Best Online Nursing Programs in Bradenton, FL (2026)
Bradenton, Florida has a population of about 56,289. The city’s median household income is $60,964 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 27.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 40 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Bradenton, with tuition ranging from $2,682 to $23,093 per year for indexed programs. In the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL metro area, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $208,600 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Nursing Schools to Bradenton
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 40 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Bradenton. Distances are calculated from Bradenton city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota | Bradenton, FL | 3.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Manatee Technical College | Bradenton, FL | 6.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Arizona College of Nursing-Sarasota | University Park, FL | 9.9 mi | $23,093 | – |
| Galen Health Institutes-Sarasota | Sarasota, FL | 12.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Suncoast Technical College | Sarasota, FL | 14.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg | Saint Petersburg, FL | 19.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| St Petersburg College | St. Petersburg, FL | 19.9 mi | $2,682 - $10,634 | – |
| Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay | Saint Petersburg, FL | 26.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater | Clearwater, FL | 30.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Hillsborough Community College | Tampa, FL | 31.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Florida schools on the Florida nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Bradenton
Bradenton is part of the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL metro area (BLS area code 35840). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Florida statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $82,850 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $80,908 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $61,260 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $59,824 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $208,600 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $203,711 |
| Nurse Midwife | $115,440 | FL statewide | $112,734 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $130,780 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $127,715 |
| Nursing Assistant | $38,750 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $37,842 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Bradenton at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 56,289 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $60,964 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 27.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 102.4 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Nursing-related employment in Manatee County | 7,703 workers, 98 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Bradenton-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Sarasota, FL – 10.6 mi away (701,487 pop)
- Saint Petersburg, FL – 21.7 mi away (260,999 pop)
- Pinellas Park, FL – 26.7 mi away (52,137 pop)
- Venice, FL – 27.6 mi away (22,465 pop)
- Largo, FL – 31.3 mi away (83,065 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near Bradenton, FL?
Our directory has 40 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Bradenton. The closest is State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota in Bradenton, FL (3.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Hillsborough Community College (31.6 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Bradenton?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Bradenton are: Nurse Anesthetist ($208,600), Nurse Practitioner ($130,780), Nurse Midwife ($115,440). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Florida statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Sarasota instead of Bradenton?
Sarasota, FL is 10.6 miles from Bradenton and has its own set of local nursing programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Bradenton an affordable place to study nursing?
Bradenton’s median household income of $60,964 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Bradenton while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Florida public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.