6 Best Nursing Schools in Miami (2026): Ranked

Are you looking for the best nursing schools in Miami?

Based on our ranking methodology, we’ve listed the 6 very best nursing programs in Miami today. We also break down their different degree programs, NCLEX-RN pass rates, alumni salary data, and students’ ratings.

Our rankings consider factors like the average NCLEX pass rates from the last 4 years, affordability measured by typical federal student debt upon graduation, reported alumni salaries, and the school’s overall reputation.

Here’s a List of the 6 Best Nursing Schools in Miami

1. University of Miami- School of Nursing & Health Studies

The University of Miami is a private research university founded in 1925. The university has been teaching nursing in its School of Nursing and Health Studies since 1948.

At UM, you experience top-notch, hands-on learning in the S.H.A.R.E.™ Simulation Hospital. This five-story facility allows you to practice nursing in a variety of realistic clinical environments. These can range from emergency departments and outpatient clinics to operating rooms and home health care settings.

UM collaborates with over 250 local and global health partners, including Memorial Healthcare System, Jackson Health System, Baptist Health South Florida, and the University of Miami Health System. This network offers excellent clinical experiences and potential job opportunities after graduation.

As for financial aid, UM provides work-study programs and various scholarships. However, we were unable to identify any nursing-specific scholarships identified during our research.

On the debt side, bachelor’s degree nursing students at UM typically graduate with about $17,818 in federal student loan debt, while master’s degree students have about $53,296 in federal debt.

List of UM Undergraduate Nursing Programs:

• Traditional BSN Program

• Accelerated BSN Program

•  RN to BSN Program

List of UM Graduate Nursing Programs:

• MSN Program:

  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

  • Family Nurse Practitioner

• BSN to DNP Program:

  • Nurse Anesthesia

  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

  • Family Nurse Practitioner

• DNP Program

• Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science (PhD)

UM NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Salary Data for UM Nursing Graduates

Overall UM Student Ratings

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2. Florida International University- Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Florida International University (FIU) is a public research university founded in 1965 and is now the third-largest university in Florida by enrolment. Although FIU’s College of Nursing & Health Sciences was officially established in 2006, it began offering nursing courses back in 1972.

FIU College of Nursing & Health Sciences’ goal is to educate a diverse group of healthcare professionals to provide top-quality, accessible, and culturally sensitive care.

As a student, you gain hands-on clinical experience at healthcare facilities like Baptist Health South Florida, Broward Health, and Jackson Health System, among others.

In FIU’s S.T.A.R. Center, you can use advanced simulation equipment to practice your clinical and decision-making skills in a safe environment.

While FIU does offer grants, work-study programs, and scholarships, our research didn’t identify any nursing-specific scholarships.

As for affordability, Bachelor’s degree nursing students at FIU typically graduate with around $13,750 in federal student loan debt, while master’s degree students usually have about $42,812 in federal debt

List of FIU Undergraduate Nursing Programs:

• Generic BSN Program

• Accelerated Option BSN

• Online RN to BSN Program

List of FIU Graduate Nursing Programs:

• MSN Program:

  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

  • Family Nurse Practitioner

  • Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

  • Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

  • Nurse Educator

• DNP Program:

  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

  • Family Nurse Practitioner

  • Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

  • Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

  • Nurse Educator

  • Nurse Anesthesia (DNP-NA)

• PhD in Nursing:

  • BSN to PhD

  • MSN to PhD

List of FIU Nursing Post-Graduate Certificate Programs:

• Family Nurse Practitioner

• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

• Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

• Nurse Educator

FIU NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Salary Data for FIU Nursing Graduates

Overall FIU Student Ratings

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3. Nova Southeastern University- Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing

Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a private research university established in 1964. Its main campus is in Fort Lauderdale-Davie, Florida, but it also has a Miami campus in Miami-Kendall.

NSU’s Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing aims to produce healthcare leaders known for their excellent nursing practice, education, and research.

NSU offers hands-on learning in a high-tech nursing simulation lab, providing real-world clinical scenarios. You can also gain practical experience at several clinical sites around the Miami area, conveniently located near the NSU Miami Campus.

Regarding financial aid, NSU offers a number of nursing-specific scholarships. For example, there’s the CVS Health Foundation Scholarship, offering a $1,000 award for Family Nurse Practitioner Students.

According to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, Bachelor’s degree nursing students at NSU typically have about $26,250 in federal student loan debt, while Master’s degree students generally have about $70,148 in federal debt.

List of NSU Undergraduate Nursing Programs:

• Entry BSN Program

• Accelerated BSN Program

• Online RN to BSN Program

List of NSU Graduate Nursing Programs:

• MSN Program:

  • Advanced Population Health

  • Executive Nurse Leadership

  • Nursing Education

  • Nursing Informatics

  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

  • Family Nurse Practitioner

  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

• BSN to DNP Program:

  • Executive Nurse Leadership

  • Nursing Education

  • Nursing Informatics

  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

  • Family Nurse Practitioner

  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

• DNP Program

• DNP to PhD Nursing Program:

  • Administrative Leadership

  • Nursing Education

• PhD Nursing Program:

  • Administrative Leadership

  • Nursing Education

List of NSU Nursing Post-Graduate Certificate Programs:

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

• Family Nurse Practitioner

• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

NSU Miami Campus’s BSN program NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Salary Data for NSU Nursing Graduates

Overall NSU Student Ratings

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4. Barry University- School of Nursing

Barry University is one of the largest Catholic universities in the Southeast. It was founded in 1940 by the Adrian Dominican Sisters.

