Northwest Florida State College opened its new School of Nursing building Thursday, celebrating the completion of a $34 million project designed to double the college’s nursing enrollment by 2026.

• The ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Niceville Campus welcomed community leaders, alumni and supporters who toured the 64,000-square-foot facility alongside NWFSC President Mel Ponder and Dean of Health Sciences Dr. Charlotte Kuss.

“This expansion is more than bricks and mortar—it’s a bold investment in the future of healthcare in our region,” Ponder said. “With over $34 million dedicated to growing our nursing program, we’re doubling enrollment and equipping students with the most advanced technology available.”

The project was funded through $13 million in state education construction funds and a $21.8 million Triumph Gulf Coast grant awarded in 2023. The new building features immersive learning environments, including virtual reality labs and high-fidelity simulation suites designed to give students hands-on experience in a safe, controlled setting.

• “This new building is a reflection of the incredible caliber and vision that guides our nursing program,” said Trustee Chair Rhea Goff. “This will allow our faculty to do even more for students’ learning experiences, ensuring they are prepared better than anyone for their field.”

NWFSC’s nursing program continues to outperform state and national benchmarks. In 2024, the Associate Degree in Nursing program achieved a 98.65% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam – the national licensure test for registered nurses – compared to Florida’s average of 84.1% and the national average of 90.6%.

Retention rates are equally strong, with 94.3% of students completing the program, far exceeding the statewide average of 77.2%.

The new facility positions NWFSC to address the growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals across Northwest Florida through expanded enrollment capacity.