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Best 12 RN to MSN Programs in Florida in 2024

January 26, 2024 | Admin

Best RN to MSN programs in Florida badge

For a nurse, career advancement may prove to be the best decision ever made. Upgrading in education means a smart investment for yourself and the people you associate with. Not only will you be able to benefit financially from the move but also gain more knowledge and medical advancement. Nurses are always in demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this is projecting a 15% increase in the demand for nurses. Notably, caregivers and medical practitioners for people living with chronic diseases have been on the rise over recent years. There are many reasons and benefits to take on the challenge and advance your nursing career.

Top 5 RN to MSN Programs in Florida

Rank School Location
1South UniversityWest Palm Beach, Florida
2University of Central FloridaOrlando, Florida
3Florida State UniversityTallahassee, Florida
4University of North FloridaJacksonville, Florida
5University of West FloridaPensacola, Florida
  1. You get numerous career options- having a Masters of Science in Nursing broadens your career paths. The individuals might choose to be nurse educators within their locality or abroad. Some of these career options are:
    • Clinical nurse researcher
    • Nurse ethicist
    • Forensic nurse consultant 
    • Pediatric nurse practitioner
    • Family nurse practitioner
    • Geriatric nurse practitioner
    • Psychiatric nurse practitioner
  2. Obtaining more knowledge – nurses equipped with a deeper understanding of medicine have an added advantage to themselves and the people around them.
  3. You get better pay – depending on your institution, the salary may vary, but that does not mean you won’t get what you deserve.
  4. Able to achieve flexible working hours- most nurses work under the 12-hour shift per day, and this can be very exhausting. However, with a master’s in nursing, you may get a different working shift as your position shall be elevated.
  5. Graduate education in nursing will extend your career since most nurses retire early. This is due to overworking and always being on their feet, leading to backbone problems. Nonetheless, if you get administrative roles with your masters, you will be able to work beyond the time regular nurses do.

If you need help finding a college or university that offers your degree of preference, we can help. Click here to utilize our search engine to find your favorite program. Below are the best colleges and universities offering RN to MSN programs in Florida

Best 12 RN to MSN Programs in Florida

1

South University

  • West Palm Beach, Florida
  • Graduation Rate: 39%

South University is a private university that offers the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program both online and in the school. The course is designed to help the students develop better clinical skills in order to enhance their future career paths. The program blends well theory and practicals in preparing students to work in educational or healthcare environments. The Family Nurse practitioner degree program requires at least 62 credits. This program works well for registered nurses without a bachelor’s degree. The program has intensive and streamlined courses enabling a student to be awarded a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and MSN upon completion of the program.

School Overview

Tuition: $13,260 per year
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2

University of Central Florida

  • Orlando, Florida
  • Graduation Rate: 75%

The University of Central Florida is a public research university with MSN accredited nursing programs. The school has made it possible for a student to concurrently finish a BSN and MSN degree. It takes three years for students to complete both and get their degree certificates. However, a Masters takes two years.

The university has flexible timetables to suit the working nurses and students within its facility in offering full-time studies, online studies, part-time or accelerated options. It has 36 credit hours.

School Overview

Tuition: $6,624 per year
Acceptance Rate: 44%
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3

Florida State University

  • Tallahassee, Florida
  • Graduation Rate: 80%

Florida State University is a public research university that offers MSN programs to its students. The program is available both online and on campus. The Nurse Leader program is among MSN specializations designed to prepare nurses in various clinical settings to take on leadership positions within their preferred organizations with ease. The course has 315 clinical hours, and students study for 32 semester hours, which take up to 2 years to graduate. Learners undertake both practical and theoretical coursework to ensure all areas are well covered.

School Overview

Tuition: $6,848 per year
Acceptance Rate: 36%
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4

University of North Florida

  • Jacksonville, Florida
  • Graduation Rate: 61%

The University of North Florida is a public institution that offers MSN programs. It offers on-campus classes and an average student to faculty ratio, therefore enhancing attention. Students who are interested in choosing a BSN, Registered Nurse (RN), an accelerated R.N. to MSN, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) can enroll in the University of North Florida. The programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Florida Board of Nursing. The university is also accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Enrollment in the school is highly competitive, with only 36 students admitted for the BSN each semester. The program has a total of 9 semesters, and it takes two years to complete. There are 66 credit hours. Students could be awarded NCLEX 30 credits validation in their third semester if there was a satisfactory completion of the NCLEX examination.

School Overview

Tuition: $16,236
Acceptance Rate: 72%
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5

University of West Florida

  • Pensacola, Florida
  • Graduation Rate: 65%

The University of West Florida is a public university that offers an excellent education to help propel its students on the right path in their career. The MSN degree, whose main focus is on nursing administration, equips students with the necessary skills to thrive in the field of nursing management and leadership. A graduate nursing education enables you to be a nursing educator locally or abroad. The course takes at least two years to complete. The program offers on-campus education, and the student to teacher ratio is quite average.

