About Florida Gulf Coast University
Located in a large suburb, Florida Gulf Coast University is a public university in Fort Myers, Florida, with about 13,870 undergraduate students. The federal student-to-faculty ratio is about 20 to 1.
Nursing programs at Florida Gulf Coast University
According to federal completion records, Florida Gulf Coast University awards nursing credentials at the bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), master’s degree in nursing (MSN), and doctoral degree in nursing (DNP) levels. A recent year’s totals include about 79 bachelor’s-level nursing graduates, about 3 master’s-level nursing graduates, and about 37 doctoral-level nursing graduates. A bachelor’s program is the traditional four-year route to RN licensure and the usual starting point for later graduate study; see our ADN vs. BSN guide if you are still deciding on a degree level. Graduate options (MSN and DNP) are aimed at licensed nurses moving into advanced practice, leadership, or teaching.
Cost and student outcomes
Published tuition and fees are about $6,100 a year for in-state students and $25,200 for out-of-state students. The average net price (what students receiving federal aid pay after grants and scholarships) is about $11,600 a year. About 32% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Students who finish the bachelor’s level and borrow leave with median federal loan debt of about $18,200. Federal earnings data puts median pay for those bachelor’s-level nursing graduates at roughly $77,900 one year after finishing and $86,500 four years out. These are estimates for graduates with reported earnings, not a promise. Schoolwide, about 57% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time and 83% return for a second year.
Applying and licensure
Admission is moderately selective, with about 63% of applicants admitted overall, so a solid academic record helps. Expect the nursing program to have its own application, prerequisite courses, and limited seats. Our guide to getting into nursing school explains what programs typically look for. Licensure runs through the Florida Board of Nursing, and graduates sit for the NCLEX. Confirm that the specific program holds ACEN or CCNE accreditation and is approved by the state before you enroll. Compare other schools on our nursing schools in Florida page.
Figures come from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and can change. Confirm current details with the school.
