Nursing Programs in Jacksonville, FL

Last Updated On Jul 30, 2026

Expert Verified: Jessica Guzzetti, MBA, BSN, RN, CCHP-RN

3 Min Read

2027 Best Nursing Schools in Jacksonville

Rankings are essential for prospective nursing students, offering clear comparisons to guide program selection. Our rankings of the Best Nursing Schools in Jacksonville use NCLEX pass rates as the sole criteria, ensuring a data-driven approach. Registerednursing.org analyzed recent state data to identify top performers in the region. For more on our methodology, visit https://www.registerednursing.org/rn-ranking-methodology/.

Yearly Pass Rate Trends

Pass rates have remained consistently strong, with only a slight variation between years. The program maintained an average pass rate above 88% in both years.

2024: 88% pass rate (25 students)
2023: 88.89% pass rate (36 students)

Yearly Nursing Graduates

The number of graduates decreased from 2023 to 2024, reflecting a smaller cohort in the most recent year.

2024: 25 graduates
2023: 36 graduates

Top Performing Schools

Fortis College-Orange Park stands out as the only school in this dataset, achieving a strong average pass rate over two years.

Fortis College-Orange Park: 88.53% average pass rate (61 students, 2 years of data)

Pass Rate by Program Size

Small programs, with fewer than 50 students per year, demonstrate solid performance with an average pass rate of 88%.

Small: 88% average pass rate (25 students)

Biggest Improvements

Fortis College-Orange Park showed a slight decline in pass rate from 2023 to 2024, but overall performance remains high.

Fortis College-Orange Park: -0.89% change (from 88.89% in 2023 to 88% in 2024)

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, FL - Public 4-Year - unf.edu

Bachelor's - Nursing, Prelicensure (BSN)

Campus Based - Visit Website

At the University of North Florida, the Prelicensure BSN is an intensive, full-time, campus-based route to nursing practice. Coursework unites a rigorous scientific foundation with hands-on clinical experiences in community and acute-care settings, emphasizing care for vulnerable populations. Students refine their skills at the MedNexus Simulation Center and collaborate with community agencies throughout the curriculum. The program is CCNE-accredited and admits students in spring, summer, and fall. Applicants must have completed 60 semester hours of prerequisites, and the program welcomes both traditional and second-degree students. Financial aid and scholarships reduce barriers. Impressively, UNF's BSN graduates posted first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates of 93.85% in 2023 and 93.98% in 2024.

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited
3 start dates per year
Starts spring/summer/fall
Prerequisite courses required
Prepares for NCLEX-RN
Financial aid available
Scholarships available
NCLEX-RN licensing exam preparation
Community-based clinical experiences
State-of-the-art simulation center

Bachelor's - Freshman Admit Nursing (FAN)

Campus Based - Visit Website

For recent high school graduates, the Freshman Admit Nursing (FAN) track at the University of North Florida guarantees seamless entry into a BSN. This four-year, cohort-based program holds admission to just 50 fully committed students each fall. The curriculum blends a strong scientific backbone with clinical experiences in community health, focusing on underserved populations. Students benefit from a 'home-basing' model, spending the entire program in one designated community to build lasting relationships. A 3.0 GPA and prerequisite coursework are required, and participants must be 18 years old before clinicals begin. The program likewise prepares nurses for graduate education and professional licensure. CCNE accreditation stands behind the curriculum. Continuing the school's strong outcomes, UNF nursing cohorts achieved NCLEX-RN pass rates of 93.85% (2023) and 93.98% (2024).

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited
4-Year program
1 start dates per year
Starts fall
Cohort-based structure
3.0 GPA minimum
Prerequisite courses required
Prepares for NCLEX-RN
Financial aid available
Scholarships available

Show 1 More Programs ˅

Jacksonville University

Jacksonville, FL - Private 4-year - ju.edu

Bachelor's - Traditional BSN Program

Campus Based - Visit Website

Jacksonville University's Traditional BSN is a 28-month, on-campus, lock-step program that starts in fall or spring. Students spend four days per week in classes and one day in clinicals at partner hospitals. The curriculum integrates AI, virtual reality labs, and telepresence robots for simulated learning, building skills from patient care to critical thinking. Classes run without summer, evening, or online options. Admission requires a 2.5 GPA and prerequisite coursework; ACT/SAT scores are not specified. Graduates achieve NCLEX pass rates of 94.81% in 2023 and 92.19% in 2024. Distinct benefits include Departmental Honors, Navy MECP eligibility, and personal advising from the start. Military benefits are accepted, and alumni work in hospitals, clinics, and community health settings.

