Bright Futures Eligibility And Requirements
- Be a Florida state resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Complete the Florida Financial Aid Application by 8/31 the year of your high school graduation
- Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its equivalent from a Florida public high school or a registered Florida Department of Education private school
- Not have been convicted of a felony charge
- Be accepted by and enroll in a degree or certificate program at an eligible Florida public or independent postsecondary institution
- Be enrolled for at least six credit hours per term
*The State of Florida determines eligibility and award amount of the scholarship.If you would like to apply for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship, click here.
Welcome To The New Tampa/brandon Campus
Our new Tampa/Brandon campus offers over 50 career-focused programs across seven schools, including Business, Design, Education, Health Sciences, Justice Studies, Nursing and Technology, from Certificates and Diplomas to Associates, Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral degrees. All of our programs deliver the education and transferable skills, or soft skills, you need to help start or grow the career you want.
Our new, state-of-the-art Tampa/Brandon campus features large classrooms, a high-tech Simulation Center, a virtual simulation classroom, and upgraded Health Sciences and Nursing labs. You can study or collaborate with your peers in one of our quiet common areas, the lounge and study spaces at Rasmussen University near Tampa.
If youre interested specifically in nursing programs in Tampa, Rasmussen University is:
- The #1 educator of LPNs in Florida in 2020.1
- The #1 educator of RNs in Florida in 2020.3
- The #1 educator of ADNs in the country.4
Many of our programs are available fully online, with additional resources and support on campus. See all online programs.
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
Arizona College of Nursing is now authorized to offer eligible students the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. This program provides scholarships based on high school academic achievement. It has four award levels: the Florida Academic Scholars Award , Florida Medallion Scholars Award , Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award , and the Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholarship .
Each award has different academic criteria for eligibility and provides a different award amount. The Florida Academic Scholar with the highest academic ranking in each county will also receive the Academic Top Scholars Award.
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Personal And Professional Development Courses
2.00 semester credit hours are required.
1.001.00
* Bureau of Labor Statistics , U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2020. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.
Savannah’s Life And Legacy

Savannah hung to life for two days after she and her passenger were hit by the gunfire.
Savannahs family made the impossible decision to take her off life support days after the shooting. The 21-year-old was surrounded by her mother, LaMaria Smith, as well as friends and family members.
LaMaria Smith and her daughter, Savannah Mathis
After learning two men were arrested for her daughter’s killing, Smith said she wasn’t sure how to feel.
“I have mixed emotions, and the reason I say that is, at the end of the day, a mother lost her child, as well as I lost mine,” Smith told FOX 13 News. “The hardest thing about it, I wanted to be happy, but at the end of the day, it’s not going to bring my daughter back.”
Smith shared photos of Savannahs final moments in hopes of showing the aftermath of gun violence.
“For somebody to leave that image in my mind, that’s what I have, the last visual of this beautiful person. I want you to see what I had to look at in that hospital,” Smith told FOX 13 News.
Savannah’s mother provided photos taken inside TGH as family said goodbye
PREVIOUS: Family reveals toll of gun violence in Tampa after aspiring nurse’s shooting death
At the family business, BJ’s Alabama BBQ, a shrine to Savannah reveals the impact she had on her community.
Pictures show the aspiring nurse, who graduated from Plant High School in 2018 with a 5.0 GPA, getting along with everyone law enforcement, firefighters, and her co-workers — who were all considered family.
Don’t Miss: Best Nursing Colleges In Florida
Galen College Of Nursing
The Galen College of Nursing is next on the list of the best nursing schools in the Tampa, FL metro area. This school offers nursing program ranging from the practical nursing diploma to the Master of Science in Nursing. At the associate level, there is an Associate Degree in Nursing as well as an LPN to ADN bridge program for Licensed Practical Nurses. The school offers a three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing as well as an online RN to BSN program. There is also an online MSN with two concentrations available: nurse educator and nursing and healthcare leadership.
The Galen College of Nursing has a combined NCLEX pass rate of 93% for 2019. The school has more than 30,000 students and alumni and has a faculty to student ratio of 1:12. The classes are small, so students get to know their instructors and peers.
HIGHLIGHT: The RN to BSN and MSN programs are available online.
