10 Best ADN Programs in Florida – (2-Year RN Programs)
Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH (Introduction), and Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org (School Profiles)
Looking for a way to kickstart your career as a registered nurse? Consider enrolling in one of the ADN programs in Florida. It usually takes two years or less to complete an associate degree in nursing in the Sunshine State, so your tuition costs will be lower. You’ll be on track for a career where you can make $79,910 a year on average and where job opportunities are predicted to increase by more than 14 percent over the next decade. Many of your ADN credits will be transferable if you decide to continue your nursing education. Reviewing the guide below to the 10 best ADN programs in Florida will help you decide if this is a good option.
What Are The Best ADN Programs In Florida (Online And Campus)?
Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 10 best nursing schools for ADN programs in Florida. You can complete most of these programs in 2 years.
1. State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota - Bradenton
Program Details: The State College of Florida provides classroom instruction and clinical experience in both Manatee and Sarasota counties. The ADN program requires 72 semester hours in total, after completing which you’ll be prepared to take the NCLEX-RN exam. The program includes general education courses such as microbiology, general psychology and human development, and nursing core courses. The nursing core courses prepare you for the evidence-based care of individuals and families across the lifespan.
Admission Requirements: To qualify for this ADN program in Florida, you must have a high school diploma or a GED. Also, you must be at least 18 years old. The program also requires you to submit a TEAS score. To complete the admission process, you must be prepared to submit all your transcripts. While you can be accepted into the associate in science nursing program before you have completed all of the general academic requirements, it is a limited-access program and priority is given to those who have completed more of these courses with the highest GPA.
Why Choose This Program
• The Associate in Science Nursing Program at the State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota is one of the best ADN programs in Florida and it boasts a very high NCLEX-RN pass rate.• State College of Florida’s ADN is affordable, to the extent of almost half the cost of other ADN programs in the state. In addition, the college offers several financial aid and scholarship opportunities.
• State College of Florida’s ADN program provides a clear pathway to a BSN degree in any of the four-year partner institutions.
2. Seminole State College of Florida - Altamonte Springs
Program Details: The Seminole State College of Florida is located in Altamonte Springs. The Associate in Science degree program here covers a wide range of topics designed to prepare you for your career as a registered nurse. Courses range from nutrition to medical terminology and more. The two-year program includes general education courses that you must pass to apply for the nursing program in your second year. Completion of the program qualifies you to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination, and you will be certified as an RN by both the Florida Department of Health and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Admission Requirements: If you want to apply for this 2-year nursing program in Florida, you must foremost have a high school diploma or a GED. In addition, a TEAS score is required. To enhance your chances, you must complete the program prerequisites. Applicants must also be ready for a criminal background check.
Why Choose This Program
• State College of Florida’s clinical rotations take place in a variety of facilities, including hospitals, extended-care facilities such as rehabilitation centers and nursing homes, and even community health organizations such as public health departments.• Because of Seminole State College’s high pass rates on the NCLEX-RN exam, graduates feel confident in their ability to secure employment soon after they graduate.
• State College of Florida’s ADN program can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis, based on your convenience.
• State College of Florida allows ADN graduates to seamlessly transition into a BSN program at the University of Central Florida.
3. Lake-Sumter State College - Leesburg & Clermont
Program Details: Lake-Sumter State College’s ADN program prepares graduates with a well-rounded educational experience. The program starts with the basics and includes advanced topics in nursing. Among the best ADN programs in Florida, the program comprises a total of 72 credits. The nursing courses include topics such as nursing foundations, chronic health alterations, mental health alterations, acute health alterations, and critical health nursing. The two-year program ends with a practicum experience in a real-world healthcare setting.
Admission Requirements: This 2-year nursing program in Florida is a limited access program, meaning you must apply to the college and the program separately. After Lake-Sumter State College accepts your application, you’ll apply to the ADN program. To qualify for admission, you must have a high school diploma or GED. In addition, completing the prerequisites with a minimum grade of C is also required.
Why Choose This Program
• Lake-Sumter State College’s ADN program boasts one of the highest pass rates on the NCLEX-RN exam in the state.• Lake-Sumter State College’s ADN program provides students with a broad learning experience. Students complete their clinical training in a variety of clinical settings, including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and community health centers, to name a few.
