January 20, 2026
Governor’s Press Office
850-717-9282
Florida Significantly Boosts Nursing Education Funding with $485 Million Investment
Tallahassee, Fla.— In a move to enhance nursing education across the state, Governor Ron DeSantis announced a substantial investment of more than $485 million through the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) and Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE) programs. This funding initiative, started in 2022, aims to provide scholarships, recruit faculty, acquire equipment, and improve simulation centers in Florida’s nursing programs.
Governor DeSantis has allocated over $20 million in recent LINE funding, distributing $14.5 million to state colleges and private postsecondary institutions, and $6 million to state universities. To date, the LINE program has awarded more than $85 million, including $61.5 million to state colleges and private institutions, and $24 million to State University System (SUS) institutions. Additionally, the PIPELINE program has delivered $400 million, with $240 million going to state colleges and school districts, and $160 million to SUS institutions.
Governor DeSantis stated, “Today, I was proud to award more than $20 million in LINE funding with $14.5 million awarded to state colleges and private postsecondary institutions, as well as $6 million to state universities. Florida is investing at scale to expand nursing programs and strengthen the healthcare workforce. Since launching the LINE and PIPELINE programs in 2022, Florida has invested more than $485 million in nursing education.”
Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas emphasized the priority of nursing education in Florida, noting, “Governor DeSantis has made nursing education a top priority in Florida, recognizing the critical role nurses play in keeping our communities healthy and safe. Through strategic investments like the LINE and PIPELINE programs, we are supporting the next generation of nurses by expanding opportunity to high-quality education and ensuring Florida’s healthcare workforce is prepared to meet growing demand.”
SUS Chancellor Ray Rodrigues highlighted the impact of these investments, saying, “Florida’s continued investment in nursing education demonstrates our state’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the healthcare workforce and expanding opportunities for students across the State University System. The LINE and PIPELINE programs deliver real results and empower institutions to recruit talented faculty, enhance professional training, and graduate highly skilled nurses prepared to meet the needs of communities statewide.”
Overview of the LINE Program
The LINE initiative operates as a competitive, dollar-for-dollar matching grant promoting collaboration between educational institutions and healthcare providers. This program offers scholarships for students meeting residency requirements, supports faculty recruitment, funds equipment purchases, and enhances simulation facilities to foster high-quality nursing education. For detailed information about LINE and a list of awarded institutions, visit https://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/funding-opportunities/linefund/.
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