University of Florida Nursing Programs

University of Florida offers nursing education pathways for students at different points in their careers, from those preparing for initial nursing licensure to registered nurses pursuing advanced practice, leadership, education, or doctoral study. The best option depends on the student’s current education, RN licensure status, desired role, preferred learning format, and state licensure requirements.

This profile reflects currently published nursing offerings. Applicants should verify program availability, admission requirements, tuition, approval, accreditation, clinical requirements, and eligibility in their state directly with the university before applying.

School Contact and Location

Official Social Media

The nursing school’s official webpages list institutional social links for Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn in their footer. Direct profile URLs were not sufficiently exposed in the reviewed source text, so confirm final destinations from the school site before publishing them in a production directory. nursing.ufl

Nursing school accounts

• Facebook: College of Nursing website

• Instagram: College of Nursing website

• LinkedIn: College of Nursing website

• YouTube: Not publicly confirmed on the reviewed nursing-school pages

• X: College of Nursing website

• TikTok: Not publicly confirmed on the reviewed nursing-school pages

General institutional accounts

• Facebook: Official university website

• Instagram: Official university website

• LinkedIn: Official university website

• YouTube: Official university website

• X: Official university website

• TikTok: Official university website

Campus and Program Images

No verified, reusable university image was identified for this listing.

Use only official visual assets supplied through an approved university media, licensing, brand, or trademark-permission workflow. Do not assume that a photo or logo appearing on an institutional webpage is authorized for third-party directory republication.

Nursing Programs at a Glance

The college currently publishes three BSN tracks, DNP paths for BSN- and MSN-prepared nurses, PhD paths, and selected nursing certificates. No standalone MSN program was identified among the currently published degree offerings; the nursing school’s graduate clinical education is centered on DNP pathways.

Choosing the Right Nursing Path

• Choose a traditional BSN if you are not yet an RN and have completed the required lower-division and pre-professional coursework.

• Consider the accelerated BSN if you already hold a bachelor’s or graduate degree outside nursing and can commit to four intensive semesters of full-time study. nursing.ufl

• Consider RN-to-BSN if you are a licensed RN with an associate degree in nursing and meet the program’s Florida or enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact license requirements. nursing.ufl

• Consider a BSN-to-DNP specialty if you are a BSN-prepared RN who wants a doctoral advanced-practice pathway in a published population focus.

• Consider MSN-to-DNP if you are already an APRN with a qualifying MSN, active Florida or multistate APRN license, and current national NP certification. nursing.ufl

• Consider a PhD if your primary goal is nursing research and scholarship rather than initial licensure or clinical APRN preparation.

• Consider nurse-educator coursework only after confirming its current eligibility rules, degree status requirements, format, and schedule.

Entry-Level Nursing Pathways

Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Credential: Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Who it is for: Students who are not RNs and have completed lower-division and pre-professional requirements. The school describes this track as appropriate for current university students and eligible transfer students. nursing.ufl

Location: Gainesville.

Program length and curriculum: The published curriculum plan lists 60 credits and 765 clinical hours. The plan includes five academic terms of nursing coursework. nursing.ufl

Published application timing: The school states that the Fall 2027 traditional-BSN cycle opens in September 2026, with the fall application deadline in February. Confirm exact dates, required application materials, entrance-exam rules, and prerequisite completion timing for the intended cycle. nursing.ufl

Degree-holder note: The school states that applicants who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s or master’s degree are eligible only for the Accelerated BSN rather than the traditional BSN. nursing.ufl

Clinical learning: The 60-credit plan includes 765 clinical hours. Clinical site, travel, schedule, simulation, health-compliance, and placement details should be confirmed directly with the nursing school. nursing.ufl

Licensure relationship: The traditional BSN prepares eligible graduates to seek initial RN licensure. Florida’s nursing regulator makes licensure decisions.

Best fit for:

• Current university students completing pre-professional coursework

• Eligible transfer applicants without a prior non-nursing bachelor’s degree

• Students seeking the college’s standard BSN route in Gainesville

• Applicants ready for a structured curriculum with substantial clinical requirements

Official links: Traditional BSN · Traditional BSN curriculum · Nursing admissions

Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Credential: Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Who it is for: Students who already hold a bachelor’s or higher degree in a discipline other than nursing. nursing.ufl

Locations: Gainesville main campus and the UF Health Jacksonville clinical teaching site. The Jacksonville program site is located at 653-1 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209.