28-Month program
2 start dates per year
Starts fall/spring
95% licensure pass rate
Cohort-based structure
2.5 GPA minimum
Prerequisite courses required
Prepares for NCLEX
Military benefits accepted
Lock-step cohort model

Bachelor's - Accelerated Nursing Program for Second Degree Students

Campus Based - Visit Website

Jacksonville University's 12-month Accelerated BSN, created with Baptist Health, is tailored for students who hold a prior bachelor's degree and want to enter nursing. The on-campus, lock-step cohort begins each fall and focuses on Critical Care. Learning relies on VR labs, simulations, and clinicals at a Magnet-designated hospital. No evening or online classes are offered. Admission asks for a 2.5 GPA and prerequisites; ACT/SAT scores are not listed. A recorded virtual interview is part of the application. The program reports a first-time NCLEX pass rate of 90-100%; Jacksonville University's overall BSN pass rates were 94.81% in 2023 and 92.19% in 2024. Scholarships and financial aid are available for eligible students.

12-Month program
1 start dates per year
Starts fall
Cohort-based structure
2.5 GPA minimum
Prerequisite courses required
Prepares for NCLEX
Financial aid available
Scholarships available
Partnership with Baptist Health

Show 1 More Programs ˅

Florida State College at Jacksonville

Jacksonville, FL - Public 4-Year - fscj.edu

Bachelor's - Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Online Learning - Visit Website

Florida State College at Jacksonville offers a flexible, fully online RN-to-BSN program tailored for working nurses. The 120-credit curriculum advances skills in evidence-based practice, leadership, critical thinking, and culturally competent care for individuals, families, and communities. Unique to this degree is an automatic Global Scholars Distinction, adding international coursework and a capstone project; study-abroad opportunities are supported by an IDEAS grant. ACEN accreditation, doctorally prepared practicing faculty, and three annual start dates enhance its appeal. Recent outcomes show a 100% employment rate and strong graduate satisfaction. This completion program does not require ACT or SAT entrance exams; applicants need a valid RN license. The college's ADN graduates also achieved a 92.1% NCLEX pass rate in 2024, indicating robust nursing education overall.

ACEN accredited
3-Semester program
120 total credit hours
3 start dates per year
Starts fall/spring/summer
100% job placement rate
Capstone required
Financial aid available
Global Scholars Distinction program
Fully online for working nurses

*Source: NCES, IPEDS 2025. https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

Entry-Level ADN & BSN Programs in Jacksonville, FL

If you are interested in beginning a career in nursing, an entry-level program is the place to start. One option for entry-level programs includes the Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) program, which provides students with a base level introduction to nursing that can be completed in a relatively short time. Another option for entering the nursing field is the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, which prepares students for their first jobs with additional coursework in research, public health, leadership and other topics.

ADN Programs

An ADN program might be a good fit if you are interested in entering the workforce as quickly as possible, as these programs are generally faster to complete than a BSN.

Direct-Entry Accelerated BSN (ABSN) Programs

A traditional BSN program is designed for students without any previous nursing education, and provides graduates with a bachelor’s degree. Like ADN programs, BSN programs prepare students to take the NCLEX exam, but generally take longer to complete and provide additional in-depth coursework. One example of BSN programs is the program found at the University of North Florida, which includes professional courses as well as clinical/laboratory courses that focus on community-based nursing experience.

Learn more about Florida Accelerated BSN Programs.

RN to BSN/MSN Programs in Jacksonville, FL

In an effort to secure higher-paying nursing positions, many ADN-educated nurses are exploring going back to school to earn a higher degree. Some schools offer specialized “bridge” programs that provide a pathway for these nurses to earn a higher degree at a faster pace than traditional entry-level nursing programs.

RN to BSN Programs

RN to BSN programs are designed for experienced RNs who would like to earn their bachelor’s degree in nursing. Taking into account prior diploma coursework and clinical experience, these programs are generally fast to complete when compared with traditional BSN programs. The RN to BSN program at Florida State College at Jacksonville is offered on a part-time basis in three to six semesters of study to allow students to continue working while they earn their degree.

Learn more about Florida RN to BSN Programs.

RN to MSN Programs

Slightly less common than RN to BSN programs, some schools offer RN to MSN bridge programs, in which experienced RNs can earn their Master of Science in Nursing degree in an accelerated timeframe. The RN to MSN program at Jacksonville University allows RNs to earn their BSN and MSN degrees concurrently, with online courses that can be taken on a full- or part-time basis for maximum flexibility and convenience.

Learn more about Florida RN to MSN Programs.

List of RN to BSN/MSN Programs

We've put together a list of RN to BSN and RN to MSN programs to help working nurses advance their careers. The table below shows each school's location, program highlights, and a link to get more details. Whether aiming for a bachelor's or master's, these options offer flexible paths to grow in nursing.