Jacksonville ranks eleventh in the Census Bureau 2025 city estimates and is Florida's largest city by population. This guide focuses on affordable nursing pathways that can lead toward RN licensure or a BSN, with public programs ranked ahead of higher-cost private options when the academic fit is comparable.
We prioritized state-approved nursing programs, Department of Education cost data, public tuition, transfer-friendly pathways, and access to local clinical markets. School names are not linked here; use the official program pages, state board listings, and financial aid offices to confirm current admissions requirements and total costs.
How We Ranked Affordable Nursing Programs in Jacksonville
- Affordability: In-state tuition, state-reported program costs when available, Department of Education net-price data, and the ability to start with a lower-cost ADN.
- State approval: Programs were checked against state nursing education resources where possible, because approval affects NCLEX eligibility.
- Pathway value: ADN, BSN, LPN-to-RN, RN-to-BSN, and transfer options received extra weight when they help students control debt.
- Local access: We favored campuses with practical commuting distance to Jacksonville and nearby clinical markets.
- Career relevance: We considered BLS RN outlook data and professional resources from ANA and state nursing associations.
Top 5 Affordable Nursing Programs in Jacksonville
1. Florida State College at Jacksonville (Jacksonville, FL)
Program type: Associate Degree in Nursing and BSN completion pathways
Cost snapshot: DOE in-state tuition: about $2,878; average net price: about $2,760.
The strongest affordability pick in Jacksonville, with public tuition, a low net-price profile, and multiple nursing pathway options.
2. University of North Florida (Jacksonville, FL)
Program type: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Cost snapshot: DOE in-state tuition: about $6,389; average net price: about $10,353.
A public BSN option that keeps costs below most private nursing routes while offering a four-year university setting.
3. Keiser University – Jacksonville (Jacksonville, FL)
Program type: Nursing and health-science pathways
Cost snapshot: DOE tuition: about $24,136 for the Jacksonville branch; net price is not reported in the latest Scorecard row.
A private option to compare only after checking total program fees, transfer credit, and Florida Board of Nursing status.
4. Jacksonville University (Jacksonville, FL)
Program type: BSN and graduate nursing pathways
Cost snapshot: DOE tuition: about $46,180; average private net price: about $26,255.
A higher-cost private university, but one with a large nursing footprint. It may make sense for students who receive substantial aid or want specific BSN-to-graduate pathways.
5. Jersey College – Jacksonville (Jacksonville, FL)
Program type: Professional nursing pathways
Cost snapshot: DOE branch-level cost fields are limited; verify tuition, fees, and licensure outcomes directly before enrolling.
A nursing-focused private option that belongs on a comparison list only if the public choices are unavailable or do not fit a student's schedule.
What to Check Before Enrolling
- Confirm the program is approved by the state board of nursing for the credential you want.
- Ask for the full cost of attendance, including uniforms, testing, background checks, clinical travel, textbooks, and repeated-course fees.
- Review recent NCLEX pass rates and whether low pass rates triggered state monitoring or sanctions.
- Compare ADN-to-BSN transfer agreements if your first goal is an affordable RN pathway and your long-term goal is a bachelor’s degree.
- Check clinical scheduling expectations, because night, weekend, and off-campus placements can affect work and childcare plans.
Career Outlook for Nursing Students in Jacksonville
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a national median RN wage of $93,600 for May 2024 and projects registered nurse employment to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, with about 189,100 openings per year on average. Local wages vary by employer, shift, specialty, union coverage, and experience, so students should compare program debt against realistic entry-level pay in their area.
For professional context beyond school selection, ANA and the state nursing association sources below are useful for practice issues, continuing education, advocacy, and workforce trends after graduation.
