Advance from bedside to advanced practice. Choose the nurse practitioner track that fits the care you want to provide.
Master of Science
In-Person (Online and Hybrid Courses Mixed In)
Take the next step in your nursing career with a CCNE-accredited Master of Science in Nursing degree from Florida Southern College.
Graduate school can feel like a big next step. At FSC, we can tell you it is worth it. Here, you can elevate your career through a focused master's program featuring personalized mentorship, robust exam prep, and advanced practice training grounded in real clinical experience. Whichever track you choose, you will learn in tight-knit cohorts, work directly with faculty who practice what they teach, and graduate prepared to sit for national certification.
Students are placed into clinical sites by FSC's Clinical Placement Coordinator, so you are not cold-calling preceptors while carrying a full course load.
Average starting salary for FSC Master of Science in Nursing graduates, Class of 2025.
Graduate nursing faculty are credentialed advanced practice nurses who have done the work you are training for.
Choose the population focus that fits the care you want to provide: family, adult-gerontology, or psychiatric-mental health.
Your path forward should fit the care you want to provide. Explore the three MSN tracks and find the one built for your goals.
41 credit hours | 540 clinical hours | Five semesters
Focus your training on young adults through older adulthood, with dedicated preparation for caring for older adults and the frail elderly. Built for one of the fastest-growing areas of primary care.
47 credit hours | 660 clinical hours | Six semesters
Provide and direct comprehensive primary care for patients of all ages, from newborns to older adults. The FNP track offers the broadest scope of practice and the widest range of career settings.
44 credit hours | 540 clinical hours | Six semesters
Assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions across the lifespan. Help close a critical gap in access to psychiatric care as one of the most in-demand advanced.
Our MSN is a full-time program delivered through a combination of in-person, hybrid, and online courses, and you move through the curriculum as part of a dedicated cohort. The set course sequence means every course builds on the last, so you always know what comes next and exactly what stands between you and graduation.
Because the coursework is rigorous, especially during clinical semesters, we strongly recommend reducing your work hours while enrolled.
Florida Southern's nursing faculty teach from a shared framework. Sister Simone Roach's Caring, The Human Mode of Being guides every FSC nursing program, from the BSN through the DNP, and it defines caring through six practices:
Earning your MSN provides more career versatility and a significant financial benefit, not to mention greater potential for leadership in your current position or beyond.
The ongoing nationwide nursing shortage has driven demand for nurse practitioners (NPs) to increase dramatically. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for NPs is projected to grow 35% over the next decade, much higher than the national average of 3% for all professions.
Progressing from a BSN- to an MSN-prepared nurse can unlock immediate upward mobility and earning power. According to BLS data, the median annual wage for nurse practitioners exceeds $132,050, a substantial increase compared to registered nurses, who earn a median annual wage of $93,600.
Beyond financials, an FSC MSN positions you for clinical leadership, empowering you to shape health policy, direct operations, and mentor the next generation of nursing staff.
As a nurse practitioner, you can take on a more independent role in patient care, assessing, diagnosing, and managing treatment. For many nurses, this expanded autonomy is the most meaningful reason to pursue advanced practice.
Everything below applies to all three tracks. Costs, admission requirements, and clinical placement work the same way whichever population focus you choose.
To help you manage tuition costs, Florida Southern participates in federal aid programs, including military and veteran funding.
| Base Required Fees | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition per Credit Hour | $680 |
| Program Fee per Semester | $550 |
| Technology Fee per Semester | $25 to $100 |
| Base Required Fees | Cost |
|---|---|
| Deposit (Applied to Tuition) | $250 |
| CastleBranch All-Inclusive Package | $224 |
The program fee supports experiential learning, clinical placement, and the resources that help you reach program competencies. It also covers the blanket professional liability insurance that protects you during supervised clinical experiences. Fees are adjusted periodically to align with the cost of supporting competency attainment.
CastleBranch is the system FSC uses to track your health and compliance documents. The package includes your background screening, drug screen, and the OSHA and HIPAA training modules required before clinical.
Students in all tracks are responsible for any additional FSC fees or program-specific costs, including but not limited to CastleBranch and Typhon, as applicable.
Admission to all MSN nurse practitioner tracks requires the following. The GRE is not required.
Admission to all MSN nurse practitioner tracks requires the following. The GRE is not required.
International applicants complete the requirements above, plus:
Course-by-course evaluations are accepted from SpanTran (an FSC discount is available), Academic Evaluation Services, Inc., Josef Silny and Associates, World Education Services, or another comparable approved evaluation agency.
A bank letter is a written statement on bank letterhead, signed by a bank official.
You may waive the TOEFL or IELTS requirement if you have completed an English language training program or at least one year of study at an English-speaking institution.
Once you are admitted, you will complete a set of health and compliance requirements before you can begin clinical hours. These are standard across nursing programs and required by the agencies that host our students. You are responsible for the cost of these screenings, and some require annual renewal. All documentation is submitted through CastleBranch.
Individual clinical sites may require additional screening. Students who are not compliant by the posted deadline cannot enroll in clinical courses.
A prior arrest or conviction may affect your eligibility for clinical placement under our agency agreements, and may affect licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse under Florida Statute 464. Applicants with a prior record are reviewed by the program director and the dean. If this applies to you, contact us before you apply so we can talk it through.
Your first advising session comes through Adult and Graduate Admissions, where you will receive an individualized course of study plan during orientation. After that, your track coordinator advises you directly. Every semester, your cohort meets for group advising around mid-term to plan the term ahead, and individual sessions are available any time you need one.
