Nursing Degree Programs in Punta Gorda, FL (2026)

Quick answer: Registered Nurses in the Punta Gorda area earn a median $80,410 per year, below the national median of $97,550, and the metro employs about 1,430 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Nursing Pay in Punta Gorda, FL

MetricPunta Gorda metroFloridaNational
Median annual wage$80,410$84,190$97,550
10th percentile$63,380$67,970$68,940
25th percentile$67,970$78,660$80,330
75th percentile$96,100$101,180$112,350
90th percentile$105,280$120,330$137,470
Employment1,430229,9403,379,720
Location quotient1.14-1.00

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Punta Gorda, FL metropolitan statistical area.

What the Numbers Say About This Market

The Punta Gorda median of $80,410 is below the national median of $97,550, and below the Florida statewide median of $84,190 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The metro’s location quotient of 1.14 means registered nurses are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.

Nursing is the one degree on this site where the training itself is geographically anchored: clinical rotations are completed in local hospitals and clinics, so program availability tracks the local health system.

Other Florida Metro Areas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Miami$91,38061,670
Tampa$85,47038,720
Orlando$83,55030,150
Jacksonville$83,52018,940
Cape Coral$82,8608,700
North Port$86,1308,380
Gainesville$81,8707,470
Deltona$84,1806,600

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Licensing

Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Every state licenses registered nurses through its own board of nursing. The national constants are the degree (an ADN or BSN from a program accredited by CCNE or ACEN) and the NCLEX-RN examination administered through NCSBN. Many states also participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact, which can allow practice across member states on one multistate license.

See the Florida licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state board of nursing.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How We Rank Schools

We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
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 federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Fort Myers Technical College

Fort Myers, FL 21.6 miles away BOC Score 79.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 81.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 48
  • Annual completions: 1337
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $43,662 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Lorenzo Walker Technical College

Naples, FL 54.9 miles away BOC Score 74.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 99.0%
  • Programs offered: 42
  • Annual completions: 682
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $41,899 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

South Florida State College

Avon Park, FL 58.5 miles away BOC Score 73.8
Tuition $3,165 - $11,859
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 49.4%
  • Programs offered: 69
  • Annual completions: 533
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $48,619 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Cape Coral Technical College

Cape Coral, FL 17.1 miles away BOC Score 71.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 84.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 16
  • Annual completions: 368
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $36,637 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Immokalee Technical College

Immokalee, FL 50.4 miles away BOC Score 67.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 24
  • Annual completions: 318
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $41,588 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Manatee Technical College

Bradenton, FL 52.7 miles away BOC Score 62.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 71.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 76
  • Annual completions: 1271
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $45,049 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Charlotte Technical College

Port Charlotte, FL 9.7 miles away BOC Score 48.6
Tuition $3,110 - $13,272
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 58.7%
  • Programs offered: 26
  • Annual completions: 474
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $43,247 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#9

Suncoast Technical College

Sarasota, FL 38.5 miles away BOC Score 47.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 50.5%
  • Programs offered: 43
  • Annual completions: 1238
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $40,433 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg

Saint Petersburg, FL 71.3 miles away BOC Score 42.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 41
  • Annual completions: 1040
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $40,318 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do registered nurses make in Punta Gorda?

The median annual wage for registered nurses in the Punta Gorda, FL metro area is $80,410, below the national median of $97,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

How many registered nurses work in the Punta Gorda area?

The Punta Gorda, FL metro area employs about 1,430 registered nurses (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do registered nurses in Punta Gorda need a license?

Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Every state licenses registered nurses through its own board of nursing. The national constants are the degree (an ADN or BSN from a program accredited by CCNE or ACEN) and the NCLEX-RN examination administered through NCSBN. Many states also participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact, which can allow practice across member states on one multistate license. Confirm current requirements with your state board of nursing.

Can I study nursing online from Punta Gorda?

The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state board of nursing.

Is Punta Gorda a better market than the rest of Florida?

The Punta Gorda metro median is $80,410 against a statewide median of $84,190 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.


About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.