10 Schools • 2 Online • 1 Mostly Online• 5 Hybrid • 2 Campus
Ten Florida schools prepare family nurse practitioners across 21 tracks, covering MSN, BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, and post-graduate certificate pathways. All four delivery formats are represented: fully online, mostly online, hybrid, and campus-based. Full degrees run roughly $19K to $94K, while post-graduate certificates start near $8K. Completion times span one year to three and a half.
A few highlights:
- The University of West Florida is the state’s only program with no campus attendance and one flat price for every student
- the University of Miami compresses its MSN into three semesters
- Florida State runs every FNP pathway through the doctorate
- and most Florida programs confine clinicals to a single region of the state
Compare each school’s online format, campus commitment, cost, and degree options below.
Compare Florida FNP Programs
| School | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
| Florida International University Miami | Hybrid | Miami campus visits | $628 | MSN, BSN-to-DNP, Certificate, Dual MSN + Nurse Educator | Stacking NP, doctoral, and teaching credentials at one school |
| Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Davie | Hybrid | Weekly live sessions or weekend intensives | $372 | MSN, BSN-to-DNP, Certificate | Lowest in-state MSN price with placement arranged for you |
| Florida Southern College Lakeland | Hybrid | Lakeland campus; live, hybrid, and online course mix | $680 | MSN, Certificate | Finishing an MSN in six semesters with assigned clinical sites |
| Florida State University Tallahassee | Mostly Online | 2–3 visits of 1–3 days for OSCEs and skills work | $444 | BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, Certificate | Doctoral study without relocating or regular campus travel |
| South University Tampa Orlando West Palm Beach | Online | None for the online option | $660 | MSN | Applicants whose GPA falls below other programs’ 3.0 floor |
| University of Central Florida Orlando | Hybrid | Biweekly on-campus classes; two-day intensives each fall and spring | $370 | BSN-to-DNP, Certificate | The deepest doctoral clinical training at a public price |
| University of Miami Coral Gables | Campus | Two class days weekly in Coral Gables; part-time DNP runs evenings and weekends | Block tuition per semester | MSN, BSN-to-DNP, Certificate | Certifying in one year with placement and simulation handled |
| University of North Florida Jacksonville | Campus | In-person delivery in Jacksonville | $494 | BSN-to-DNP | Northeast Florida nurses wanting placement fully removed from their plate |
| University of West Florida Pensacola | Online | None | $500 flat | MSN | Nurses outside Florida who need distance delivery and flat pricing |
| University of South Florida Tampa | Hybrid | About once per month | $431 | MSN, BSN-to-DNP | High clinical volume with coordinated placement at in-state rates |
How We Classify Program Formats
To make comparing schools easier, we classify every program based on the actual student experience, not the school’s marketing language.
- Online: No required campus attendance. Clinical rotations completed locally are not considered campus requirements.
- Mostly Online: Coursework is primarily online, but students must attend one or more required campus visits, such as orientations, skills labs, or intensives.
- Hybrid: Online coursework combined with recurring scheduled on-campus classes or labs throughout the program.
- Campus: Most coursework is completed in person.
Our classifications are based on published attendance requirements and may differ from how a university markets its program.
What’s the Best FNP Program for You?
Best Overall Value
Florida Atlantic University delivers 780 clinical hours and school-secured preceptors for about $19K in-state — a combination Florida’s other programs generally split between cheap-but-self-placed and expensive-but-supported.
Best Fully Online Option
University of West Florida requires no campus visits and charges every student $500 per credit regardless of residency, making it the only Florida FNP degree genuinely open to nurses in other states.
Strongest DNP
Florida State University requires 1,020 clinical hours with enforced minimums in primary care, pediatrics, and women’s health, and keeps campus obligations to a handful of short visits.
Fastest Route to Practice
University of Miami runs its full-time MSN across three consecutive semesters, so an August start reaches certification eligibility the following summer.
Lowest-Cost Doctorate
University of Central Florida prices its 73-credit BSN-to-DNP near $27K for Florida residents — roughly what several Florida schools charge for a master’s — with 1,140 assigned practicum hours attached.
Most Accessible Admissions
South University admits on a 2.5 GPA with no GRE and no recommendation letters, the lowest documented entry threshold among Florida’s FNP programs.
Florida DNP FNP Programs
Seven Florida schools offer doctoral FNP preparation, and three of them — Florida State, UCF, and UNF — offer no master’s alternative at all. In-state pricing spans $16K for a post-master’s completion to $94K at the University of Miami. Clinical requirements range from 750 direct hours to 1,310, with several programs awarding the MSN partway through so students can certify before graduating.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Florida International University | Post-BSN to DNP | $51K | 3.5 years | 1,310 |
| Florida Atlantic University | BSN-to-DNP | $27K–$31K | 11 semesters | 1,000 minimum |
| Florida State University | BSN-to-DNP | $32K | 3 years full-time | 1,020 |
| Florida State University | MSN-to-DNP | $16K | 2 years | 420 plus gap analysis |
| University of Central Florida | BSN-to-DNP | $27K | 3 years full-time | 1,140 |
| University of Miami | BSN-to-DNP | $94K | 2 years full-time | 1,176 |
| University of North Florida | BSN-to-DNP | $41K | 8 semesters | Not clearly stated |
| University of South Florida | BSN-to-DNP | $35K | 3 years | 750 direct |
- Heaviest clinical load: Florida International — 1,310 hours, though every one falls inside a four-county South Florida boundary.
