Exploring Nursing Programs at the University of Central Florida

The University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Nursing offers a variety of programs designed to meet the diverse needs of aspiring and practicing nurses. From undergraduate to graduate studies, UCF provides flexible and comprehensive options for students to advance their careers in the healthcare field.

A History of Growth and Excellence

The Nursing Program at UCF was established in 1978, welcoming its first undergraduate students in the fall of 1979. The inaugural class graduated with their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees in 1981. In 1982, the program was designated as the Department of Nursing. As the program expanded, it moved to a larger space in the Health and Physics Building in 1986, which included an expanded laboratory.

In 1995, the program's designation was changed to the School of Nursing, within the College of Health and Public Affairs. That same year, the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program was launched in the fall. UCF created the state's first fully online RN to BSN program in 1998. Recognizing its growth and stature, the School of Nursing became the College of Nursing, UCF's twelfth college, on July 1, 2007. The UCF Foundation established the Knightingale Society in 2008 for alumni and friends of the college who make annual contributions of $1,000 or more.

In 2025, Sharon Tucker, who previously served as department chair, was appointed Dean. In Fall 2025, the college moved to the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Health Sciences.

Currently, approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in the UCF College of Nursing.

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Undergraduate Nursing Programs

UCF offers several tracks within its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, catering to students with different backgrounds and career goals. These tracks include the traditional BSN, accelerated second degree BSN, concurrent ASN to BSN, and RN to BSN. Admission to these programs is limited and typically occurs once a year on UCF’s Orlando, Cocoa, and Daytona Beach campuses.

Traditional BSN

The traditional BSN program provides students with a foundation for professional nursing practice, emphasizing clinical nursing practice, health promotion and maintenance, and preparation for leadership roles.

Accelerated Second Degree BSN

For individuals with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree seeking a career change, the accelerated second degree BSN track offers a full-time, lock-step program that can be completed in four consecutive semesters, including summers.

Concurrent ASN to BSN

This track allows qualified students to take Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) courses at approved state colleges while simultaneously taking BSN courses at UCF. Many students complete their nursing education through a partnership between UCF, Seminole State, and Valencia. Students earn an ASN degree from either Seminole State or Valencia after 5 semesters, which also contributes five semesters' worth of coursework to a BSN through UCF. The NCLEX licensing exam is taken upon earning the ASN degree, in order to obtain an RN license.

RN to BSN

The RN to BSN track is designed for registered nurses with an associate degree or diploma in nursing, providing them with an opportunity to earn a BSN. Each applicant is reviewed individually to prevent repetition of previous coursework. Courses are primarily online, with some face-to-face classes available. Students must complete all university-wide graduation requirements (general education, civic literacy, foreign language, Gordon Rule, etc.). All courses are available online and some courses may be offered face-to-face pending space availability as well. Students must be licensed RNs to participate in this RN to BSN Program. Additional certification may be available in this field of study; however, this program does not lead to such licensure or certification upon graduation.

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A significant number of UCF BSN graduates choose to remain in Florida after completing their degree, with 92% staying in the state. Florida boasts one of the highest employment levels of registered nurses, with an annual mean wage of $69,510.

Graduate Nursing Programs

UCF's graduate nursing programs are designed to advance the careers of registered nurses and prepare them for leadership roles in various healthcare settings. The university is ranked among the best online master's in nursing programs. The online MSN programs at UCF are CCNE accredited.

Online MSN Program Overview

The University of Central Florida is a public institution where all of the graduate-level, online nursing classes are recorded and archived so that students can access lecture material at their convenience. Ninety-nine percent of students are already employed when they first enroll. The admissions deadline for these programs is April 1.

All MSN programs have a majority of courses taught by full-time, tenured or tenure-earning faculty, some of whom are Fellows in National Academies. Nursing faculty are internationally recognized and possess advanced certifications that few have earned. The Simulation, Technology, Innovation & Modeling Center has received full accreditation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. Online students pay a reduced tuition rate with all campus-based fees excluded.

MSN Program Concentrations

UCF offers several concentrations within its MSN program, allowing students to specialize in areas of particular interest. These concentrations include Nursing Administration/Leadership and Nursing Education. There are also more specialized departments/concentrations offered.

