2 Nurse Practitioner Programs in Orlando, FL (Online & Campus) – 2025


Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH

Why is Orlando a great place to be a nurse practitioner? Access to primary healthcare continues to be an issue for residents of Orlando and other communities throughout Orange County because of elevated rates of asthma, diabetes, and other chronic health conditions. The demand for nurse practitioners is high and expected to shoot up by a whopping 71 percent within the next decade. Nurse practitioners make good salaries, too, averaging $104,010 annually. Trying to get the inside info on what schools are offering NP programs in Orlando, Florida? We’ve made it easy for you by assembling this data on the 2 nurse practitioner programs in Orlando.



TOP 5 REASONS WHY ORLANDO IS A GREAT PLACE TO PURSUE NP PROGRAMS


Orlando’s 60-plus million visitors a year come for central Florida’s world-famous theme parks, warm weather, and enticing nightlife, but Orlando’s residents stay for the area’s high quality of life. Here are five reasons why Orlando, Florida, is an excellent place to pursue a nurse practitioner program.

1. Affordability:

True, Florida can be an expensive place to live, but Orlando is one of the least costly major metropolitan areas in Florida. Orlando’s cost of living is 3% lower than the average cost of living in the Sunshine State as a whole. As a nurse practitioner student surviving on a budget, your dollars will stretch further. And Florida doesn’t have a state income tax, so your take-home will be higher if you work.

2. Comparatively low housing costs:

Home costs in Orlando are significantly less than they are in other Sunshine State cities like Miami and Tampa. If your nurse practitioner tuition costs leave you enough money to buy a new home, that will be a great investment because Orlando real estate prices are on the brink of soaring.

3. Booming economy:

Orlando’s unemployment rate is appreciably lower than the national unemployment rate. Higher employment rates signal a populace more actively invested in staying healthy, which leads to more demand for the services of primary healthcare providers such as nurse practitioners.

4. Healthcare hub:

Orlando is a healthcare hub for residents of central Florida. There are ample clinical rotation opportunities for aspiring nurse practitioners, and a flourishing employment market once they graduate.

5. Recreational opportunities:

You can’t hit the books 24/7. When it’s time for a rest from your nurse practitioner studies, Orlando offers an abundance of recreational opportunities, from bird walks and wildlife trails to theme parks, museums, galleries, and theaters.



HOW LONG ARE NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS IN ORLANDO?


It will take you three to four years to complete a BSN-to-DNP program with a nurse practitioner concentration in Orlando. If you pursue an MSN/Family Nurse Practitioner program in Orlando, you can expect to graduate in two years.

The University of Central Florida’s Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner DNP, Family Nurse
Practitioner DNP, and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner DNP programs take three years to complete if you enroll full-time and four years to complete if you enroll part-time. If you choose to enroll in South University’s MSN/Family Nurse Practitioner program, you should be able to graduate in two years.



HOW MUCH DO NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS IN ORLANDO COST?


The cost of nurse practitioner programs in Orlando varies according to the academic pathway associated with it. Remember, too, that NP programs at public universities tend to cost less than NP programs at private universities if you’re a state resident but tend to cost more if you come from out of state.

Thus, the cost of tuition for the public University of Central Florida’s 74-credit BSN-to-DNP/Family Nurse Practitioner track is $27,354 if you live in the Sunshine State and $88,360 if you live in another state. But the cost of tuition for the much shorter MSN/FNP program at South University, a private university, is $44,400.



WHAT ARE THE BEST NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS IN ORLANDO, FL (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025?

(Based on our ranking methodology, the following are the 2 NP programs in Orlando, Florida (Online & Campus) for the year 2025.)


1. University of Central Florida


Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP

BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner


About the School: The University of Central Florida is the largest university in the U.S. in terms of enrollment. UCF got its start in the 1960s as a feeder school for the U.S. space program, but today it’s renowned as an excellent school for aspiring healthcare professionals. UCF’s BSN-to-DNP program has been dubbed the 52nd best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

UCF’s three nurse practitioner programs in Orlando are affiliated with its BSN-to-DNP degree. They consist of a Family Nurse Practitioner track, an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track, and an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner track. The BSN-to-DNP is offered in a hybrid format incorporating campus and distance learning elements.


BSN-to-DNP Program Details: All three DNP/NP nurse practitioner tracks include 39 credits of core DNP coursework such as “Advanced Clinical Management for Advanced Practice Nursing” and “Leadership and Economics in Advanced Practice Nursing” as well as 14 credits of Advanced Practice RN classes such as “Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning” and “Pathophysiological Bases for Advanced Nursing Practice.”