- Lowest in-state doctoral cost: UCF — $27K for the full 73-credit doctorate, with all clinicals inside a nine-county Central Florida service area.
- Certify before you finish: Florida International and Florida Atlantic both award the MSN mid-program, allowing APRN practice during the final doctoral semesters.
Florida MSN FNP Programs
Seven schools offer a master’s-level FNP, and the spread is wide: $19K to $47K, one year to nearly three, and 616 to 780 clinical hours. Delivery is the sharper divide. Only West Florida and South University’s online option avoid campus attendance entirely; the rest anchor students to Miami, Boca Raton, Lakeland, or Tampa for scheduled classes.
| School | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Florida Atlantic University | $19K | 2.5 years part-time | 780 |
| University of West Florida | $23K flat | 27–30 months | 780 |
| University of South Florida | $26K | 2.7 years | 750 direct |
| Florida International University | $31K | 2 years | 770 |
| Florida Southern College | $32K | 6 semesters | 660 minimum |
| South University | $41K | Not clearly stated | 750 |
| University of Miami | $47K | 1 year full-time | 616 |
- Lowest published tuition: Florida Atlantic — $19K in-state across 52 credits, plus roughly $2,100 in lab and practicum fees.
- Most supervised practice: Florida Atlantic and West Florida — both at 780 hours, above the 600–700 typical of master’s-level FNP training.
- Residency-blind pricing: West Florida — $500 per credit for every student
- Fastest finish, highest price: University of Miami — $47K over three semesters, with the fewest clinical hours in this group at 616.
Florida Post-Graduate Certificate FNP Programs
Six schools add the FNP population to an existing graduate credential, but eligibility rules differ sharply. Florida Atlantic, UCF, and Miami accept only board-certified APRNs, closing the door on nurse educators and administrators. Florida State and Florida International admit any MSN-prepared nurse. Published costs run $8K to $32K, and half the programs set both credits and price by individual gap analysis.
| School | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| University of Central Florida | $8K | 5 semesters part-time | 660 hrs |
| Florida State University | $12K | 4 semesters | 750 direct |
| Florida International University | $16K | 2 years | Individualized |
| University of Miami | $27K–$32K | Varies by gap analysis | Individualized |
| Florida Atlantic University | Varies by gap analysis | Individualized | Set by gap analysis |
| Florida Southern College | Varies at $680 per credit | Individualized | Individualized |
- Lowest fixed price: UCF — $8K in-state for 22 credits, open only to currently board-certified APRNs.
- Most clinical hours: Florida State — 750 direct hours with enforced pediatric and women’s health minimums, unusually heavy for a certificate.
FAQ
How many FNP programs are there in Florida?
Ten schools offer FNP preparation across 21 tracks. Seven award a DNP, seven award an MSN, and six offer post-graduate certificates. Three schools — Florida State, UCF, and North Florida — route every FNP applicant through the doctorate with no master’s alternative.
Which Florida FNP programs are fully online?
West Florida is the only program with no campus attendance at any point. South University offers a fully online delivery option alongside in-person and hybrid formats at its Tampa, Orlando, and West Palm Beach campuses, though online availability is restricted in some states. Florida State comes closest among the rest, limiting travel to a few short visits.
Which Florida FNP program has the lowest tuition?
Florida Atlantic’s MSN is the least expensive full degree for residents at about $19K, plus roughly $2,100 in lab and practicum fees. For non-residents the answer changes: West Florida’s flat $22,500 beats every out-of-state rate in the state, several of which exceed $50K. UCF’s $8K certificate is the cheapest credential overall, but it admits only board-certified APRNs.
Which Florida schools offer an FNP DNP?
Florida International, Florida Atlantic, Florida State, UCF, Miami, North Florida, and South Florida. Florida State additionally offers an MSN-to-DNP for nurses already certified as FNPs, and USF offers a post-master’s DNP for certified nurse practitioners.
Do Florida FNP programs require campus visits?
Most do. Miami and North Florida are campus-based programs with in-person instruction; Florida International, Florida Atlantic, Florida Southern, UCF, and USF are hybrid, with attendance ranging from monthly in Tampa to biweekly in Orlando. Florida State requires only 2–3 short visits, though its own materials conflict on the count. West Florida requires none.
Can I complete clinical hours outside Florida?
Rarely. Nine of the ten schools require Florida placement, and most narrow it further — Florida International and Florida Atlantic to South Florida counties, UCF to a nine-county Central Florida region, North Florida to the northeast. West Florida is the exception, placing students locally in their own state, though not in California, Louisiana, or New York .
Do I need a Florida RN license to apply?
For most programs, yes — Florida International, Florida Southern, UCF, Miami, North Florida, and USF all require Florida licensure before admission or before clinicals begin, including for applicants living elsewhere. Florida Atlantic accepts a Florida or Compact license to apply. West Florida and Florida State require only a current unencumbered U.S. RN license, which is what makes them viable for nurses outside the state.