Length and credits: The accelerated curriculum plan lists 60 credits and 765 clinical hours. The program begins each May and includes four full-time intensive semesters, with completion the following August according to the school’s published overview.

Published admission requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in a non-nursing field from an accredited college or university.

• A 3.0 GPA or higher calculated from the most recent 60 credits toward the bachelor’s degree, or a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher in a master’s or doctoral degree.

• Published application-cycle timing should be verified for the intended summer start. nursing.ufl

Published cost example: For a 15-credit semester, the current expense page lists tuition of $212.74 per credit for Florida residents and $1,029.53 per credit for nonresidents, plus published semester fees. The page also lists $1,301.56 in total fees for the first semester. Rates and fees can change. nursing.ufl

Licensure relationship: The Accelerated BSN is a pre-licensure pathway that prepares eligible graduates to seek initial RN licensure. It does not itself grant a nursing license.

Best fit for:

• Students with a completed non-nursing bachelor’s or graduate degree

• Applicants who can attend full-time beginning in May

• Students who can attend the Gainesville or Jacksonville location

• Applicants who meet the stated academic and prerequisite standards

Official links: Accelerated BSN · Accelerated BSN curriculum · Jacksonville program site

Other Entry-Level Pathways

• ADN/ASN/AAS nursing: Not identified among the university’s currently published nursing offerings. Confirm available pathways directly with the nursing school.

• Practical nursing/LPN certificate or diploma: Not identified among the university’s currently published nursing offerings. Confirm available pathways directly with the nursing school.

• Nursing assistant or nurse-aide certificate: Not identified among the university’s currently published nursing offerings. Confirm available pathways directly with the nursing school.

• Entry-level master’s nursing pathway for non-nurses: Not identified among the currently published nursing offerings. The accelerated BSN is the published degree-holder route for applicants with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.

• Standalone pre-nursing certificate: Not identified among the currently published nursing offerings. The traditional BSN requires completion of lower-division and pre-professional requirements before nursing coursework.

RN Completion and Degree-Advancement Options

RN to BSN

Credential: Bachelor of Science in Nursing completion program.

Who it is for: Licensed and actively practicing RNs in Florida who hold an associate degree in nursing. The program is also open to students with qualifying enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact licensure, subject to its current eligibility rules. nursing.ufl

Format: Fully online through UF Online. nursing.ufl

Credits and clinical hours: The published sample plan identifies 60 total credits and 90 clinical hours. It states that 30 upper-division credits are awarded in the fifth semester based on current RN licensure and successful completion of the professional portfolio requirements. nursing.ufl

Published admission requirements:

• Associate degree in nursing from an NLNAC- or ACEN-accredited program.

• GPA of at least 2.8 in all nursing coursework from the ASN-granting program.

• Active, unencumbered Florida RN license or enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact license.

• Students without an AA degree or who do not meet transfer-admission requirements may need additional general-education coursework.

• Published prerequisites for some upper-division transfer and second-bachelor applicants include psychology/social science, a physical or biological science, anatomy and physiology with laboratory, statistics, and human growth and development or developmental psychology, all with grades of C or higher. nursing.ufl

Clinical learning: The program requires 90 clinical hours. Ask the nursing school how those experiences are arranged, what is expected in your state and community, and whether travel is required.

Progression: RN-to-BSN completion may support applications to graduate programs where separate admissions standards are met. It does not guarantee graduate admission, certification, employment, or advancement.

Best fit for:

• Florida or eNLC-licensed RNs with an associate degree in nursing

• Practicing RNs seeking an online BSN-completion program

• Nurses who can complete required clinical hours and professional-portfolio requirements

• Applicants prepared for transcript, prerequisite, and general-education review

Official links: RN to BSN · RN-to-BSN sample curriculum · UF Online

Other RN Advancement Options

• RN-to-MSN: Not identified as a separately named bridge program among the current offerings. Confirm alternative graduate-entry options directly with the college.