In addition to the core classes, the 72-credit FNP program includes 22 credits of specialty classes, the 76-credit AGACNP track includes 23 credits of specialty classes, and the 72-credit AGPCNP track includes 19 credits of specialty classes.

All three nurse practitioner tracks require 1,080 practicum hours. Students will complete clinical rotations in healthcare facilities throughout Orange, Seminole, Volusia, Lake, Brevard, Osceola, Flagler, Northern Indian River, and Marion counties. Students are also required to attend two skills intensives each year on the University of Central Florida campus in Orlando. Apart from that, all coursework is delivered online using an asynchronous format. All students must participate in a final DNP project in which they plan, implement, and evaluate a solution to an issue they encountered during their clinical practicum.


BSN-to-DNP Program Length: All three DNP/NP tracks begin in the fall semester. If you enroll full-time, you’ll finish this nurse practitioner program in Orlando in nine semesters (three years.) If you enroll part-time, you’ll complete it in 12 semesters (four years.)

BSN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: You’ll need an active, unencumbered RN license in Florida and a BSN degree from an accredited nursing program. You’ll need to submit three professional recommendations, a curriculum vitae, and a statement of purpose with your application. This program requires applicants to take the Graduate Record Exam.

Scholarships & Financial Aid for University of Central Florida NP Students The College of Nursing makes more than $150,000 available to all its students, including the ones pursuing graduate degrees. You may also qualify for grants and loans based on information you enter into your FAFSA form.


Interesting Highlights About University of Central Florida NP School

• In 2021, 47 students received Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees from the University of Central Florida.

U.S. News & World Report rates UCF’s DNP degree the 52nd best in the nation.

• Aspiring nurse practitioners and other students in the College of Nursing will soon be relocating to a 50-acre, state-of-the-art campus in UCF Academic Health Sciences Center in the Lake Nona Medical City medical innovation hub.

• The University of Central Florida also offers MSN and MSN-to-DNP programs, but neither is associated with a nurse practitioner track.


2. South University


Programs Offered: MSN

MSN Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)


About the School: South University offers an MSN/FNP program at its Orlando campus. Mostly, though, the Orlando campus functions as a hub from which South University operates distance learning programs, including its online Master’s of Science in Nursing degree with a specialization in Family Nurse Practice.


MSN Program Details: South University operates on a quarter system. Its MSN/FNP program involves 62 quarter credits (roughly equivalent to 41-semester credits) and 650 clinical hours. Like other NP programs in Orlando, this Family Nurse Practitioner track is divided into 20 credits of core MSN classes and 42 credits of specialty NP coursework. Core MSN classes include “Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse: Transformational Leadership in Advanced Practice” and “Health Policy and Health Promotion in Advanced Nursing Practice.” Specialty FNP courses include “Advanced Nursing Practice” and “Advanced Health and Physical Assessment.”

Students are required to begin evaluating potential clinical sites and preceptors in their own community before they are even admitted into this program. South College’s MSN faculty will review the appropriateness of your choice. In rare instances, you may be permitted to do your practicum in a healthcare facility where you’re employed though not in the department or unit where you routinely work.

Apart from your practicums, all your coursework will be delivered via an asynchronous online format. The culminating experience in this NP program in Orlando is a capstone project, which will allow you to apply what you’ve learned in class to a practical situation you’ve encountered during your practicums.


MSN Program Length: Full-time students should be able to complete the curriculum in six semesters (two years.)

MSN Admission Requirements: This program is only open to students with an active, unencumbered RN license in the state where they’ll be doing their clinical rotations. You must have a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Scholarships & Financial Aid for South University NP Students South University doesn’t have any scholarships explicitly designated for nursing students. You may qualify for financial aid in the form of federal grants and loans based on the information you include with your FAFSA form.


Interesting Highlights About South University NP School

• South University’s Orlando-based MSN/FNP program meets the core competencies for family nurse practitioners set by the National Organization for Nurse Practitioner Faculties and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

• In 2021, South University awarded 540 MSN degrees.

• South University offers a family nurse practitioner program through its campuses in Savannah, Georgia, and Tampa and West Palm Beach, Florida as well as in Orlando.

• South University also offers an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner track online as part of its distance-learning MSN program.


