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Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Florida

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2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Florida

59 Colleges
$57,601 Avg Salary
$21,889 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing Associate Degree School for You

Out of the majors we analyze each year, nursing was the most popular one in Florida. In total, 21,209 people earned a degree or certificate in the field from a school in Florida.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for healthcare students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

The Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Florida ranking is one of many tools that Healthcare Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 59 schools in Florida to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for healthcare students. To come up with a school's ranking, we analyzed numerous factors related to post-graduation wages, the quality of education offered by the school, average accumulated student debt, and more.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Florida

The colleges and universities below are the best for nursing majors pursuing a associate degree.

Top 10 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools

Our analysis found Rasmussen University - Florida to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a associate degree in Florida. Located in the city of Ocala, Rasmussen University - Florida is a private for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.

Nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Florida take out an average of $32,326 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $175.

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#2

Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay

Saint Petersburg, FL

The excellent associate degree programs at Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Florida. Located in the city of Saint Petersburg, Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay take out while working on their Associate Degree is $35,636. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $111.

Full Nursing at Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay Report

The excellent associate degree programs at Herzing University - Winter Park helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Florida. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Herzing University - Winter Park is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Herzing University - Winter Park take out while working on their Associate Degree is $35,162. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $107.

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#4

Polk State College

Winter Haven, FL

Out of the 59 schools in Florida that were part of this year’s ranking, Polk State College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Polk State is a moderately-sized public school located in the small city of Winter Haven.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Polk State carry an average student debtload of $19,264.

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Out of the 59 schools in Florida that were part of this year’s ranking, Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations landed the # 5 spot on the list. ANHO is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Palm Beach.

Full Nursing at Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations Report

West Coast University-Miami ranked #6 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Florida list. Located in the small city of Doral, West Coast University-Miami is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

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#7

Miami Dade College

Miami, FL

Miami Dade College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Located in the city of Miami, MDC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at MDC accumulate an average of around $19,338 in student debt.

Full Nursing at Miami Dade College Report

#8

Valencia College

Orlando, FL

With a ranking of #8, Valencia College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Nursing majors at Valencia College take out an average of $20,231 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Nursing at Valencia College Report

#9

Santa Fe College

Gainesville, FL

Santa Fe College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Located in the midsize suburb of Gainesville, Santa Fe College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Santa Fe College carry an average student debtload of $19,386.

Full Nursing at Santa Fe College Report

Florida SouthWestern State College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Florida list. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, FSW is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at FSW take out while working on their Associate Degree is $16,895.

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Best Nursing Colleges in the Southeast Region

Explore all the Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
North Carolina 7,425
Tennessee 6,004
Kentucky 6,395
Georgia 7,112
West Virginia 1,771
Virginia 6,775
Alabama 7,364
Louisiana 3,502
Mississippi 2,838
South Carolina 3,296
Arkansas 2,882

One of 30 majors within the healthcare area of study, nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.

Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 266,651
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 16,104
Nursing Administration 9,838
Nursing Practice 7,992
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 5,092
Nursing Science 4,600
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 2,287
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 2,021
Nurse Anesthetist 1,936
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing 1,883
Critical Care Nursing 773
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing 563
School Nursing 553
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 509
Clinical Nurse Leader 444
Clinical Nurse Specialist 419
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing 331
Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing 181
Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing 57
Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing 53
Palliative Care Nursing 14
Forensic Nursing 14

Majors Similar to Nursing

Related Major Annual Graduates
Health & Medical Administrative Services 89,359
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 84,492
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 84,274
Allied Health Professions 82,308
Public Health 40,596

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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