Barry’s education and university experience strive for individual and community change through learning and knowledge, following the Catholic intellectual tradition.

For practical experience, you’ll be able to have clinical rotations at top hospitals including Baptist Health System, Jackson Healthcare System Hospitals, Memorial Healthcare System, and others.

Regarding financial aid, Barry University offers different forms of assistance. For example, alumni seeking a second degree from Barry can get a 25% tuition discount through the Barry Lifelong Learning Discount.

Also, full-time RN’s enrolled in the MSN and doctoral programs can get a tuition discount under the Professional Recognition Scholarship Program. You can find more scholarships on their search portal.

According to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, Bachelor’s degree nursing students at Barry University typically graduate with around $28,875 in federal student loan debt.

Master’s degree students usually have about $82,000 in federal debt, and Doctoral students typically have about $82,685 in federal debt.

List of Barry Undergraduate Nursing Programs:

• Traditional BSN Program

• Accelerated BSN Program

List of Barry Graduate Nursing Programs:

• MSN Program:

  • Family Practice Nurse Practitioner

  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

• Post-Baccalaureate DNP (BSN to DNP):

  • Family Nurse Practitioner

  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

  • Anesthesiology

• DNP Program

• Nursing PhD Program:

  • MSN to PhD

  • DNP to PhD

List of Barry Nursing Post-Graduate Certificate Programs:

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

• Family Nurse Practitioner

• Nurse Anesthesiology (CRNA)

• Nurse Educator

Barry NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Salary Data for Barry Nursing Graduates

Overall Barry Student Ratings

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5. Miami Dade College- Benjamín León School of Nursing

Miami Dade College (MDC) is a public college in Miami, founded in 1959. It serves a diverse group of students, mostly Hispanics, and is known for its inclusivity.

It started as a community college but now offers bachelor’s programs too, including the RN to BSN degree.

At MDC, you learn practical skills in the Simulation Hospital, a top-notch facility with patient simulators that mimic real-life medical situations.

You also get to practice in a real-world setting through clinical partnerships with hospitals like Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and Baptist Hospital.

For financial aid, MDC offers scholarships, work-study jobs, and off-campus part-time jobs under the Florida Work Experience Program.

Notably, MDC has a partnership with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital that can fund up to $10,000 of your tuition if you commit to work at the hospital after graduation.

Based on data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, nursing students who earn an Associate’s degree at MDC graduate with about $9,500 in federal student loan debt, and those who earn a Bachelor’s degree typically have about $9,687 in federal debt.

These low student loan debt levels easily make MDC the most affordable of all the best nursing schools in Miami.

List of MDC Undergraduate Nursing Programs:

• Associate in Science in Nursing (ASN) Program

• RN to BSN Program

MDC NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Salary Data for MDC Nursing Graduates

Overall MDC Student Ratings

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6. Florida National University- Nursing

Florida National University (FNU) is a private for-profit university established in 1982 and is located in Hialeah, with an additional campus (South Campus) in Miami, Florida. It boasts a diverse student body, primarily made up of Hispanic students.

FNU’s Hialeah location has a 10-bed nursing lab that includes a maternity room, a pediatrics room, and two simulation rooms. This setup allows you to practice hands-on training in a real-life setting.

As for financial aid, FNU offers several scholarships, but most don’t apply to nursing programs.

An exception is the MSN/Nurse Educator Concentration Scholarship, which covers 20% of the tuition for students in the MSN-Nurse Educator concentration. If you win this scholarship, you’re expected to contribute 75 hours of community or university service.

According to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, nursing students at FNU who earn an Associate’s degree graduate with about $30,452 in federal student loan debt.

Those who earn a Bachelor’s degree typically have about $36,669 in federal debt, while Master’s degree students usually have around $29,742 in federal debt.

List of FNU Undergraduate Nursing Programs:

• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) Program

• RN to BSN Program

• BSN Program

List of FNU Graduate Nursing Programs:

• MSN Program

• RN to MSN Program

FNU NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Salary Data for FNU Nursing Graduates

Overall FNU Student Ratings

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Nurse Salary in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach Metro Area

Why Consider Best Nursing Schools in Miami?

As the demand for nursing professionals grows, several Miami universities are adopting innovative programs to encourage more students to join the nursing field.

Take Barry University, for example. They’ve received a $2.3 million grant from the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP), a federal initiative aimed at addressing the national nursing faculty shortage.

Through this program, nursing students can get up to $35,500 per year. In exchange, they commit to teaching for four years after graduating. This commitment cancels 85% of the loan, leaving graduates to repay just 15%.

Also, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital partnered with Miami Dade College in 2022 to offer funding to nursing students. In return, the students commit to work at the hospital after graduation.

These initiatives, along with various scholarships and aid programs, make it an excellent time to consider pursuing a nursing career in Miami.

Whether you’re new to the field or looking to advance your nursing career, there’s a multitude of opportunities waiting for you in Miami’s best nursing programs.