VIEW OUR RANKING METHODOLOGY



CAREER INFORMATION FOR NURSE PRACTITIONERS IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA


HOW MANY NURSE PRACTITIONERS ARE THERE IN ORLANDO?


Some 1,690 nurse practitioners are employed throughout the Greater Orlando Metropolitan Area.

Employment
1,690
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


WHERE DO NURSE PRACTITIONERS WORK IN ORLANDO?


Nurse practitioners are employed in every healthcare practice setting within Orlando, from medical centers and hospitals to private physicians’ practices, ambulatory care clinics, and home healthcare agencies.

Work Setting
Offices of Physicians
General Medical & Surgical Hospitals
Outpatient Care Centers
Offices of Other Health Practitioners
Home Health Care Services


WHAT IS THE JOB OUTLOOK FOR NURSE PRACTITIONERS IN ORLANDO?


The employment outlook for Orlando-based nurse practitioners is red hot, with work opportunities expected to soar another 71 percent in the coming decade.

10-Year Job Outlook (2020-2030)
+70.77%
(Source: Careeronestop.org)



HOW MUCH DO NURSE PRACTITIONERS MAKE IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA?


WHAT STARTING SALARY CAN NEW GRADUATES OF NP PROGRAMS IN ORLANDO EXPECT?


When they first graduate from a nurse practitioner program, NPs in Orlando can expect to earn $61,700 a year. This breaks down to $29.66 an hour, $1,187 a week, or $5,140 monthly.

Hourly$29.66
Weekly$1,187
Monthly$5,140
Annual$61,700
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


HOW MUCH CAN GRADUATES OF NP PROGRAMS IN ORLANDO EARN WITH EXPERIENCE?


Graduates of NP programs in Orlando can expect their earnings to go up as they gain more professional experience in a clinical healthcare setting. NPs with one to four years of experience make 56 percent more than new NP graduates and NPs with five to nine years of experience make 64 percent more. By the time they accumulate 20 or more years of experience, NPs make more than twice what current entry-level NPs earn.

Level of Experience HourlyWeeklyMonthlyAnnual
Entry-Level $29.66$1,187$5,140$61,700
1-4 Years of Experience $46.17$1,847$8,000$96,040
5-9 Years of Experience $48.64$1,946$8,430$101,180
10-19 Years of Experience $59.75$2,390$10,360$124,280
20 Years or More Experience $62.47$2,499$10,830$129,930
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


WHAT IS THE AVERAGE NURSE PRACTITIONER SALARY IN ORLANDO?


On average, nurse practitioners in Orlando earn $50,00 an hour, $2,000 a week, $8,670 a month, or $104,010 annually. They typically make the average salary by the time they’ve been working for a decade.

Hourly$50.00
Weekly$2,000
Monthly$8,670
Annual$104,010
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



NURSE PRACTITIONER SALARY IN ORLANDO VS. OTHER SALARIES


NP SALARY IN ORLANDO VS. NP SALARY IN THE NATION


In Orlando, nurse practitioners make 12 percent more than nurse practitioners make in the U.S. as a whole.

Average Orlando
NP Annual Salary
Average National NP
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
$104,010$118,040-$14,030-11.89%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


NP SALARY IN ORLANDO VS. NP SALARY IN FLORIDA


Nurse practitioners in Orlando make 1 percent less than the average salary NPs earn throughout the Sunshine State.

Average Orlando
NP Annual Salary
Average Florida
NP Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
$104,010$104,830-$820-0.78%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


NP SALARY IN ORLANDO VS. NP SALARIES IN OTHER FLORIDA CITIES


NP salaries in Orlando are on the low side compared to nurse practitioner earnings in other parts of the state. NP salaries in Sebring, an upscale community in central Florida, are 14 percent higher than in Orlando, while NP salaries in Jacksonville are 5 percent higher. But NP salaries in the Greater Tampa Metropolitan Area are a full 6 percent lower.