• RN-to-DNP: Not identified as a separately named bridge program. The published BSN-to-DNP requires a qualifying BSN in nursing and current RN licensure or Florida eligibility. nursing.ufl

• Post-master’s APRN certificate: The college’s current DNP pages reference post-master’s certificates, including psychiatric-mental-health coursework, but a complete current certificate catalog was not independently confirmed in the reviewed source set. Prospective students should contact the nursing school directly.

Graduate Nursing Programs

BSN to DNP

Credential: Doctor of Nursing Practice.

Who it is for: Registered nurses with a BSN from an ACEN-, CNEA-, or CCNE-accredited nursing program who meet the school’s admission requirements. nursing.ufl

Length and credits: The DNP overview describes eight semesters for full-time BSN-to-DNP students. The program page lists 75 to 78 credits depending on specialty, while the dual pediatric track has 93 credits.

Format: The published pages describe a mix of online learning, clinical education, and some program-specific campus requirements. Applicants should verify current course delivery, simulation, on-campus, travel, and clinical requirements for each specialty.

Published admission requirements:

• BSN as an RN from an ACEN-, CNEA-, or CCNE-accredited nursing school.

• Overall GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

• Current, unencumbered Florida or multistate RN license, or eligibility for Florida licensure.

• No GRE required.

• University professional-program application and required supporting materials. nursing.ufl

Published specialty pathways:

Licensure and certification considerations: APRN practice and certification are regulated separately from degree completion. Verify the current national certification route, Florida APRN rules, clinical requirements, and requirements in your intended practice state before enrolling.

Official links: BSN to DNP · DNP overview · DNP curriculum plans

MSN to DNP

Credential: Doctor of Nursing Practice.

Who it is for: Master’s-prepared advanced practice registered nurses who hold current national NP certification and an active Florida or multistate APRN license. nursing.ufl

Length, credits, and clinical work: The published program requires 35 credits over five semesters and has minimal campus attendance. The published full-time curriculum plan lists 660 hours.

Published admission requirements:

• MSN as an APRN from an ACEN-, CNEA-, or CCNE-accredited program.

• Master’s-program GPA of at least 3.0.

• Active, unencumbered Florida or multistate APRN license maintained throughout the program.

• Current national nurse-practitioner certification.

• U.S. citizenship, legal U.S. residency, or a valid visa.

• No GRE required. nursing.ufl

Costs: The college publishes separate estimated MSN-to-DNP expenses, including a $200 admission deposit applied to first-semester tuition. The expense list is not exhaustive and is subject to change. nursing.ufl

Official links: MSN to DNP · MSN-to-DNP expenses · Sample DNP curriculum

PhD in Nursing Sciences

Credential: Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Sciences.

Who it is for: Nurses pursuing research-focused doctoral education. The college publishes BSN-to-PhD and MSN-to-PhD curriculum-entry options.

BSN-to-PhD published requirements:

• BSN with upper-division GPA of at least 3.5 from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program.

• Florida RN licensure or eligibility for Florida RN licensure.

• No GRE requirement.

• The published final deadline for the 2026 cycle was April 1, with preference for complete applications by March 1. Confirm future-cycle dates directly with the college. nursing.ufl

MSN-to-PhD published requirements:

• MSN with upper-division GPA of at least 3.0 from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program.

• Florida RN licensure or eligibility for Florida RN licensure.

• U.S. citizenship, legal residency, or a valid visa. nursing.ufl

Potential outcome: This is research and scholarship preparation. It is not a clinical nursing license or APRN-certification pathway.

Official links: PhD in Nursing Sciences · BSN to PhD · MSN to PhD

Nurse Educator Certificate

Credential: Professional Certificate in Nurse Educator preparation.

Who it is for: The reviewed certificate page identifies doctorally prepared nurses who teach or plan to teach, as well as students applying to the DNP or PhD in Nursing Sciences, subject to the school’s certificate process. nursing.ufl

Delivery and requirements: Not publicly confirmed in enough detail on the reviewed official page to state an exact format, credit total, timeline, or complete entry criteria. Prospective students should contact the nursing school directly.

Official link: Nurse Educator Certificate

Admissions Requirements

Entry-Level and Pre-Licensure Admissions

Traditional BSN

• Complete lower-division and pre-professional requirements.

• Use NursingCAS and complete the HESI A2 process during the published application cycle.

