Best RN-to-BSN Programs in Florida (2026)

The UF Online RN to BSN is a completion program designed exclusively for licensed RNs. All coursework is delivered 100% online with no on-campus requirements, and the program admits students each spring and fall semester. To qualify, you must hold an active, unencumbered Florida RN license (or eNLC compact license) and an ADN from an NLNAC- or ACEN-accredited program, with a GPA of 2.8 or higher in nursing coursework. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and is approved by the Florida Board of Nursing.

In-state tuition runs $3,358 per year, making this one of the most affordable public options in the state. UF's 85% graduation rate and a Hakia Score of 92.2 put it at the top of Florida RN-to-BSN programs in this ranking. The program prepares graduates for leadership roles and positions them directly on a path to graduate nursing study, including MSN and nurse-practitioner tracks. Graduates are armed with skills in evidence-based practice, health policy, and population health across diverse care settings.

Florida Academy of Nursing's RN to BSN is a 65-week program with rolling enrollment, so working nurses are not locked into semester-based start windows. The curriculum includes built-in general education courses, eliminating the need to separately complete gen-ed prerequisites before applying. There is no clinical requirement, which matters for full-time RNs who cannot step away from the floor. Classes run on a convenient in-class schedule supported by an online learning management system, making it a hybrid rather than fully distance format. Contact the admissions office for current start dates.

The program is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; note that this is institutional accreditation, not CCNE or ACEN programmatic nursing accreditation. FAN earned ACCSC's 2020 School of Distinction designation. Financial aid is available for those who qualify. With a Hakia Score of 80.4, the program ranks second among Florida RN-to-BSN programs in this index, reflecting its accessibility and no-clinical structure for working nurses.

Eastern Florida State College's RN to BSN is a fully online, 120-credit-hour program that awards up to 42 college credits for prior ADN coursework under its Memorandum of Understanding for Prior Training and Licensure. That credit block covers core ADN courses for EFSC nursing graduates and qualifying transfers from regionally accredited institutions. The program uses rolling admissions, so eligible RNs can start without waiting for a fixed application cycle. Most students complete the program in approximately 18 months while working full-time as nurses and taking courses part-time. The capstone practicum is also completed online within the student's local community.

In-state tuition is $2,048 per year, placing this among the most affordable RN-to-BSN options in Florida. The baccalaureate nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). A Hakia Score of 78.8 puts EFSC third in this Florida ranking, with the low cost and 42-credit transfer block as its strongest practical advantages for ADN nurses looking to finish quickly without financial strain.

St. Petersburg College's RN to BSN program is 100% online and built around the working nurse's schedule. Full-time students finish in three semesters; the program also allows students to take one course at a time or up to four courses per semester in fall and spring, giving significant schedule flexibility. The program requires 40 upper-division semester hours of coursework: 32 credit hours in nursing core courses and 8 in electives. Up to 10 semester hours may transfer from another institution at the upper-division level. The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice, health promotion, cultural humility, and nursing leadership. The College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) through June 30, 2032.

The estimated total program cost is $9,513.83, with in-state tuition of $1,943 per year making it the lowest per-year tuition of the four programs in this ranking. A Hakia Score of 74.2 places SPC fourth, with its cost and scheduling flexibility as the primary draws for RNs who need to pace their coursework around shift work or family obligations. Florida's Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area is projected to add over 25,000 RN job openings between 2024 and 2034, according to BLS OEWS data, reinforcing the regional demand for BSN-credentialed nurses.

Ana G. Mendez University's RN-to-BSN is a fully online completion program designed for ADN-holding registered nurses who need a bachelor's without leaving their current job or relocating. The program distributes coursework across general education, a professional core, and nursing major requirements. The Tampa Bay campus serves as the administrative home, but all instruction runs online, giving working RNs flexibility across shifts and schedules. No specific start-date cadence is listed on the program page.

Tuition is $11,850 per year with no out-of-state differential, which matters for Florida RNs near a state-line or those relocating mid-program. AGMU is a private nonprofit institution. The program's Hakia Score of 74.1 is the highest among this Florida cohort, reflecting the combination of online accessibility and the institution's nursing focus within the Health Sciences Division. The BSN opens the door to healthcare leadership roles and is the prerequisite for any MSN or nurse-practitioner track — the program page names both Generalist Nurse-BSN and Healthcare Leader as the primary employment paths for completers.

Lake-Sumter State College's RN-to-BSN is an on-campus completion program at its Leesburg, FL location, structured for RNs with an associate degree who are ready to advance to the bachelor's level. The program requires official transcripts, placement scores (PERT, ACT, or SAT within two years), and a meeting with an assigned RN-to-BSN advisor before enrollment. Students work with advisor Kayla Sharon to build a graduation schedule targeted to their transfer credits and prior coursework. The scrapped program page focuses on the enrollment and advising process; specific credit-transfer caps and program length are not stated.

