University of Central Florida
01/23/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/23/2026 09:31
State Investments in Nursing Education Continue to Strengthen UCF’s Impact
Ongoing state investments in nursing education are helping UCF expand access to high quality training, graduate more practice- ready nurses, and meet Florida's growing healthcare workforce needs.
Since 2022, Florida has invested more than $485 million in nursing education through the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) and Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE) programs. These initiatives support scholarships for students, recruitment of additional faculty and preceptors, and investments in equipment and simulation based- learning environments across the state.
Today, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced more than $20 million in new LINE funding, including $6 million for State University System institutions, continuing the state's commitment to expanding nursing program capacity and addressing workforce shortages statewide. "Florida is investing at scale to expand nursing programs and strengthen the healthcare workforce," DeSantis says.
Funding That Fuels Growth at UCF
UCF has been a state leader in leveraging LINE and PIPELINE funding to expand its College of Nursing. In the 2023-24 state budget, the university received more than $22 million to support nursing education, including $7.6 million in PIPELINE funding - the largest allocation among Florida's public universities.
That investment allowed UCF to:
- Increase undergraduate nursing enrollment by more than 100 students across multiple campuses
- Hire additional faculty and staff to support growing enrollment
- Expand hands on training opportunities critical to student success
Strengthening Partnerships and Clinical Training
Through the LINE program, UCF partners with leading Central Florida healthcare systems, including Pegasus Partners AdventHealth and Orlando Health, to secure dollar-for-dollar matching funds. These partnerships support student scholarships and enhancements to simulation and laboratory equipment, helping the university expand access to high-quality education.
Pending LINE proposals would provide $737,500 in total matching funds, strengthening clinical training pipelines and reinforcing UCF's role in preparing nurses for local and regional healthcare systems.
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University of Central Florida published this content on January 23, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on January 23, 2026 at 15:31 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]