Best Online Nursing Programs in Fort Walton Beach, FL (2026)
Fort Walton Beach, Florida has a population of about 20,956. The city’s median household income is $66,556 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 27.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 20 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Fort Walton Beach, with tuition ranging from $2,348 to $9,718 per year for indexed programs. In Florida, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $197,940 annually (BLS, May 2024).
Closest Nursing Schools to Fort Walton Beach
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 20 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Fort Walton Beach. Distances are calculated from Fort Walton Beach city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Okaloosa Technical College | Fort Walton Beach, FL | 3.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Northwest Florida State College | Niceville, FL | 11.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Radford M Locklin Technical College | Milton, FL | 32.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Fortis Institute-Pensacola | Pensacola, FL | 34.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pensacola State College | Pensacola, FL | 34.8 mi | $2,348 - $9,718 | – |
| Emerald Coast Technical College | DeFuniak Springs, FL | 36.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of West Florida | Pensacola, FL | 36.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Gulf Coast State College | Panama City, FL | 55.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Tom P. Haney Technical College | Panama City, FL | 60.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lurleen B Wallace Community College | Andalusia, AL | 62.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Florida schools on the Florida nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Fort Walton Beach
Fort Walton Beach is part of the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL metro area (BLS area code 18880). 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 | $81,270 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $83,784 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $57,710 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $59,495 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $197,940 | FL statewide | $204,062 |
| Nurse Midwife | $115,440 | FL statewide | $119,010 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $129,010 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $133,000 |
| Nursing Assistant | $36,200 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $37,320 |
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.
Fort Walton Beach at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,956 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $66,556 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 27.8% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 97.0 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Nursing-related employment in Okaloosa County | 3,814 workers, 56 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Fort Walton Beach-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Crestview, FL – 22.5 mi away (36,433 pop)
- Pensacola, FL – 33.9 mi away (352,187 pop)
- Lynn Haven, FL – 59.9 mi away (20,850 pop)
- Panama City, FL – 61.9 mi away (147,788 pop)
- Prichard, AL – 93.0 mi away (22,185 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near Fort Walton Beach, FL?
Our directory has 20 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Fort Walton Beach. The closest is Okaloosa Technical College in Fort Walton Beach, FL (3.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Lurleen B Wallace Community College (62.9 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Fort Walton Beach?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Fort Walton Beach are: Nurse Anesthetist ($197,940), Nurse Practitioner ($129,010), 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 Crestview instead of Fort Walton Beach?
Crestview, FL is 22.5 miles from Fort Walton Beach 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 Fort Walton Beach an affordable place to study nursing?
Fort Walton Beach’s median household income of $66,556 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Fort Walton Beach 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.