FSW vs. Palm Beach State College

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers, FL with Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Palm Beach State College is larger than FSW based on total student enrollment (25,916 students vs. 14,301 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Florida SouthWestern State College is located in Fort Myers, FL (Large Suburban setting); Palm Beach State College is in Lake Worth, FL (Large Suburban setting).
• Florida SouthWestern State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Palm Beach State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida SouthWestern State College 27:1; Palm Beach State College 31:1.

FSW vs. Palm Beach State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FSW or Palm Beach State College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Florida SouthWestern State College than Palm Beach State College ($8,356 vs. $9,577).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida SouthWestern State College are 12.8% lower than at Palm Beach State College ($11,185 vs. $12,825).
• Florida SouthWestern State College is 11.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palm Beach State College (about $351 more per year; $3,401.00 vs. $3,050.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19% higher at FSW than at Palm Beach State College (about $2,069 more per year; $12,979.00 vs. $10,910.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Florida SouthWestern State College than at Palm Beach State College (80% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palm Beach State College students is 19.7% larger than aid received by Florida SouthWestern State College students ($7,107 vs. $5,938).

FSW vs. Palm Beach State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FSW or Palm Beach State College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Palm Beach State College and FSW.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FSW - Open admission; Palm Beach State College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Palm Beach State College Aug 20, 2027.

FSW vs. Palm Beach State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FSW and Palm Beach State College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Florida SouthWestern State College earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Palm Beach State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,400 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palm Beach State College graduates have a $3,250 lower median loan debt than FSW graduates ($5,750 vs. $9,000).
• Among borrowers, Palm Beach State College graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than FSW graduates ($59 vs. $93).
• More FSW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palm Beach State College students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 38%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.