• The school states that applicants with a non-nursing bachelor’s or master’s degree should apply to the Accelerated BSN instead. nursing.ufl

Accelerated BSN

• Bachelor’s or higher degree in a non-nursing field.

• Minimum 3.0 GPA calculated from the most recent 60 credits of the bachelor’s degree, or minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA from a master’s or doctoral degree.

• Review the current application cycle for prerequisite, HESI A2, application, and location-specific requirements. nursing.ufl

Clinical compliance

• Exact immunization, background-check, drug-screening, CPR, health-insurance, physical-exam, and clinical-site requirements were not fully confirmed on the reviewed BSN pages. Ask the program for its current compliance checklist before committing to enrollment.

RN Completion Admissions

RN to BSN

• Associate degree in nursing from an NLNAC- or ACEN-accredited program.

• At least a 2.8 GPA in nursing coursework completed in the ASN program.

• Active, unencumbered Florida RN license or enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact license.

• Some students must complete additional general-education coursework or prerequisites based on their transfer record. nursing.ufl

Graduate Nursing Admissions

BSN to DNP

• Accredited BSN, 3.0 overall GPA, appropriate RN license or eligibility, and no GRE requirement. nursing.ufl

MSN to DNP

• Qualifying APRN MSN, at least a 3.0 master’s GPA, active Florida or multistate APRN license, current NP certification, and immigration-status eligibility as published by the program. nursing.ufl

BSN to PhD

• BSN, upper-division GPA of at least 3.5, RN license or eligibility in Florida, and no GRE requirement. nursing.ufl

MSN to PhD

• MSN, upper-division GPA of at least 3.0, Florida RN license or eligibility, and qualifying immigration status. nursing.ufl

Admissions requirements and clinical-compliance standards can change. Confirm all current requirements and deadlines directly with the university.

Accreditation, Approval, and Licensure Considerations

Institutional Accreditation

Institutional accreditation was not independently confirmed in the reviewed official source set. Prospective students should verify the university’s current institutional accreditation through its official accreditation disclosures and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Programmatic Nursing Accreditation

The college states that its baccalaureate and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The nursing-school programs page also identifies CCNE accreditation for the baccalaureate program.

The college previously stated that its BSN, DNP, and post-master’s certificate programs were undergoing a CCNE reaccreditation review; that older notice should not be relied on as proof of current status. Confirm current accreditation scope and dates through the CCNE directory and the nursing school directly.

State Approval

The college states that its RN-to-BSN program is approved by the Florida Board of Nursing. The Florida Board’s Nursing Compare portal includes programs that hold Approved, Approved/Probationary, or Accredited status categories and should be used to verify current program status, particularly for pre-licensure BSN programs. Florida Board of Nursing program search

• Florida Board of Nursing

Licensure and Distance Learning

Nursing licensure is regulated by states. Before enrolling in a campus, online, hybrid, clinical, DNP, or certificate program, verify:

• Whether the school can enroll students located in your state.

• Whether the curriculum meets requirements for your intended RN, APRN, or specialty certification path.

• Whether the program requires Florida licensure, Florida residency, multistate compact licensure, or another state-specific authorization.

• Where clinical, practicum, simulation, laboratory, or on-campus requirements occur.

• How the program handles clinical approval, preceptor arrangements, travel, compliance, and schedule needs.

Program approval and CCNE accreditation are related but different. Approval is a regulatory consideration, especially for pre-licensure preparation, while programmatic accreditation evaluates the nursing program against national quality standards.

Tuition, Financial Aid, and Costs

The college publishes tuition and cost information for some pathways. The nursing school’s published expense pages also note that additional costs may apply. Ask for a current individualized estimate covering tuition, mandatory fees, health insurance, testing, uniforms, background checks, immunizations, drug screening, CPR, clinical travel, lodging, technology, supplies, professional fees, licenses, certification exams, and books.

• Traditional and Accelerated BSN expenses

• BSN-to-DNP expenses

• UF Student Financial Aid

Clinical Learning and Student Support

The college publishes curriculum-level clinical requirements and student-service contacts, but students should not interpret them as guarantees of a particular clinical site, preceptor, schedule, or outcome.

• Traditional and Accelerated BSN clinical learning: Both published curriculum plans list 60 credits and 765 clinical hours.

