The Top MSN Nursing Programs In Florida

A master of science in nursing (MSN) is the degree that moves you from bedside RN to nurse practitioner, nurse educator, nurse-midwife, or nurse administrator. Florida has a deep bench of accredited MSN programs and a large, aging patient population that keeps demand for advanced practice nurses high.

Below are five established Florida MSN programs with their admission rules, tuition, and outcomes, followed by what licensure actually requires.

Florida MSN Programs

The University of South Florida offers an MSN with nurse practitioner concentrations in adult-gerontology primary and acute care, family practice, and pediatric primary care. Adult-gerontology primary care students can add an occupational health nursing subspecialty or earn a concurrent master of public health. Students enroll full or part time and sit a comprehensive exam in their concentration at the end.

• Program: Master of science in nursing
• Campus: Tampa, Florida
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Tuition: $431 per credit for Florida residents; $877 per credit out of state
• Admission: BSN (or bachelor's in a relevant field with a 3.0 GPA), RN license
• Time to complete: 18-24 months
• Onsite requirement: Yes
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2022): 91% first-time
• Median earnings two years out: $102,723 for master's graduates (College Scorecard)

Miami Regional University runs a direct-entry MSN that prepares non-nursing bachelor's holders to pass the NCLEX-RN and enter practice as advanced generalist RNs. Applicants need prior coursework in anatomy and physiology, microbiology, English composition, report writing and research, and a humanities elective. Both full- and part-time tracks cover advanced nursing inquiry, evidence-based practice, foundations of care across the lifespan, and nursing informatics.

• Program: Master of science in nursing (direct entry)
• Campus: Miami Springs, Florida
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
• Tuition: $670 per credit
• Admission: Bachelor's degree, 2.5 GPA minimum
• Time to complete: 20 months
• Onsite requirement: Yes
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2022): 69% first-time

Florida Atlantic University offers an MSN onsite or online depending on concentration. Core classes cover advanced nursing practice grounded in caring, philosophical and theoretical foundations of nursing, and nursing research. Concentrations include adult gerontological NP, advanced holistic nursing, family NP, nursing administration and financial leadership, nurse educator, and psychiatric mental health NP.

• Program: Master of science in nursing
• Campus: Boca Raton, Florida
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Tuition: $372 per credit for Florida residents; $1,027 per credit out of state
• Admission: BSN, 3.0 GPA minimum, RN license
• Time to complete: 18-24 months
• Onsite requirement: Yes
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2022): 88% first-time
• Median earnings two years out: $92,028 for master's graduates (College Scorecard)

Jacksonville University's MSN runs full or part time, online for some concentrations. Core courses cover nursing theory and research, leadership and advanced roles, and healthcare organization and policy. Concentrations include adult gerontology acute care NP, clinical nurse educator, family NP, healthcare quality and safety informatics, nursing leadership, and psychiatric mental health NP.

• Program: Master of science in nursing
• Campus: Jacksonville, Florida
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Tuition: $675 per credit
• Admission: BSN, 3.0 GPA minimum, RN license
• Time to complete: 18 months
• Onsite requirement: Yes
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2022): 92% first-time
• Median earnings two years out: $80,091 for master's graduates (College Scorecard)

St. Thomas University offers online MSN programs in psychiatric mental health and family NP tracks. Students study full or part time, complete virtual clinical examinations, and arrange rotations near home. Both concentrations include transition to advanced practice, advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and diversity in advanced practice. Tuition is the same regardless of residency, and 90% of enrollees receive financial aid.

• Program: Master of science in nursing
• Campus: Miami Gardens, Florida
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Tuition: $566 per credit
• Admission: BSN, 3.0 GPA minimum, RN license
• Time to complete: 18 months
• Onsite requirement: No
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2022): 58% first-time

Pass rates and tuition shift year to year, so confirm current figures with each school before applying.

Earning Your MSN and APRN License in Florida

Becoming an MSN-prepared nurse means meeting both graduate program requirements and state licensure rules. Florida is a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so a multistate RN license earned here is valid across the more than 40 participating states and jurisdictions. The RN license application fee is $110, the NCLEX is $200, and RN licenses renew every two years.

An MSN program requires a BSN from an accredited program (or an ADN for RN-to-MSN tracks), a current unencumbered RN license, and prerequisite coursework. Becoming an APRN takes more. Florida's Board of Nursing requires a valid RN license, a master's degree or post-master's certificate, national certification from a nursing specialty board, proof of malpractice insurance, and electronic fingerprinting for a background check.

Know the scope you are training into. Florida is a restricted-practice state: NPs work under a physician protocol. A 2020 law (HB 607) created an autonomous-practice option for qualifying primary-care NPs who meet experience and supervision requirements. Verify the current rule with the Florida Board of Nursing before you plan your practice.

Choosing a Florida MSN Program

Weigh tuition against financial aid. Florida offers scholarships through the Florida Nurses Foundation and federal loan forgiveness through the Nurse Faculty Loan Program. Compare NCLEX pass rates as a proxy for how well a program prepares graduates. Check whether courses run online or onsite, how long the program takes, and whether the school helps secure clinical placements. Accreditation is non-negotiable: it governs licensure eligibility, financial aid, and credit transfer.

Salary and Job Outlook

Florida RNs earn a mean of about $88,200 a year and nurse practitioners about $128,340, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). Both sit just below national means of roughly $98,430 for RNs and $132,000 for NPs, but Florida's demand runs high thanks to its large senior population. Nurse practitioner employment is projected to grow about 40% over the decade nationally, far faster than most occupations. The cost of living in Florida tracks close to the national average, so pay lines up reasonably with local costs. Advanced roles pay more than staff RN work: Florida nurse-midwives average about $105,650 and nurse anesthetists about $236,610.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an MSN worth it? For most nurses, yes. It is a real investment of time and money, but it opens roles in advanced practice, education, and administration and raises earning potential. In Florida, NPs are the highest-paid MSN holders at about $128,340, with nurse administrators close behind.

How long does it take? Most Florida MSN programs run about two years. Accelerated and RN-to-MSN pathways shorten that; part-time study extends it. Your previous education and specialty also affect the timeline.

What can you do with an MSN? Nurse practitioner, nurse-midwife, nurse educator, nurse administrator, or clinical nurse specialist.