Metro Average
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
Sebring $121,460 -17,450 -14.37%
Port St. Lucie $119,280 -15,270 -12.80%
Gainesville $114,390 -10,380 -9.07%
Panama City $112,920 -8,910 -7.89%
Cape Coral-Fort Myers $111,690 -7,680 -6.88%
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent $110,720 -6,710 -6.06%
Jacksonville $109,050 -5,040 -4.62%
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville $108,780 -4,770 -4.38%
Sebastian-Vero Beach $108,140 -4,130 -3.82%
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach $107,770 -3,760 -3.49%
The Villages $107,630 -3,620 -3.36%
Tallahassee $107,440 -3,430 -3.19%
Lakeland-Winter Haven $106,870 -2,860 -2.68%
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton $106,190 -2,180 -2.05%
Homosassa Springs $105,900 -1,890 -1.78%
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin $105,400 -1,390 -1.32%
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach $105,250 -1,240 -1.18%
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford $104,010 0 0.00%
Ocala $102,410 +1,600 +1.56%
Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island $100,650 +3,360 +3.34%
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater $97,960 +6,050 +6.18%
Punta Gorda $86,800 +17,210 +19.83%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


NP SALARY IN ORLANDO VS. OTHER NURSE SALARIES IN ORLANDO


Nurse practitioners are the highest-paid professionals in Florida’s nursing sector. They make 43 percent more than registered nurses who do not have advanced practice certification and nearly two and a half times what nursing assistants make.

Type of Nurse Average
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
Nurse Practitioner $104,010 $0 0.00%
Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary $75,570 +$28,440 +37.63%
Registered Nurse $72,770 +$31,240 +42.93%
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse $47,920 +$56,090 +117.05%
Nursing Assistant $29,980 +$74,030 +246.93%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


NP SALARY IN ORLANDO VS. SALARIES OF OTHER CLOSELY RELATED OCCUPATIONS IN ORLANDO


On average, nurse practitioners in Orlando earn less than Orlando-based healthcare professionals who routinely earn doctoral degrees. NPs in Orlando make 57 percent less than physicians and 43 percent less than dentists. On the other hand, they earn 17 percent more than physical therapists who usually have four-year degrees. NPs in Orlando make the closest to the salaries of physician assistants in Orlando: This isn’t surprising since there is considerable overlap between NP and PA scope of practice.

Job Title Average
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
Physician $242,850 -$138,840 -57.17%
Dentist $182,730 -$78,720 -43.08%
Pharmacist $119,970 -$15,960 -13.30%
Veterinarian $107,060 -$3,050 -2.85%
Physician Assistant $106,230 -$2,220 -2.09%
Nurse Practitioner $104,010 $0 0.00%
Chiropractor $94,630 +$9,380 +9.91%
Optometrist $94,610 +$9,400 +9.94%
Physical Therapist $88,650 +$15,360 +17.33%
Occupational Therapist $86,020 +$17,990 +20.91%
Speech-Language Pathologist $81,530 +$22,480 +27.57%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY OUR EXPERT


1. Who Accredits Nurse Practitioner Programs In Orlando?

NP programs in Orlando are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE.)

S.No.Accrediting Agency
1Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
2Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)


2. How Many Accredited Nurse Practitioner Schools Are There In Orlando?

There are two accredited nurse practitioner programs in Orlando. One is at the University of Central Florida; the other is at South University.

2


3. On Average, How Long Does It Take To Become A Nurse Practitioner In Orlando?

If you pursue a nurse practitioner concentration in Orlando that’s associated with an MSN degree, it will take you two years to graduate. If your NP concentration is associated with a BSN-to-DNP program, however, you can expect to three complete it in three to four years.


4. On Average, How Much Do NP Programs Cost In Orlando?

There really isn’t an average cost for NP programs in Orlando. Nurse practitioner programs in Orlando range in cost from roughly $27,000 to $89,000.


5. How Much Does A Nurse Practitioner Make Per Hour In Orlando?

Hourly earnings for a nurse practitioner are $50 on average.

$50.00


6. How Much Does A Nurse Practitioner Make Per Month In Orlando?

Monthly earnings for a nurse practitioner are $8,670 on average.

$8,670


7. How Much Does A Nurse Practitioner Make Per Year In Orlando?

Yearly earnings for a nurse practitioner are $104,010 on average.

$104,010


8. Are Nurse Practitioners In Demand In Orlando?

All parts of Florida, including Orlando, have been affected by a shortage of primary healthcare providers, so demand for NPs is high in Orlando. In the next 10 years, employment opportunities for NPs in Orlando are projected to rise by 71 percent.


9. Can Nurse Practitioners Practice Independently In Orlando?

No. Orlando is in Florida, and Florida NPs cannot diagnose and/or treat patients without physician oversight.

Restricted Practice


10. Can Nurse Practitioners Prescribe Medications In Orlando?

Yes, certain nurse practitioners can prescribe medications. However, they must have taken an advanced pharmacology course while training as an NP and have at least 3,000 hours of clinical practice before they can prescribe medications without a physician’s approval.


Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.




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