift upward, with many BSN programs near Orange Park setting competitive thresholds that exceed posted minimums. Understanding these typical requirements helps you find programs where your profile fits.
Most pre-licensure BSN programs in the Jacksonville area list a minimum GPA between 2.5 and 3.0, but competitive applicants often present stronger numbers. Jacksonville University's traditional BSN sets a baseline of 2.50, though successful candidates frequently hold a 3.0 or higher. Entrance exams are common: Chamberlain University's pre-licensure BSN requires the HESI A2, with a composite score typically in the 73 to 75% range. Florida State College at Jacksonville's ASN (a pathway that can bridge to BSN) also uses the HESI A2, demanding at least 75% on each of its four core sections (Grammar, Math, Reading, Vocabulary). The UF Accelerated BSN in Jacksonville skips standardized testing altogether, but requires a prior bachelor's degree in another field. Prerequisite sciences almost always include anatomy, physiology, and microbiology; check each school's list for specific math and general education courses.
Programs routinely require a background check, CPR certification, and up-to-date immunization records as conditions of enrollment. Drug screening may also be mandatory. These non-academic checks are typically completed after an admission offer but before clinical placements begin.
Licensed RNs pursuing a bachelor's degree face a lighter application process. Florida State College at Jacksonville's BSN, for instance, requires only a current, unencumbered RN license. Entrance exams and many prerequisite courses are waived, and GPA expectations are often more flexible.
Admission criteria change annually. Always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and any supplemental materials with the school's nursing admissions office.
While program-level earnings data is limited for Orange Park nursing programs, NCLEX-RN pass rates offer insight into graduate readiness. Fortis College's associate in nursing program achieved an 88% pass rate in 2024, exceeding the state average.
Choosing between online and on-campus BSN programs near Orange Park involves weighing flexibility against hands-on experience. Several schools in the area offer online or hybrid tracks that combine digital coursework with weekend clinicals, while others maintain traditional on-campus formats for direct access to labs and faculty.
The shift toward BSN-prepared nurses in North Florida is reshaping hiring standards across Jacksonville's major health systems. For nursing students and working RNs in Orange Park, choosing the right BSN timeline can position them competitively in this evolving job market.
A traditional pre-licensure BSN typically takes four years of full-time study. Many area universities also offer accelerated tracks for career changers who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field. Jacksonville University’s 12-month ABSN program, hosted at Baptist Health and Mayo Clinic, and its 16-month ABSN at Ascension St. Vincent’s, are popular fast-track choices. The University of Florida provides a 15-month accelerated BSN in Jacksonville with clinical rotations at UF Health. For ADN-prepared nurses, both the University of North Florida and Florida State College at Jacksonville deliver streamlined RN-to-BSN programs that can be completed in as few as 12 months, fully online and designed for working professionals. Chamberlain University’s Jacksonville campus offers a three-year BSN for students seeking a continuous, year-round schedule.
Florida’s statewide articulation agreements make it straightforward for community college ADN graduates to transfer credits into a bachelor’s program. A nurse who earned an associate degree from a Florida public college can enroll in a university RN-to-BSN bridge without repeating coursework. This pathway is particularly cost-effective for Orange Park nurses who want to keep working while advancing their degree part-time, often entirely online.
Magnet-designated hospitals, including Baptist Health, Mayo Clinic Florida, and UF Health Jacksonville, increasingly require or prefer BSN-prepared nurses for patient-care positions. Baptist Health expects newly hired RNs to hold a BSN or enroll in a program within a set timeframe. This preference extends to many other area employers, meaning that job seekers from Orange Park will find a bachelor’s degree a distinct advantage in the Jacksonville market.
BSN preparation pays off quickly. Nurses with a bachelor’s degree in the Jacksonville area typically earn higher median wages and qualify sooner for leadership positions such as charge nurse, manager, or clinical educator. The degree also opens doors to specialty certifications and graduate education, enabling faster entry into advanced practice roles like nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist. In competitive units, critical care, emergency, and perioperative, a BSN is now the standard for new applicants.
Considering a BSN in Orange Park? Below are answers to common questions about local nursing programs, costs, online options, and clinical placements. This FAQ addresses key concerns for prospective nursing students in the area.
Which BSN program in Orange Park gives you the strongest return? Your answer depends on weighing total cost against recent NCLEX-RN pass rates and program format. The ranked list above shows where tuition falls below state averages and where graduates clear the licensure exam at high rates. Request information directly from your top choices, and for a broader search, browse nursing schools across Florida.