School Overview

Tuition: $19,500 per year
Acceptance Rate: 31%
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6

Nova Southeastern University

  • Davie, Florida
  • Graduation Rate: 62%

Nova Southeastern University is a private research institution that offers excellent education services to all its diverse students. Students in the program take at least 15 hours of core foundation in nursing with an addition of 21 hours of nursing informatics courses. It can be studied online or on-campus, depending on your work flexibility. The program is CCNE accredited and takes at least two years to complete.

School Overview

Tuition: $2940 per year
Acceptance Rate: 80%
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7

The University of Tampa

  • Tampa, Florida
  • Graduation Rate: 58%

The University of Tampa is a private university that offers accredited programs, including MSN. The program prepares its students for careers like clinical leadership and primary care providers. It emphasizes the importance of cultural assimilation, holistic assessment, patient collaboration, and inclusion. It is designed for students who have an active license and already have a BSN and Florida RN license. It has two major concentrations: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP), which takes at least 42 credit hours to graduate, and the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), which needs at least 49 credit hours to complete. It takes up to two years to complete the course.

School Overview

Tuition: $16,375 per year
Acceptance Rate: 45 %
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8

Florida National University

  • Hialeah, Florida
  • Graduation Rate: 91%

Florida National University is a for-profit university that has a diverse culture. For you to be considered in the school, you should have an active R.N. license and have completed a bachelor’s degree from a reputable institution. It offers both online and classroom classes to be able to meet the demands of the working nurses from their institution. The credit hours rely heavily on one’s course specialization since hours differ.

School Overview

Tuition: $24,300 per yea
2020 FNP AANP Certification Pass Rate: 89.0%
2019 FNP AANP Certification Pass Rate: 93.0%
2020 Job Placement: 100%
2020 Retention Rate: 84.0%
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9

Jacksonville University

  • Jacksonville, Florida
  • Graduation Rate: 41%

Jacksonville University is a private institution that offers excellent nursing programs like MSN. It has flexible timetables for online classes, part-time classes, and full-time classes to best suit working nurses. The program is CCNE accredited. It is designed for students who are prepared for a career in healthcare quality and safety, informatics, education, and nursing leadership. The program has manageable 8-week courses that allow you to start all year round and earn 30 credits towards your BSN from your R.N. license. The course can be completed within 21 months. A full-time student requires 143 credits to be complete.

School Overview

Tuition: $47,475 per year
Acceptance Rate: 92%
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10

The University of South Florida

  • Tampa, Florida
  • Graduation Rate: 69%

The University of South Florida is a public university that is well equipped with modern learning tools to offer MSN programs. The program is best suited for persons possessing a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

The program’s concentration is available in the following areas:

  1. Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nursing/Occupational Health (62 credits).
  2. Nursing Education (40 credits)
  3. Pediatric Health Nursing (45 credits)
  4. Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nursing (45 credits)
  5. Concurrent MPH/MSN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nursing (83 credits)
  6. Family Health Nursing (52 credits)

School Overview

Tuition: $19,414 per year
Acceptance Rate: 48%
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11

Florida Atlantic University

  • Boca Raton, Florida
  • Graduation Rate: 54%

Florida Atlantic University is a public research university that offers MSN programs. It has both online and face-to-face classes that are flexible to its working students. The master’s class has been designed to empower students with world-class knowledge through clinical experience, teaching skills, and leadership education. Students require 33 credits to graduate.

School Overview

Tuition: $31,633 per year
Acceptance Rate: 63%
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12

Barry University

  • Miami Shores, Florida
  • Graduation Rate: 62%

Barry University offers a Master of Science in Nursing and has been equipped with the most competent faculty to help the students achieve their best. The serene environment is also credited to the students’ success. The program is designed to suit working nurses, and most of the classes are held once a week or during the weekends to benefit learners with busy schedules. The program provides a 25% tuition scholarship to registered nurses with a BSN degree for any MSN course they choose. The school’s nursing programs, including undergraduate, master’s, doctor of nursing practice, and post-graduate APRN certificates, are accredited by CCNE. The program takes three years. The tuition fee is $4,000 per semester for the six semesters, and students can pay $1,000 per month.

School Overview

Tuition: $8,000 per year
Acceptance Rate: 51%
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Our Ranking Method

This ranking was based on the analysis of best software data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the university websites. The schools’ ranking was based on tuition amounts and the rate of graduation. The two factors were accorded 50 points. Each school was assigned points depending on how it compared with others on tuition amounts and graduation rates. The points earned in both ranking factors were then added together to get each school’s total score. The school with the most points ranked first in the list, and the one with the least points ranked at the bottom.  

We strive to provide current and accurate information to our readers. If you are associated with any of the colleges and Universities we ranked above, and you noticed an error in the information provided, please feel free to contact and notify us. We are ready to make any necessary corrections. 

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