Best Online Health Science Degree Programs in FL
Online health science degrees in Florida offer a high-quality yet flexible and affordable education to help you reach your academic and personal goals. But what schools offer the best programs? Find out below.
Working in healthcare is a personally (and financially) rewarding career path. For many Floridians, that professional journey starts with a health science degree online in Florida. A health science program provides foundational knowledge of sciences like biology and anatomy, as well as the skills you need to communicate health and wellness recommendations with the public.
This degree is valuable throughout the United States, but especially in Florida where the demand for healthcare workers remains extremely high. In fact, Florida’s share of healthcare workers is one of the highest in the nation, alongside Texas, California, and New York, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
If you’re interested in becoming one of these essential workers by pursuing an online health science degree in Florida, you’ve come to the right place. This guide details the best programs in the state, how to set yourself up for professional success, free resources, and more.
University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida
Public
The University of West Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Public
St Petersburg College
St. Petersburg, Florida
Public
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Private
Hodges University
Fort Myers, Florida
Private
Eastern Florida State College
Cocoa, Florida
Public
Seminole State College of Florida
Sanford, Florida
Public
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Private
Florida Gulf Coast University
Fort Myers, Florida
Public
Palm Beach Atlantic University
West Palm Beach, Florida
Private
What to Look for in Florida Health Science Programs
As we’ve discussed, affordability and academic rigor are important factors when choosing a health science degree online in Florida, but they aren’t the only ones. You should also consider whether the faculty’s teaching methods and research align with your interests and whether the school offers student support services.
Accreditation, alumni networks, community partnerships, and research opportunities should also help you determine whether an online health science degree in Florida is right for you. Keep reading for a breakdown of these four factors further and schools that offer each.
Accreditation
Without accreditation other academic institutions and employers may not recognize your degree. Usually, you want to look for a university with regional accreditation. The most common regional accrediting body for an online health science degree in Florida is the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
School Spotlight: University of South Florida
Alumni Network & Employment Outcomes
To expand your career opportunities, look for a program that emphasizes professional development. Strong alumni networks and employment outcomes are good indicators that a health science degree online in Florida prioritizes students’ professional lives. Partnerships with local hospital systems and Florida health companies can also be good indicators. Many strong programs list statistics on the employment outcomes of recent graduates on their websites.
School Spotlight: University of West Florida
Community Outreach & Partnerships
Health science is a field rooted in community. Whether you want to educate the public, develop wellness programs, or conduct public health research, your future career will most likely involve community outreach. To prepare students, a quality online health science degree in Florida will include community outreach efforts with partner organizations. These could be part of the curriculum in the form of a capstone project with a community partner, or through an extracurricular organization.
School Spotlight: Florida Gulf Coast University
Research Opportunities & Innovation
While most health science graduates work in community health or a related field, some conduct research in the health sciences. Even in public-facing roles, it’s important to understand how research works so you can convey findings to the community and project stakeholders. As such, a health science degree online in Florida should offer courses in research methods as well as opportunities for students to conduct their own original research or help faculty with theirs.
School Spotlight: University of Central Florida
After Graduation: Prepare & Prosper in the FL Health Science Sector
Completing an online health science degree in Florida is a crucial step toward career success, but it isn’t the only one. You’ll also want to continue your education, receive additional certifications, and pursue additional licensure to stay competitive in the Florida health sector.
Continuing Education & Skill Development
The health sciences change quickly and as a professional in this industry, it will be important to keep up. This includes continuing your education both informally and formally. Informally, graduates of online health science degree programs in Florida can read the most popular books on health science or listen to public health podcasts. Formally, they can join professional organizations that offer educational seminars, such as the Florida Hospital Association.
Certifications
If you want to continue your education but don’t want to commit to another full degree, you should consider completing additional certifications. Popular health science certifications in the state include the University of Florida’s Certificate in Health Outcomes and Implementation Science; Florida International University’s Certificate in Health Humanities; and St. Petersburg College’s Certificate in Health Care Services.
Certifications can typically be completed in just one to two semesters and cover a specific area of health science, such as health education or wellness coaching. Since they are more specialized, they are also ideal for graduates with an online health science degree in Florida who want to gain expertise in a particular topic.
Licensure
While there is no formal health science license in Florida, there are specific roles within health science that require a practitioners to be licensed. These include 911 telecommunicators, paramedics, and telehealth specialists. Those working in clinical laboratory settings also need to be licensed through the Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel.