• Lake-Sumter State College’s ADN program is a high-quality, career-oriented program that consistently yields a positive academic and professional outcome.
4. College of Central Florida - Ocala & Lecanto
Program Details: The College of Central Florida’s ADN program should be on your list if you are looking at one of the best 2-year nursing programs in Florida. The program is a great stepping stone to a thriving career in nursing. The coursework comprises a total of 72 credits in general education and nursing courses. Some of the topics you learn about include the foundations in nursing, pharmacology, behavioral concepts in nursing, human growth & development, and professional issues in nursing. The program culminates in a practicum, after which you’ll sit for the NCLEX-RN exam.
Admission Requirements: The College of Central Florida’s ADN program is open to high school graduates who have a GPA of at least 2.5. In addition, a TEAS score and completion of prerequisites are required.
Why Choose This Program
• College of Central Florida offers excellent support services to help you reach your academic and professional goals. As an ADN student, you’ll be able to access services such as learning resources, a career center, and a writing center, to name a few.• College of Central Florida’s ADN program is offered in small-sized classes where students receive one-on-one attention.
• College of Central Florida’s ADN program offers a competitive tuition rate. Only 1% of programs across the nation offer this low tuition rate.
5. Polk State College - Winter Haven
Program Details: Polk State College is located in Winter Haven, and its generic two-year track is designed for students who do not have previous healthcare-related education. Among the reputable ADN programs in Florida, the RN program offered by Polk State College is meant to provide entry-level RNs with the information and experience they need to sit for their licensure examinations and start their healthcare careers.
You will take general education and nursing major courses designed to prepare you for a lifelong career in nursing. Upon completing the ADN program at Polk State College, not only will you be prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination, but you will also be able to use reasoning and critical thinking to make decisions that are in the best interest of your patients.
Admission Requirements: Because this 2-year nursing program in Florida is a limited-admission program, applicants are selected based on preadmission requirements; those with the best qualifications are allowed to study nursing at Polk State College. To be considered for admission into the ADN program, you must have a high school diploma or GED. The selection criteria are based on several factors, including your GPA, ATI TEAS score, completion of prerequisites, and military service.
Why Choose This Program
• Polk State College’s ADN program is backed with clinical experiences in various healthcare facilities throughout Polk County and neighboring locations when required. Typically, you will be assigned to participate in clinicals two to three days each week at a minimum.• Polk State College’s ADN focuses strongly on patient advocacy and will help you provide care that is in the best interest of patients’ cultural, spiritual, safety, physical, psychological, and sociological needs.
6. Jersey College - Tampa
Program Details: Jersey College is a great place to start if you want to become a competent registered nurse in Florida. By offering one of the high-quality 2-year nursing programs in Florida, the college produces committed nurses who make a difference in the lives of their communities. The ADN coursework comprises general education and nursing courses. Blending the art and science of nursing, the coursework teaches you to provide evidence-based nursing care for individuals and families across the lifespan.
Admission Requirements: If you want to enroll in Jersey College’s ADN program, then you must meet the admission requirements of the program. The admission requirements include being at least 18 years old, having a high school diploma or GED, and completing prerequisite courses.
Why Choose This Program
• Jersey College’s ADN program is offered in a close-knit family-like environment where the faculty and staff care about your professional success and personal well-being.• Jersey College has solely focused on nursing education for the past 20 years.
• Jersey College’s ADN program is grounded in holistic nursing care. Graduate nurses are trained to care for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of their patients.
7. Lincoln Memorial University - Tampa
Program Details: Lincoln Memorial University’s associate degree in science helps you launch a successful career in nursing. This ADN program in Florida is a well-rounded curriculum that comprises 66 credits. The coursework covers topics such as the foundations of nursing, psychology, and nursing care of individuals and families across the lifespan. The program spans two years, after which graduates are fully prepared to take the NCLEX-RN exam.
Admission Requirements: Lincoln Memorial University’s ADN program accepts applications from high school graduates who have a GPA of at least 2.5. In addition, submission of transcripts and a TEAS score is required. The admission process is offered on a rolling basis, so it is preferred that you apply early.