Programs: ADN BSN
Choosing A Great Nursing School
The nursing program you select can have a big impact on your future. That’s why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Nursing rankings. In order to come up with a best overall ranking for nursing schools, we combine our degree-level rankings, weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
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Keep Up With Tampa Bays Top Headlines
Many of the upper level classes will be online or evening to cater to non-traditional students who are already working.
They already are fully licensed nurses when they start the junior year and most of them will be employed as nurses, Nagy said. Were anticipating almost all of our graduates will want to matriculate to the bachelors degree at HCC.
Faculty need at least a masters degree to teach baccalaureate coursework but about a dozen of the 23 full-time faculty in the schools nursing program have obtained educational doctorates or doctorates of nursing, said Dean of Health Science Leif Penrose.
The new program will make the degree accessible to a wider range of students including those who might not meet USFs entrance criteria, he said. Typically about half of HCCs nursing students go onto study for a bachelors degree either at USF or at a private school.
They end up paying a lot more money, Penrose said.
HCC decided to move up the timetable for its program when it learned that USF was sunsetting an online program that allows working nurses with associate degrees to complete their bachelors degrees. The university is also ending the matriculation agreement it had with the community college to accept its graduates.
We can turn our attention to supporting and growing new nurses thats what we so very excited about, said Beldon.
University Of South Florida
Heading up the best nursing schools in Tampa, FL is the University of South Florida. This school offers nursing programs at every level from the bachelors level to the doctoral level. There are six pathways to the BSN degree: accelerated second degree, RN to BSN, upper division, veteran to BSN, USF/HCC concurrent, and the freshmen nursing pathway. The MSN program has seven concentrations to choose from. Graduate students can also choose to pursue a DNP, DNP in Nurse Anesthesia, or PhD in Nursing Science.
The USF Health College of Nursing is working to prepare nursing students for tomorrows nursing positions. The school strives to use clinical training, education, and research to train nurses to tackle the healthcare needs of their communities. The College of Nursing has over 1,000 clinical partners and students perform over 110,000 hours of clinical training each year.
HIGHLIGHT: The USF Health Simulation Consortium uses realistic simulation experiences to provide hands-on training to nursing students.
Programs: BSN DNP/PhD
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Hcc To Launch Bachelors Degree In Nursing In 2022
TAMPA As hospitals warn of a severe shortage of nurses, Hillsborough Community College is preparing to offer a bachelors degree in nursing. It will be the community colleges first ever four-year degree program.
The college received approval from the State Board of Education in August to move ahead with the plan and expects to offer classes in the fall of 2022.
HCCalready produces an average of 240 nurses a year through its two-year associates degree program. But hospitals are increasingly judged by accrediting agencies on how many of their nurses have a baccalaureate degree.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing is also advising hospitals and health care firms that better educated nurses produce better patient outcomes including lower mortality rates.
College leaders said local healthcare leaders have begged them to step in to help alleviate the regions shortfall.
The new degree program should produce an additional 135 nurses a year when its first class graduates in 2024 with that number rising to 285 once the program is at full capacity, said Paul Nagy, HCC vice president of strategic planning and analysis.
The employers were demanding it, he said. We want to respond to the labor market economy and the demand in the Tampa Bay region.
This is a big change for a college that has never offered a baccalaureate degree, Nagy said.
Virtual Site Review For Continuing Accreditation
The College of Nursing at St. Petersburg College will host a virtual site review for continuing accreditation of its Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing program.
You are invited to send written comments to the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education prior to our virtual visit on November 15 to 17, 2021.
Written comments are welcomed and should be submitted directly to CCNE to using the following link:
All written comments should arrive at CCNE by .
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Nursing Rankings By Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this Best Nursing Schools in Florida list, to help you choose the best school for you.If you’d like to restrict your choices to just one part of the country, you can filter this list .
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat.Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
If you want to learn more about how we derive our rankings, see College Factual’s Methodology.
How Do I Choose A Nursing School In Tampa

If you want to choose a good nursing school in Tampa Florida, you will need to do your research. The first step is knowing what your own personal goals are and what type of degree program will allow you to make them happen. Once you know what kind of degree you are interested in, your next step is deciding on the right one. You may have to visit four or five nursing schools in Tampa before you find one that offers you everything you are looking for.
Many students prefer to take as many of their courses as possible online. The flexible schedule and ability to study when it is most convenient for them gives them an opportunity to absorb as much of the course material as possible without rushing through it. Flexible scheduling also allows them to maintain a full-time job and support their families while they attend class. For students who are ready for more advanced learning, the option for accelerated degree programs is offered by many Tampa nursing schools.