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Nursing Administration/Leadership: This concentration prepares nurses for advanced leadership roles by developing expertise in the critical analysis and evidence-based evaluation of complex problems associated with organizations and systems.
Nursing Education: This concentration prepares nurses to teach in undergraduate nursing and health professions programs at colleges and universities, healthcare agencies, or in the community. In addition to core and clinical courses, students complete an internship in their home community under a nurse educator with a master’s degree and a faculty mentor.
Nursing Simulation: This track allows students to explore various experiences for learning in the simulated environment, develop skills for leading simulation programs and have the opportunity to develop a self-designed project.

Admission Requirements for MSN Programs

To be eligible for the MSN program, applicants must have earned a BSN degree from a regionally accredited institution. There are multiple steps to the MSN degree application process. First, you’ll need to ensure that you meet the application criteria and physical location requirement.

Online Learning Environment

UCF's online graduate nursing classes are recorded and archived, providing students with convenient access to lecture material. Online students benefit from a reduced tuition rate with campus-based fees excluded. Further, all online faculty are trained as part of compulsory faculty development to develop authentic assessment strategies that ameliorate academic integrity issues (projects, papers, portfolios, etc.). Students and faculty use originality verification services as a source to check for academic integrity. All students also complete an academic integrity/plagiarism module during the onboarding process. In addition, major summative exams use proctoring software requiring visual verification of identity. The university makes available online proctoring tools including Honorlock and Respondus lock down browser.

Graduate Nursing Program Quick Stats

Enrollment: 271
Tuition Per Credit: \$1,152
Application Deadline: April 1

Admission Details

Application deadline (U.S. residents): April 1
Application deadline (international students): April 1
Notification of admissions: By May 15
Same admissions standards are used for all online programs: Yes
Sometimes denies admittance to qualified applicants: Yes
Admits applicants living abroad: No

Admissions & Enrollment

Average undergraduate GPA: 3.5
Entrants providing undergraduate GPA: 100%
Average GRE score breakdown: 141 verbal, 144 quantitative, 4 analytical writing
Entrants providing GRE scores: 1%

Requirements

Standardized test policy: GRE not used in admissions
Letters of recommendation: 3 Letters of recommendation from professional contacts
Nursing-related work experience requirement: No
Nursing-related undergraduate degree requirement: Yes, always
Nursing-related undergraduate course work requirement: Yes, always
TOEFL iBT Test required for international students: Require
Minimum TOEFL iBT Test score required: 80
Duolingo English Test required for international students: N/A
Minimum Duolingo English Test score required: N/A
IELTS required for international students: Require for some
Minimum IELTS score required: 6.5

Academic Factors Considered

Undergraduate institution: Considered
Undergraduate GPA: Very Important
Undergraduate field of study: Important
Recommendation(s): Important
Standardized test scores: Not Considered

Non-Academic Factors Considered

Application essay: Very Important
Character/personal qualities: Important
First-generation college student: Not Considered
Alumni/alumnae relations: Not Considered
Geographical residence: Important
Applicant's interest level: Very Important

Financial Aid and Expenses

UCF offers various financial aid options to help students fund their education.

Part-time tuition (per credit, in-state): \$288
Part-time tuition (per credit, out-of-state): \$1,152
Full-time tuition (per credit, in-state): \$288
Full-time tuition (per credit, out-of-state): \$1,152
Total program cost (full-time, in-state): \$10,656
Total program cost (part-time, in-state): \$10,656
Total program cost (full-time, out-of-state): \$42,624
Total program cost (part-time, out-of-state): \$42,624
Veterans pay in-state tuition: Yes
Same tuition is charged for all online programs: Yes
Sponsorships: Employer sponsored new students 35%*College-funded aid (fellowships, assistantships, grants or scholarships) available: Yes*International students eligible for college-funded aid: Yes*Yellow Ribbon Program member: Yes*Yellow Ribbon Access: First-come, first-served*Maximum funding:*Average debt of 2024-2025 graduates who borrowed: $28,934*Proportion of 2024-2025 graduates with debt: 18%

Career Outcomes

Alumni on which school collected usable information: 27%*Alumni who received a raise or promotion since first enrolling: N/A*Graduates seeking employment: 12*Graduates employed at graduation: 23*Graduates employed as nurse practitioners three months after graduation: 0

Accreditation

The Simulation, Technology, Innovation & Modeling Center has received full accreditation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. The online MSN programs at UCF are CCNE accredited.

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