Top Direct-Entry MSN Programs in Florida | 2026
Direct-entry Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs allow students with a non-nursing bachelor's degree to become nurses without returning for another undergraduate degree. Some programs award a general MSN, while others bridge the gap to advanced practice registered nursing degrees.
Popular Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
Chamberlain University is the #1 largest school of nursing with a community of more than 177,000 students, faculty, and alumni. Chamberlain offers BSN, MSN, NP and DNP programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide except CT, NY, RI
The Berkley School of Nursing at Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions, and the university has been delivering graduate nursing programs in a distance-learning environment since 2011. The university's online programs allow students to learn from wherever they are while they pursue an accredited, mission-driven nursing education that will allow them to deliver high-quality care.
CCNE
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY and WA.
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, ND, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
Nurse.org's Top Direct-Entry MSN Programs in Florida
| School | Tuition | Program Length | Accreditation |
| University of West Florida |
Resident: $418.77 per credit hour Non-Resident: $1,078.41 per credit hour |
20 months | CCNE |
| Jacksonville University | $750 per credit hour | 20 months | CCNE |
| Miami Regional University | $670 per credit hour | 20-28 months | ACEN |
We are highlighting three direct-entry MSN programs in Florida. These programs are a mix of public and private, and one has a hybrid option, which makes pursuing an education while working or caring for loved ones more feasible. These programs take between 20 and 28 months to complete.
Non-Resident: $1,078.41 per credit hour
A small group focus (with a student:faculty ratio of 8:1 at clinicals) and an accelerated pace of five semesters means students receive an intense, hands-on educational experience.
Program Highlights
- Prospective applicants must take the TEAS entrance exam and pass with a minimum of 75%
- Three start points each year (spring, fall, summer)
- Many graduates go on to work for Florida-based healthcare systems
Requirements
- TEAS entrance exam with minimum 75%
- Letter of recommendation
- Bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field
Program Information
- Application Deadline: Rolling (Spring, Fall, Summer)
- Contact Information:
Jacksonville University’s program is unique because it’s in partnership with the Mayo Clinic, giving students unparalleled access to clinical experiences and educational experts.
Program Highlights
- Partnership with the Mayo Clinic
- Dedicated Education Unit (DEU) model with three pillars: flexible clinicals, nurse socialization, and professional relationship fostering
- Only one admission in the fall
Requirements
- Specific prerequisites
- Recorded video from the prospective student
- Lock-step sequence completion
Program Information
- Application Deadline: Fall only
- Contact Information:
While Miami Regional University does not offer online options for its accelerated MSN program, it is one of the few programs that does give students the option to pursue the degree part-time or full-time.
Program Highlights
- Full-time option takes 28 months to complete
- Part-time route takes 20 months
- Option to pursue degree part-time or full-time
Requirements
- Students are only permitted to retake a failed class one time
- Any attempt to retake the same course twice will lead to dismissal
Program Information
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Contact Information:
Popular Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
Chamberlain University is the #1 largest school of nursing with a community of more than 177,000 students, faculty, and alumni. Chamberlain offers BSN, MSN, NP and DNP programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide except CT, NY, RI
The Berkley School of Nursing at Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions, and the university has been delivering graduate nursing programs in a distance-learning environment since 2011. The university's online programs allow students to learn from wherever they are while they pursue an accredited, mission-driven nursing education that will allow them to deliver high-quality care.
CCNE
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY and WA.
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, ND, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
What to Expect in a Direct-Entry MSN Program in Florida
Direct-entry MSN programs in Florida are most common for people with a non-nursing background who are looking to get into nursing in a fast and reliable pathway. With a bachelor's in a non-nursing field, an MSN degree can be achieved in as little as 20 months to just over two years.
Direct-entry MSN programs may also make sense for some nurses already working in Florida. For instance, Florida does not require its nurses to hold a BSN to practice. However, many individual hospitals mandate that their RNs earn their BSN within a certain number of years working in the hospital. Some nurses may instead choose to earn their MSNs.
Tuition for Direct-Entry MSN Programs in Florida
Tuition for direct-entry MSN programs varies by program. The most affordable program in our list is the University of West Florida, at $418 per credit hour. On the higher end is Jacksonville University, coming in at $750 per credit hour. As a reminder, these are just credit hour costs, so you should also consider other university fees, commuting costs, and fees for study materials.
Admission Requirements for Direct-Entry MSN Programs in Florida
Admission requirements for direct-entry MSN programs in Florida differ depending on the school. To understand the specific standards of your chosen school, you should speak with an academic advisor.
However, most direct-entry MSN programs in Florida will have these general prerequisites:
- A Bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field from an accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Prerequisite courses (per program)
- All transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- Completed school application
Are Direct-Entry MSN Programs in Florida Difficult?
Direct-entry MSN programs are considered to be rigorous and competitive. Most direct-entry MSN programs, regardless of the state, are considered full-time programs, meaning students are generally discouraged from working outside of the program. Some programs may also require weekends, evenings, and year-round course and clinical work.
What to Expect Working as an APRN in Florida
NP Salary in Florida
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the average wage for nurse practitioners in Florida is $128,340, or $61.70 per hour, which is slightly lower than the national median annual salary for NPs, which is $129,210 per year. Florida falls right in the middle of the 50 states for average pay by state for NPs.
APRNs, in general, earn an average salary of $132,050 per year, $63.48 per hour, and the field is expected to grow 35% (much faster than average) over the next ten years. Going from RN to APRN provides you with not only more responsibilities but also more career opportunities to grow into.
Career Outlook
The BLS projects that the NP career field will grow 35% (much faster than average) over the coming decade. Additionally, it estimates 134,000 openings for APRNs each year. Currently, Florida is home to 24,690 NPs.
Where Can You Work? APRN Jobs in Florida
Depending on your interests and skills, you can work in several locations as a nurse. The largest and most common employer of nurses is hospitals. Other possible job locations include:
- Ambulatory healthcare services
- Government agencies
- Academia
- Medical and aesthetic spas
- Outpatient clinics
- Long-term care facilities
- Private practice
- Surgery centers
- Urgent care centers
Next Steps
The top direct-entry MSN programs in Florida are perfect for working nurses who hold a bachelor's degree in another field and want to pursue becoming an NP or APRN. These graduate programs allow you to take the next step in your career, even if you started in a non-nursing field.
Popular Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
Chamberlain University is the #1 largest school of nursing with a community of more than 177,000 students, faculty, and alumni. Chamberlain offers BSN, MSN, NP and DNP programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide except CT, NY, RI
The Berkley School of Nursing at Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions, and the university has been delivering graduate nursing programs in a distance-learning environment since 2011. The university's online programs allow students to learn from wherever they are while they pursue an accredited, mission-driven nursing education that will allow them to deliver high-quality care.
CCNE
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY and WA.
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, ND, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
FAQs
Additional Resources
For more information on earning a direct-entry MSN, check out these resources:
- Top Direct-Entry Master's in Nursing (MSN) Programs
- Top Cheapest Direct-Entry MSN Programs for 2026
- Types of Master's in Nursing (MSN) Degrees | Programs 2026
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