Ridge Technical College
Published tuition$3,918 - $27,493
Online programs--
Best Online Nursing Programs in Winter Haven, FL (2026)
Winter Haven, Florida has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs, with tuition ranging from $3,918 to $27,493 per year for indexed programs. Winter Haven has a population of about 52,846. Median household income is $59,604 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 22.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Florida, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $210,570 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Nursing Schools to Winter Haven
The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Winter Haven. Distances are calculated from Winter Haven city center.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Winter Haven. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Traviss Technical College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programs--
South Florida State College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Osceola Technical College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programs--
Ana G. Mendez University
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Florida schools on the Florida nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Winter Haven
Winter Haven is part of the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area (BLS area code 29460). 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 | $84,030 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $86,540 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $59,940 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $61,730 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $210,570 | FL statewide | $216,859 |
| Nurse Midwife | $127,460 | FL statewide | $131,267 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $125,720 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $129,475 |
| Nursing Assistant | $36,000 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $37,075 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 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.
Winter Haven at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 52,846 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $59,604 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 22.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 97.1 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Nursing-related employment in Polk County | 15,513 workers, 138 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Winter Haven-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Haines City, FL – 8.5 mi away (23,454 pop)
- Lakeland, FL – 15.7 mi away (286,876 pop)
- Plant City, FL – 25.5 mi away (38,200 pop)
- Kissimmee, FL – 26.6 mi away (365,099 pop)
- Saint Cloud, FL – 29.5 mi away (47,809 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near Winter Haven, FL?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Winter Haven. The closest is Ridge Technical College in Winter Haven, FL (5.2 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Ana G. Mendez University (40.4 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Winter Haven?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Winter Haven are: Nurse Anesthetist ($210,570), Nurse Midwife ($127,460), Nurse Practitioner ($125,720). 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 Haines City instead of Winter Haven?
Haines City, FL is 8.5 miles from Winter Haven 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 Winter Haven an affordable place to study nursing?
Winter Haven’s median household income of $59,604 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Winter Haven 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.
Learn More About Nursing Programs
- Nursing accreditation: what to look for
- Nursing concentrations and specializations
- Is a Nursing degree worth it?
- Main Nursing degree guide
- Online Nursing programs in Florida
- Nursing programs by state
Other Programs Available in Winter Haven
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Winter Haven:
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Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; 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.