Palm Beach Atlantic University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in West Palm Beach, Florida. It enrolls 2,603 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
47/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes33
Value11
Affordability22
Selectivity35
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 82%, Palm Beach Atlantic University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
82%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
950 – 1220
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 26
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Palm Beach Atlantic University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
7.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Palm Beach Atlantic University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $28,354 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$28,354
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
23%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
37%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$40,650
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,800
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,824
Books & Supplies
$1,186
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$6,706
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,318
Total Cost of Attendance
$53,827
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$25,570
$30,001 – $48,000
$25,312
$48,001 – $75,000
$25,619
$75,001 – $110,000
$26,244
Over $110,000
$32,786
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$22,500Medianpercentile
$25,00075%percentile
$33,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,750
↓ $7,750
No Pell $12,625
↓ $9,875
Dependent students $13,000
↓ $9,500
Independent students $15,556
↓ $6,944
Female students $14,478
↓ $8,022
Male students $13,000
↓ $9,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($22,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
45% of full-time students who enrolled at Palm Beach Atlantic University graduate within six years, and 67% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
45%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
67%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Palm Beach Atlantic University earn a median of $49,232 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$49,232
Earning > $25K
75%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$43,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$54,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$42,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$48,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$51,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,800, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Palm Beach Atlantic University is home to 2,603 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,603
Part-Time
5%
First-Generation
22%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 58.4%1,519
Hispanic 18.4%480
Black 8.6%224
International 5.0%131
Other 4.4%115
Asian 1.9%49
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Palm Beach Atlantic University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityWest Palm Beach, Florida
Housing
Mostly residential1,456 beds on campus
Adult Learners
6%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Palm Beach Atlantic University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
48 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Palm Beach Atlantic University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$238M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$79,066
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
169 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
45
27%
$86,080
Associate Professors
54
32%
$85,217
Assistant Professors
58
34%
$73,769
Instructors
4
2%
$62,078
Lecturers
8
5%
$44,980
Pros & Cons of Palm Beach Atlantic University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Palm Beach Atlantic University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
CONS
Above-average net price
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Palm Beach Atlantic University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Palm Beach Atlantic University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Is Palm Beach Atlantic University hard to get into?
Palm Beach Atlantic University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 82%.
What is the acceptance rate at Palm Beach Atlantic University?
Palm Beach Atlantic University has an acceptance rate of 82%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Palm Beach Atlantic University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Palm Beach Atlantic University scored between 950 and 1220 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Palm Beach Atlantic University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Palm Beach Atlantic University scored between 18 and 26 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Palm Beach Atlantic University cost?
The average net price after aid at Palm Beach Atlantic University is $28,354 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Palm Beach Atlantic University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,232 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $28,354 per year. That's roughly 1.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Palm Beach Atlantic University known for?
Palm Beach Atlantic University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Business Administration, Mental Health Services. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Palm Beach Atlantic University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Palm Beach Atlantic University are $49,232, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Palm Beach Atlantic University accredited?
Yes. Palm Beach Atlantic University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Palm Beach Atlantic University?
Palm Beach Atlantic University enrolls 2,603 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Palm Beach Atlantic University?
Palm Beach Atlantic University graduates 45% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Palm Beach Atlantic University a public or private college?
Palm Beach Atlantic University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Palm Beach Atlantic University located?
Palm Beach Atlantic University is located in West Palm Beach, Florida.
What programs does Palm Beach Atlantic University offer?
Palm Beach Atlantic University offers 48 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Business Administration, Mental Health Services.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Palm Beach Atlantic University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Palm Beach Atlantic University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
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Completion
College outcomes
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Rankings That Feature Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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