Visit the Florida Department of Health website for a complete list of health science careers that require licensure in Florida.
Salary & Career Outlook for Health Science Graduates in Florida
Earnings and the potential for professional growth are major considerations when choosing among the many career options available to graduates of online health science degree programs in Florida. To give you an idea of what to expect, we've gathered career data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for community health workers employed in the state and listed it in the tables below. In terms of growth, job openings for community health workers are expected to increase by 14% in the U.S. overall and 24.2% in Florida between 2022 and 2032. These are particularly impressive figures when you consider that the projected growth for all jobs in all occupations in the U.S. combined for the same period is only 2.8%.
The current median annual salary for community health workers in Florida is $42,980, with salaries varying substantially within the state (from $28,080 to $91,990) depending primarily on geographic location and work experience level. Keep in mind that working in community health is just one career choice for health science degree graduates, so these figures may not apply to the career you choose. Remember that as a health science degree holder, you'll likely be able to command higher pay than job applicants without a degree.
| Area | Curr. Jobs | Proj. Jobs | New Jobs | Growth % | Avg. Ann. Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 67,200 | 76,600 | 9,400 | 14.00% | 8,000 |
| Florida | 2,150 | 2,670 | 520 | 24.20% | 290 |
Source: Projections Central
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $29,570 | $42,980 | $71,630 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $38,710 | $54,270 | $91,990 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $31,220 | $46,050 | $64,130 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $28,080 | $39,620 | $71,770 |
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | $35,500 | $49,460 | $80,300 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $31,330 | $38,710 | $60,850 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $32,610 | $39,740 | $73,050 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $30,930 | $35,920 | $83,200 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $34,940 | $48,850 | $79,160 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $29,860 | $37,060 | $59,990 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $37,490 | $46,790 | $75,870 |
Source: Community Health Workers, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
Resources & Support for Florida Health Science Students
Getting a health science degree online in Florida can be an overwhelming process, but you don’t have to complete it alone. Many organizations, resources, and scholarships are available in Florida to help you succeed financially, academically, and professionally. We’ve rounded up 15 of the best for you to explore below.
Academic
- American College of Sports Medicine – Interested in a career in sports medicine? Read up on the continuing education and networking opportunities facilitated by the American College of Sports Medicine.
- College of Central Florida Health Sciences Department – CF’s Health Sciences department offers information on different career paths, earning potential, licensure requirements, and more.
- Florida Health Occupations Students of America (Florida HOSA) – Florida HOSA prepares students to become future healthcare workers. Resources include chapter meetings, student guides, and networking events.
- Florida Health Sciences Library Association – If you need to conduct research for class or an extracurricular project in your field, consider the resources provided by this Florida-based organization.
- University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions – This university department provides students with a research library specific to the health sciences, information on internships, and more.
Financial
- Florida’s Bright Future Scholarship Program – Florida residents pursuing an undergraduate degree may be eligible for the myriad scholarships offered through this state-run program.
- Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability – This state government office has rounded up a host of financial aid opportunities for Florida residents, including loans, merit-based scholarships, and need-based scholarships.
- Florida Student Assistance Grant Program – This initiative provides grants to attend public or private universities in Florida to students who demonstrate financial need.
- NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program – Students in this program receive a $20,000 scholarship to apply to their health science degree; recipients complete a ten-week internship with the National Institute of Health.
- UCF Department of Health Sciences Scholarship – The University of Central Florida provides health science scholarships for students at this university. The award amount ranges from $500 to $1,500.
Professional
- Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) – APIC provides networking events for professionals in epidemiology and infection control as well as resources to help them continue their education.
- Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel – if you want to work in a clinical laboratory setting, this board provides information on licensure; resources; continuing education requirements; and more.
- Florida Department of Health – Want to earn your license in a specific field or learn more about continuing education requirements in Florida? Check out the Florida Department of Health’s website.
- Florida Hospital Association – This organization provides hospital workers with access to educational webinars, networking events, and information on how to tackle different healthcare issues, from retaining healthcare workers to improving rural healthcare systems.
- Professional Resource Network – This organization was created by the State of Florida’s Impaired Practitioners Programs to help support the wellbeing of healthcare workers and improve their access to resources on continuing education, licensure requirements, and more.