Why Choose This Program
• Lincoln Memorial University’s ADN program offers a supportive learning environment where students receive personalized attention, and they develop strong connections with their peers and faculty.• Lincoln Memorial University’s ADN students study in a state-of-the-art facility. Students are provided with numerous opportunities to practice clinical skills, using the latest simulation technologies.
• Lincoln Memorial University’s ADN program is more affordable than most other 2-year nursing programs in Florida.
8. Daytona State College - Daytona Beach
Program Details: Daytona State College’s associate degree in nursing combines classroom lectures with clinical training in the lab and real-world healthcare settings. The coursework is designed to cover a wide range of topics, including nursing fundamentals, health assessment, med-surgical nursing, psychiatric nursing, and community health nursing. To graduate, you must complete a total of 72 credits in general education and nursing courses.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for this ADN program in Florida, you must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or a GED with a minimum GPA of 2.5. To fulfill the admission requirements, you must be prepared to submit your TEAS score. In addition, you must have a BLS certification. To apply, be prepared to submit all your official transcripts.
Why Choose This Program
• Daytona State College’s ADN program proudly reports an excellent placement rate, having more than 90% of its graduates find suitable placements, soon upon graduation.• Daytona State College’s ADN graduates benefit from the expertise and guidance of an experienced faculty.
• An integral part of Daytona State College’s ADN program is its clinical training. Students receive ample clinical learning opportunities where they apply the newly acquired theoretical knowledge to practice.
9. St. Petersburg College - St. Petersburg
Program Details: Another one of the best 2-year nursing programs in Florida, St. Petersburg College offers a nursing A.S. degree program that takes two years to complete. The goal of the program is to help you prepare for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination and prepare you for an entry-level RN position in a variety of healthcare settings. The coursework is well-structured to equip you with a broad professional skillset. You learn about topics such as nursing fundamentals, med-surgical nursing, maternal child nursing, psychiatric nursing, and community health nursing.
Admission Requirements: Like many of the other ADN programs in Florida, St. Petersburg College’s ADN program strongly advises you to take your general education and support courses prior to applying to the nursing program. Precisely, you will need a total of 11 general education credits before you will be considered for admission into the A.S. degree program. The program is open to high school graduates who have a GPA of 2.5. The program also requires you to submit your ATI TEAS exam score.
Why Choose This Program
• St. Petersburg College’s ADN program offers flexible schedules, which means you can take your classes and participate in your clinicals during the day or evening hours – whichever best suits your needs.• At St. Petersburg College, should you choose to pursue a BSN at a later time, you’ll seamlessly be able to transfer your ADN credits.
• St. Petersburg College is also home to the SCENE, or the Simulation Center for Excellence in Nursing Education. This advanced center provides a realistic clinical setting that allows you to put the skills and information you learn to the test. SCENE includes four “rooms”, and each is set up with different equipment and different scenarios designed to help you learn to apply your knowledge in a safe and non-threatening environment.
10. Santa Fe College - Gainesville
Program Details: Santa Fe College’s ADN graduates are known for their employable skills and job readiness. If you are keen on joining the nursing workforce, then here you’ll gain the skills and knowledge to take the NCLEX-RN exam and thereafter practice as a competent registered nurse. The ADN program teaches you a range of topics in nursing. You take courses in adult nursing, nursing fundamentals, mental health nursing, pediatric nursing, community health nursing, and nursing leadership & management.
Admission Requirements: This 2-year nursing program in Florida requires you to have an overall GPA of 2.5. In addition, prerequisite courses such as anatomy & physiology, microbiology, psychology, and English must be completed with a minimum of grade C. To fulfill the admission requirements, submission of a TEAS exam score may also be required.
Why Choose This Program
• Santa Fe College’s ADN program offers a fine blend of theoretical and practical training.• Santa Fe College’s ADN students are provided with a range of clinical experiences at some of the leading healthcare facilities in the area, including North Florida Regional Medical Center, North Florida, South Georgia Veterans Health System, and UFHealth.
• Santa Fe College’s ADN students have several options to fund their education. Students may apply for scholarships, grants, and loans.
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