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Tampa Asn Program Classes & Curriculum Details
Required coursework for the Tampa associate in nursing program includes nursing support courses in healthcare and science, hands-on clinical and laboratory training, general education classes, and personal and professional development courses.
Can I take courses online? Yes, you can complete gen eds online. However, your required nursing classes must be completed on campus in Tampa. there is crucial hands-on instructional training necessary to help you to become a registered nurse.
Program | |
---|---|
Associate of Science in Nursing | 20 |
i. Average number of months for students to complete program
Nursing Programs At This Location:
3-YEAR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING
Our Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a prelicensure program for students that are new to nursing. This accredited and accelerated degree program prepares students to graduate with their BSN in 3 years. This program is offered at our campus in Tampa Bay, Florida.
ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN NURSING
Our Associate Degree in Nursing is a 2-year ADN program for students that are new to nursing. Upon graduation, students will be well-prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN® licensure exam to become a registered nurse . This program is offered at our Tampa Bay, Florida campus, and features a strong clinical-based curriculum to prepare students for the hands-on experience needed in the nursing field.
LPN TO ADN
Our Licensed Practical Nursing to Associate Degree in Nursing is a bridge program for current LPNs looking to advance their career. Offered at our Tampa Bay, Florida campus, the LPN to ADN bridge program can be completed in as little as 15 months.
ONLINE RN TO BSN
Our online accredited Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is a bridge degree program for current RNs looking to advance their career. With classes offered completely online and part-time, this program can be completed in as little as 12 months.
10200 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St NSaint Petersburg, Florida 33716
Tuesday, April 27 at 12:00 pm
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Arrested For Shooting Death Of Tampa Nursing Student Driving On Grace Street
‘I have mixed emotions’ shooting victim’s mother says after arrests
Evan Axelbank reports
TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa police have arrested two men in connection with the shooting death of Savannah Mathis, the bright, young nursing student at Hillsborough Community College whose life was cut short when bullets sprayed her car while driving along Grace Street December 1.
Savannah Mathis car crashed just two blocks from Julian B Lane Park, on Grace Street near Delaware Avenue. Tampa police have remained tight-lipped about what they believe happened before and after the crash, but it appeared the shooting caused her to lose control.
Alfonso Evans and Vakarvery Scott were arrested and charged in connection with the shooting death of Savannah Mathis
According to the arrest document for one of the suspects, Mathis and her passenger, who was injured but survived the ordeal, may have been fired upon before and after the crash.
The document says a witness reported hearing gunshots and came outside to see what was going on. The witness told officers, just as he walked outside, he saw Savannahs car hit the wall just south of the intersection of Grace St. and Delaware Ave.
Family of aspiring nurse says goodbye after shooting
Tampa police say they are getting closer to solving the seemingly random shooting death of a 21-year-old nursing student, but her loved ones want everyone to see the toll gun violence in East Tampa is having on families.
How Much Do Nurses Make In Tampa
Nurses in the Tampa Florida area can expect to earn anywhere from $40,000 to $70,000 per year on average. Entry-level positions will always pay less than the more advanced employment opportunities, but many facilities are offering sign-on bonuses that provide additional funds as soon as the nurse completes their probationary period. Even entry-level nurses are eligible to receive prime benefits packages that can include 401k, health savings accounts, and other benefits that will make taking the position very worthwhile.
Education is one of the determining factors when it comes to what your beginning salary will be. The key is understanding the differences in degree programs and how that will affect the amount of money you will actually make over the course of your career. Returning to school every two or three years, even if it is just for one or two classes will give you an opportunity to stay abreast of the latest trends in the industry and give you an edge over other nurses who are solely relying on their years of experience.
Related Rankings:
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Are You Ready For A Career In Nursing Find Out
This fun, online quiz takes 3-minutes to complete and youll get a personalized report which identifies your strengths and social style. Plus you will discover the training and positions youre best suited for. Get Your Nursing Career Training Readiness score now.
If youre considering nursing programs, contact Southern Technical College today to learn more about our Associates degree in Nursing.
The Associate of Science Nursing program at Southern Technical College at the Fort Myers campus located in Fort Myers, FL is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing . 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326 975-5000
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate of Science in Nursing program is Initial Accreditation.
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at .