• RN-to-BSN clinical learning: The online completion program requires 90 clinical hours.

• DNP practice experiences: The MSN-to-DNP sample curriculum lists 660 hours; BSN-to-DNP credit and clinical requirements vary by specialty.nursing.ufl+1

• Clinical support contact: The college lists conclinicals@ufl.edu in its departmental-services directory. nursing.ufl

• Student support: The Office of Student Services states that it supports prospective and current nursing students and provides appointments with advisors. nursing.ufl

• Scholarship and financial-aid contacts: The college lists scholarship inquiries at (352) 273-6411 and financial aid/loan inquiries at (352) 273-6115. nursing.ufl

• Online-learning support: UF Online delivers the RN-to-BSN program, but students should confirm platform, clinical, advising, accessibility, and state-participation requirements before enrolling. nursing.ufl

• Tutoring, NCLEX preparation, career services, student organizations, simulation facilities, and disability services: Not publicly confirmed in sufficient detail on the reviewed nursing-program pages; prospective students should contact the nursing school and relevant central university offices directly.

Questions to Ask Before Applying

• Is my intended pathway available at the Gainesville campus, Jacksonville campus, or online?

• Does the program meet educational requirements for the RN, APRN, or national certification pathway I intend to pursue?

• Am I eligible for traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, RN-to-BSN, BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, or PhD admission?

• What prerequisite courses, HESI A2 requirements, GPA standards, license rules, and clinical-experience requirements apply to me?

• Are university admission and nursing-program admission separate processes?

• What is the current total cost, including tuition, program fees, health compliance, clinicals, testing, uniforms, travel, and technology?

• Which components are online, hybrid, or campus-based?

• Where will clinicals, practica, simulations, and any campus visits occur?

• Does the program arrange clinical experiences, and what travel or schedule flexibility should I expect?

• Can I work while enrolled given the program’s current course, clinical, and campus commitments?

• How will transfer credits or prior nursing coursework be reviewed?

• Which CCNE accreditation and Florida Board of Nursing approval information applies to my exact program, location, and start term?

• What academic advising, tutoring, accessibility, clinical-preparation, wellness, and career-planning resources are available?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which nursing programs are currently offered?

The college publishes Traditional BSN, Accelerated BSN, RN-to-BSN, BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, BSN-to-PhD, MSN-to-PhD, and a Nurse Educator Certificate.

Which option fits someone who is not yet an RN?

The Traditional BSN is for students who complete lower-division and pre-professional requirements. The Accelerated BSN is for students who hold a bachelor’s or higher degree outside nursing.

Is an ADN or practical-nursing program offered?

An ADN/ASN/AAS pathway and practical nursing/LPN certificate or diploma were not identified among the currently published nursing-school offerings. Confirm available pathways directly with the college.

Is there an accelerated BSN?

Yes. The Accelerated BSN is for students with a bachelor’s or higher degree in a non-nursing field. It begins each May, runs through four full-time semesters, and is offered in Gainesville and Jacksonville. nursing.ufl

Is an RN-to-BSN program available?

Yes. The fully online RN-to-BSN is for eligible active Florida or enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact RNs with an associate degree in nursing. The published curriculum includes 60 total credits and 90 clinical hours.

Are DNP programs available?

Yes. The college offers BSN-to-DNP pathways in adult-gerontology acute care, adult-gerontology primary care, family, pediatric acute care, pediatric primary care, psychiatric-mental health, and dual pediatric acute/primary care. It also offers an MSN-to-DNP for eligible APRNs.

Is an MSN program offered?

A standalone MSN degree was not identified among the currently published nursing-program offerings. The college publishes BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP paths rather than an MSN degree program.

Is a nursing PhD available?

Yes. The college offers BSN-to-PhD and MSN-to-PhD entry options in Nursing Sciences.

Are clinical experiences required?

Yes, clinical requirements are published for several pathways: 765 hours for the Traditional and Accelerated BSN plans, 90 hours for RN-to-BSN, and 660 hours in the listed MSN-to-DNP sample curriculum. Requirements may change by catalog year and specialty.

How can I verify accreditation and Florida eligibility?

Review the college’s program pages, the CCNE directory, and the Florida Board of Nursing program search. Confirm details for the exact degree, specialty, location, and entry term directly with the nursing school.

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