Best Nursing Schools in Ft. Myers, FL Revealed – Full RN Program Scorecard
Miami may grab the spotlight with its sheer output of new nurses, but the plot twist sits halfway down the line: Fort Myers, Florida. Despite a far smaller population, the city produced 649 first-time NCLEX passes, beating out bigger St. Petersburg and Pensacola and falling only a few hundred shy of Florida's four largest metros. That mid-curve surge cements Fort Myers as the state's "Goldilocks" nursing hub – big enough to feed hospitals a steady stream of RNs, yet compact enough to keep pass rates sky-high. In short, Fort Myers isn't merely keeping up; it's quietly resetting the bar for what a mid-sized market can contribute to Florida's healthcare workforce.
If you are a local of Ft. Myers and seeking a nursing program in 2025. Consider the details below to help you make an informed choice.
Fort Myers Nursing Programs – 2024 NCLEX First-Time Results
Fort Myers is still outpacing expectations in 2024, logging 696 first-time NCLEX attempts across six local programs and seeing 649 of those candidates sail through on the first try—a combined success rate of 93.2 percent. That city-wide showing tops Florida's overall ADN and BSN averages, giving employers such as Lee Health and NCH plenty of reason to keep recruiting straight from their backyard.
| School Name | Exams Delivered | Passed | Failed | Pass Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Gulf Coast University | 76 | 76 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Rasmussen University | 188 | 178 | 10 | 94.68 |
| Florida Southwestern State College | 217 | 205 | 12 | 94.47 |
| ATA College | 37 | 36 | 1 | 97.30 |
| Nova Southeastern University | 102 | 91 | 11 | 89.22 |
| Keiser University | 76 | 63 | 13 | 82.89 |
| Total (All Programs) | 696 | 649 | 47 | 93.20 |
Leading the pack is Florida Gulf Coast University, posting a flawless 100% pass rate on 76 attempts – proof that a public university can marry affordability with elite outcomes. Close behind, Florida Southwestern State College offers high-volume ADN training with a stellar 94.5% success rate, while ATA College maintains nearly perfect results in a tight, career-focused ASN format.
Even programs with room to grow, such as Keiser University's 82.9%, still sit above Florida's 80% regulatory benchmark, showing that Fort Myers' entire nursing school ecosystem remains solidly positioned to supply the region's expanding healthcare network with capable, practice-ready RNs.
Comparing Fort Myers Nursing Schools to Other Florida City Nursing Schools
| City | Exams Delivered | Passed | Failed | Pass Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | 1,818 | 1,510 | 308 | 83.0 |
| Tampa | 984 | 910 | 74 | 92.3 |
| Orlando | 888 | 818 | 70 | 92.1 |
| Jacksonville | 831 | 762 | 69 | 91.7 |
| Fort Myers | 696 | 649 | 47 | 93.2 |
| St. Petersburg | 674 | 616 | 58 | 91.4 |
| Pensacola | 517 | 476 | 41 | 92.1 |
| Gainesville | 479 | 461 | 18 | 96.2 |
| Ocala | 511 | 432 | 79 | 84.5 |
| Tallahassee | 461 | 382 | 79 | 82.9 |
Best Fort Myers ADN Programs for 2025
| School | Exams Delivered | Passed | Failed | Pass Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATA College | 37 | 36 | 1 | 97.30 |
| Florida Southwestern State College | 217 | 205 | 12 | 94.47 |
| Rasmussen University | 144 | 136 | 8 | 94.44 |
| Keiser University | 41 | 29 | 12 | 70.73 |
| Total (All ADN Programs) | 439 | 406 | 33 | 92.53 |
How Fort Myers ADN Programs Stack Up
| Region | Exams Delivered | Passed | Failed | Pass Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Myers (all ADN/ASN) | 439 | 406 | 33 | 92.5 |
| Florida statewide (all ADN/ASN) | 9,654 | 8,264 | 1,390 | 85.6 |
- Ft. Myers ADN programs outperform the statewide average by almost seven percentage points (92.5% vs. 85.6%).
- Although the city accounts for only about 4.5% of Florida's ADN exam volume, its graduates post markedly stronger outcomes, giving local employers a highly reliable, practice-ready nursing pipeline.
Best Fort Myers BSN Programs for 2025
| School | Exams Delivered | Passed | Failed | Pass Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Gulf Coast University | 76 | 76 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Keiser University | 35 | 34 | 1 | 97.14 |
| Rasmussen University | 44 | 42 | 2 | 95.45 |
| Nova Southeastern University | 102 | 91 | 11 | 89.22 |
| Total (All BSN Programs) | 257 | 243 | 14 | 94.56 |
How Fort Myers BSN Programs Stack Up
| Region | Exams Delivered | Passed | Failed | Pass Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Myers (all BSN) | 257 | 243 | 14 | 94.6 |
| Florida statewide (all BSN) | 4,996 | 4,579 | 417 | 91.7 |
- Ft. Myers BSN programs post a 94.6% success rate is roughly three percentage points higher than the overall Florida BSN average (91.7%).
- With 257 exams delivered, Fort Myers generates about 5% of the state's BSN testing volume, yet still outperforms most larger metro areas.
- The low failed count (14)further underscores the city's strong preparation pipeline, giving hospitals a reliable influx of BSN prepared RNs.
If you’d like to continue your research on available programs in the state, consider heading over to our complete guide of Florida nursing schools.
*Data derived from the latest Florida Board of Nursing metrics.
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