Best Online Nursing Programs in Clearwater, FL (2026)
Clearwater, Florida has a population of about 117,075. The city’s median household income is $64,440 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 32.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 47 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Clearwater, with tuition ranging from $2,682 to $10,634 per year for indexed programs. In the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $197,660 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Nursing Schools to Clearwater
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 47 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Clearwater. Distances are calculated from Clearwater city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Medical Academy | Clearwater, FL | 1.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater | Clearwater, FL | 5.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay | Saint Petersburg, FL | 10.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa | Tampa, FL | 14.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Concorde Career Institute-Tampa | Tampa, FL | 15.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg | Saint Petersburg, FL | 15.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| [South University-Tampa](https://www.southuniversity.edu/tampa#location=Tampa, FL) | Tampa, FL | 16.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| St Petersburg College | St. Petersburg, FL | 16.1 mi | $2,682 - $10,634 | – |
| The University of Tampa | Tampa, FL | 18.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Hillsborough Community College | Tampa, FL | 18.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Florida schools on the Florida nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Clearwater
Clearwater is part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area (BLS area code 45300). 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 | $84,290 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $83,538 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $60,050 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $59,514 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $197,660 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $195,897 |
| Nurse Midwife | $115,440 | FL statewide | $114,410 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $128,430 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $127,284 |
| Nursing Assistant | $36,700 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $36,373 |
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.
Clearwater at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 117,075 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $64,440 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 32.5% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 100.9 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Nursing-related employment in Pinellas County | 33,438 workers, 464 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Clearwater-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Dunedin, FL – 4.0 mi away (36,381 pop)
- Largo, FL – 4.9 mi away (83,065 pop)
- Pinellas Park, FL – 8.9 mi away (52,137 pop)
- Tarpon Springs, FL – 11.8 mi away (24,867 pop)
- Saint Petersburg, FL – 14.1 mi away (260,999 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near Clearwater, FL?
Our directory has 47 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Clearwater. The closest is Ultimate Medical Academy in Clearwater, FL (1.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Hillsborough Community College (18.9 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Clearwater?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Clearwater are: Nurse Anesthetist ($197,660), Nurse Practitioner ($128,430), 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 Dunedin instead of Clearwater?
Dunedin, FL is 4.0 miles from Clearwater 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 Clearwater an affordable place to study nursing?
Clearwater’s median household income of $64,440 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Clearwater 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.