Florida residents pay $3,292 per year in tuition — among the lowest sticker prices in the state for a public baccalaureate nursing program. Out-of-state students pay $13,276. The program's 48% graduation rate and Hakia Score of 72.7 reflect a community-college environment that prioritizes local access and personalized advising over selectivity. For a working RN in the greater Leesburg or Lake-Sumter area who wants in-person structure and low cost, this program delivers both. FAFSA is accepted (school code 001502). Accreditation status is not specified on the program page.

State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota runs its RN-to-BSN program with core nursing courses delivered 100% online in an accelerated 5-week format. Three core nursing courses run each fall and spring; two run in summer, plus two elective courses taken during any semester. Complete the nursing course sequence in four semesters. The program is not self-paced — students log in regularly to participate — but all upper-level nursing courses are online without mandatory face-to-face meetings. The program operates with open enrollment and no application deadline, which is a meaningful advantage for RNs who decide mid-year to advance. Campuses in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, and Venice serve the region, and the Community and Public Health practicum (45 hours) must be completed within Florida.

In-state and out-of-state students pay the same tuition: $2,365 per year, making SCF one of the most affordable RN-to-BSN programs in Florida. The program holds ACEN accreditation, recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. With a Hakia Score of 71.3 and a 38% graduation rate that reflects the open-access mission of a state college, SCF fits working RNs in the Sarasota-Manatee corridor who need a low-cost, online-core, no-deadline path to the BSN without the tuition differential that hits many nursing completions.

Gulf Coast State College's RN-to-BSN is a 120-credit completion program with an average time to complete of one year, according to the program's own snapshot data. The curriculum accepts 48 credit hours from an associate degree or diploma in nursing, then adds 36 hours of advanced nursing coursework covering leadership and management, informatics, community and public health, and nursing research. The program runs a Fall/Spring full-time track. Prospective students with an ADN or nursing diploma from an accredited school are the target entrant — the program is not designed for LPNs or CNAs who have not yet earned the RN.

In-state tuition totals $1,750, with $4,384 cited on the program page as the cost of all BSN-specific classes — the lowest direct cost in this Florida cohort. Out-of-state students pay $7,065. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the benchmark credential that Magnet-designated hospital systems and graduate nursing programs look for. The Simply Health Scholarship covers up to $5,000 in BSN costs for RNs who commit to practicing in the Northwest Florida region post-graduation. Faculty are 75% doctorally prepared with a 25:1 maximum class size. With a Hakia Score of 70.4 and a 43% graduation rate, GCSC serves working RNs in the Panama City area who want the fastest, lowest-cost, fully accredited path to a BSN and the MSN track it unlocks. National median pay for registered nurses is $97,550 per year (BLS OEWS); the BSN's real payoff is employer preference at Magnet hospitals and eligibility for advanced practice programs.

Pensacola State College's RN-to-BSN completion program is built for working ADN-prepared RNs with an active license. Courses are delivered entirely online, with two one-credit practicum courses requiring a set number of hours at a clinical facility. The program leads to the 120 total credit hours required for the BSN; transfer and articulation credits determine your pace, and the college offers three-, four-, and five-semester completion tracks. Curriculum covers management, leadership, nursing theory, research, and evidence-based practice.

In-state tuition runs $1,884 per year, making this one of the most affordable pathways in the Florida Panhandle. The program carries dual accreditation from both ACEN and CCNE, a combination that satisfies virtually every hospital employer's credential requirements, including Magnet-designated systems. With a Hakia Score of 69.1, it ranks ninth among Florida RN-to-BSN programs in our 2026 analysis. A BSN from PSC positions you for nurse manager and supervisory roles, and opens the door to MSN and nurse-practitioner pathways. Graduates report outcomes tracked against a 70% employment-advancement benchmark published by the program.

Northwest Florida State College's RN-to-BSN program is designed for licensed RNs who want to move into nurse manager, case manager, or hospital educator roles. The program is delivered online and addresses high-demand nursing specialties, with clinical instruction focused on community and family healthcare for special populations. Admission is open to any RN with a valid, active license; there are no fixed application deadlines, and the college accepts applications year-round. Multiple sessions open each semester, with staggered deadlines in summer, fall, and spring, so you can start when your schedule allows rather than waiting for a single annual cohort.

In-state tuition is $2,151 per year. The program is nationally accredited, meeting employer requirements at health systems that mandate BSN credentials for bedside and supervisory positions. NWFSC earned a Hakia Score of 68.6 in our 2026 Florida RN-to-BSN analysis, ranking tenth in the state. The BLS reports registered nursing as one of the fastest-growing occupations through 2033; for RNs already in the workforce, the BSN is the credential that unlocks advancement to leadership and specialty tracks, and prerequisites for MSN and APRN programs.