Nurse practitioner students take a series of predictor exams beginning in the second semester. These gauge your readiness to move into clinical courses and forecast your likelihood of passing the national certification exam. They exist so that no one reaches the end of the program uncertain about certification.
"Florida Southern College was the only in-person program which met my needs as a student. My experience was exceptional here. The in-person advisory meetings with faculty were invaluable and something you cannot get online. Completing the FNP program has allowed me to lead my own post-operative outpatient clinic. The group case studies helped me to become a better diagnostician, and I am still building on that foundation today as a new APRN."
"I chose Florida Southern for the intimate class size and for the impeccable reputation the school has within the community. I knew that I was going to be successful with my program and that my degree would be respected with my future employers. Not only did Florida Southern help me grow professionally, but I also grew on a personal level in ways that I never imagined. I have built lifelong relationships with not only my peers but also with my faculty, who continue to mentor me long after I have graduated. I am so thankful for the faculty at Florida Southern, and I am extremely happy with my choice."
"I enjoy the classroom environment, so I was looking for a program that was local and hands-on, with a schedule that was flexible enough to work and care for my family. The instructors had many years of real-world clinical experience that was a valuable addition to learning the content and application to clinical practice. I enjoyed learning with my peers and have continued to keep in touch with many of them. As a prospective student, a positive attitude is essential in the success of completion. Believe that you can do this. The staff and educators are there to help you along your journey to meet the goal to further your education."
"By earning my advanced degree, I have a better understanding of how to treat a condition, when to provide a referral and how to create a plan of patient care. As APRNs, we are advancing our education so others can also be educated about their health. My peers were amazing. We built a solid team from Day One and looked forward to walking across that stage together."
"I chose FSC for my MSN program because of the location and flexibility of the schedule. I had great experiences with the professors and my classmates have become my friends. My advice to new students would be to manage your time well, communicate with your professors and put your all into the program. After graduating with my MSN, I went on to earn my DNP from Florida Southern as well."
"I transferred to Florida Southern College from another program because my previous school did not offer any support or guidance. I felt as if I were just a number there. When I attended the open house at Florida Southern, I could feel from the staff that they really cared about our success and would be there to support us from start to finish. Florida Southern is large enough to have all the services you want in a college, but also still has that small town feel where everyone is friendly and helpful."
"I felt all the faculty remained involved throughout the program, and it was a great learning experience. I'm glad I decided to enroll in an on-campus program for the personalized classroom experience."
"After carefully reviewing many Nurse Practitioner programs, I chose FSC because it provided an in-person learning experience taught by highly skilled professors. I quickly learned that all of the staff cared about our success. As a student, I felt respected and genuinely cared for by each faculty member. The faculty is aware of the student-life balance and supported us emotionally and mentally. Each phase of the program is an adjustment. Stay focused and know you can achieve anything you put your mind to. Please make sure your family and friends know that you need their love, support, and understanding. When you get overwhelmed, just know this is temporary and keep going. Trust in yourself!"
Our cutting-edge Simulation and Clinical Learning Center provides a realistic medical environment where you can master advanced diagnostic procedures and practice critical decision-making. Equipped with high-fidelity patient simulators and specialized suites, it gives you a safe, dynamic space to bridge the gap between classroom theory and advanced clinical practice.
Our graduate nursing faculty are highly credentialed advanced practice nurses who develop deeply caring relationships with their students. They will work with you to identify your goals and help you reach them as you move toward national certification and advanced practice.
Assistant Professor of Nursing, MSN Program Director, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program Coordinator
Associate Professor of Nursing, Anne MacGregor Jenkins Endowed Chair in Pediatric Nursing, Education Coordinator
Assistant Professor of Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner Program Coordinator
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Assistant Professor of Nursing, PMH MP Program Coordinator
Associate Professor of Nursing, Senior Director - Graduate Nursing Programs
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a requirement for admission to our MSN program. However, students who are interested in nursing as a new career may wish to consider an accelerated "second bachelor's degree" BSN program. Alternatively, they could complete an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) and then enroll in an RN-BSN program. This would give them the foundation needed to prepare for our MSN program.
All students are assigned to clinical sites/preceptors by the Clinical Placement Coordinator, eliminating the need for them to find their own unless they prefer to do so. This streamlines the clinical placement process and ensures high-quality learning experiences.
Yes, Florida Southern allows you to transfer up to two (2) graduate-level courses. If you have taken more than two courses elsewhere, our MSN program director will determine which courses would be best to transfer to Florida Southern and which would be most beneficial to repeat at FSC.
No. The GRE is not required for admission to the nursing programs.
Yes. The master's degree program in nursing and the post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Florida Southern College are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
Advance your nursing career without stepping away from it. Our virtual sessions cover MSN tracks, post-master's certificates, and how to apply.
Join us online to learn more about our MSN tracks as well as Post-Master's certificate opportunities....
Admissions
Join us online to learn more about our MSN tracks as well as Post-Master's certificate opportunities....
Admissions
Join us online to learn more about our MSN tracks as well as Post-Master's certificate opportunities....
Admissions
Read the latest from the Ann Blanton Edwards School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
At Florida Southern, you are our focus. Our graduate admissions team is dedicated to supporting you throughout the application process and helping you discover why our MSN program is a match for your goals.
Assistant Professor of Nursing, MSN Program Director, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program Coordinator
Interested in other advanced practice nursing paths? Learn more about FSC's other graduate opportunities:
The best way to understand engaged learning is to experience it. Register for an info session, talk with our team, or start your application.
