Accredited nursing programs in Florida
69 schools in Florida have at least one nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE: 54 BSN, 44 ADN, 3 LPN, 21 MSN programs. 13 hold both accreditors across their programs. For the bachelor’s degree, 32 of 54 listings are CCNE and 24 are ACEN.
- Bachelor's programs
- 54
- 24 ACEN, 32 CCNE
- Associate programs
- 44
- 44 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Practical programs
- 3
- 3 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Master's programs
- 21
- 3 ACEN, 18 CCNE
Accredited schools in Florida
| School | City | Type | BSN | ADN | LPN | MSN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations | West Palm Beach | Private | – | ACEN | – | – |
| AdventHealth University | Orlando | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Ana G. Mendez University | Orlando | Private | – | – | – | ACEN |
| Ave Maria University | Ave Maria | Private | ACEN | – | – | – |
| Barry University | Miami | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Bethune-Cookman University | Daytona Beach | Private | ACEN | – | – | – |
| Broward College | Fort Lauderdale | Public | CCNE | ACEN | – | – |
| Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology | Delray Beach | For-profit | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Chipola College | Marianna | Public | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| College of Central Florida | Ocala | Public | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| Daytona College | Ormond Beach | For-profit | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Daytona State College | Daytona Beach | Public | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| Eastern Florida State College | Melbourne | Public | CCNE | ACEN | – | – |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | Tallahassee | Public | ACEN | – | – | ACEN |
| Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Florida College | Temple Terrace | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Florida Gateway College | Lake City | Public | CCNE | ACEN | – | – |
| Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Florida International University | Miami | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Florida National University-Main Campus | Hialeah | For-profit | CCNE | ACEN | – | CCNE |
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Florida SouthWestern State College | Fort Myers | Public | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| Florida State College at Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Public | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| Florida State University | Tallahassee | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Fortis College-Cutler Bay | Cutler Bay | For-profit | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Fortis College-Orange Park | Orange Park | For-profit | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Fortis Institute-Pensacola | Pensacola | For-profit | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Fortis Institute-Port Saint Lucie | Port Saint Lucie | For-profit | – | ACEN | – | – |
| FVI School of Nursing and Technology | Miami | For-profit | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay | Saint Petersburg | For-profit | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Gulf Coast State College | Panama City | Public | CCNE | ACEN | – | – |
| HCA Florida Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing | Miami | For-profit | – | – | ACEN | – |
| HCI College | West Palm Beach | For-profit | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Herzing University-Orlando | Winter Park | Private | CCNE | ACEN | – | – |
| Herzing University-Tampa | Tampa | Private | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Hillsborough College | Tampa | Public | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| Indian River State College | Fort Pierce | Public | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| Jacksonville University | Jacksonville | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Lake-Sumter State College | Leesburg | Public | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| Miami Dade College | Miami | Public | CCNE | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Miami Regional University | Miami Springs | For-profit | ACEN | ACEN | – | ACEN |
| North Florida College | Madison | Public | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| Northwest Florida State College | Niceville | Public | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Palm Beach Atlantic University | West Palm Beach | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Palm Beach State College | Lake Worth | Public | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| Pasco-Hernando State College | New Port Richey | Public | CCNE | ACEN | – | – |
| Pensacola State College | Pensacola | Public | ACEN + CCNE | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Polk State College | Winter Haven | Public | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| Saint Johns River State College | Palatka | Public | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| Santa Fe College | Gainesville | Public | CCNE | ACEN | – | – |
| Seminole State College of Florida | Sanford | Public | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| South Florida State College | Avon Park | Public | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| Southeastern University | Lakeland | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Southern Technical College | Fort Myers | For-profit | – | ACEN | – | – |
| St Petersburg College | St. Petersburg | Public | CCNE | ACEN | – | – |
| St. Thomas University | Miami Gardens | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota | Bradenton | Public | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| Tallahassee State College | Tallahassee | Public | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| Taylor College | Ocala | For-profit | – | ACEN | – | – |
| The College of the Florida Keys | Key West | Public | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| The University of Tampa | Tampa | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| University of Florida | Gainesville | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| University of Miami | Coral Gables | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| University of North Florida | Jacksonville | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| University of South Florida | Tampa | Public | ACEN + CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| University of West Florida | Pensacola | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Valencia College | Orlando | Public | CCNE | ACEN | – | – |
Programs listed as accredited in the ACEN directory (opens in a new tab) and the CCNE directory (opens in a new tab), collected November 2026 and matched to schools by name and city. Programs in candidacy are not counted. A dash means no accredited program at that level was matched.
Programs with an ACEN note
ACEN publishes a note beside some listings. The wording below is ACEN’s own; open the listing for what it means for the program.
- Florida Gateway College, ADN: With Conditions. ACEN listing (opens in a new tab)
- Tallahassee State College, BSN: For Good Cause. ACEN listing (opens in a new tab)
- Tallahassee State College, ADN: For Good Cause. ACEN listing (opens in a new tab)
- Valencia College, ADN: With Conditions. ACEN listing (opens in a new tab)
- Southern Technical College, ADN: For Good Cause. ACEN listing (opens in a new tab)
- Fortis College-Cutler Bay, ADN: Closing. ACEN listing (opens in a new tab)
What accreditation means in Florida
Two separate approvals apply to a nursing program. The Florida board of nursing approves programs so their graduates can sit the NCLEX. Programmatic accreditation from ACEN or CCNE is voluntary and is judged by a national peer body.
Bachelor's programs are the most common accredited level here, with 54. For bachelor’s degrees, 54 of 72 schools reporting graduates to the federal government matched an accredited program (75%). Compare Florida BSN programs by NCLEX pass rate, cost and pay.
Common questions
How many nursing schools in Florida are accredited?
We matched 69 Florida schools to at least one accredited nursing program in the ACEN and CCNE directories: 54 BSN, 44 ADN, 3 LPN, 21 MSN. Schools with several programs appear once.
What is the difference between ACEN and CCNE?
ACEN accredits nursing programs at every level, from practical nursing to doctorates. CCNE accredits bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. Both are recognized by the US Department of Education.
Do I need an accredited program to become a nurse in Florida?
Not always. The state board of nursing approves programs for licensure, and that is a separate approval from ACEN or CCNE accreditation. Accreditation still matters for transferring credits, federal and employer tuition benefits, and entry to graduate programs.
Are all Florida bachelor’s programs accredited?
54 of the 72 Florida schools that report nursing bachelor’s graduates to the federal government matched an accredited listing. A school that does not match may be new, may be listed under another name, or may lack accreditation, so check the accreditor’s own directory before you apply.