FAU vs. Palm Beach Atlantic

Should I go to Florida Atlantic University or Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if FAU or Palm Beach Atlantic is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Florida Atlantic University vs. Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach comparison
Florida Atlantic University Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach College 3 College 4
Florida Atlantic University Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach
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Overview

FAU Palm Beach Atlantic
Location Boca Raton, FL West Palm Beach, FL
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 29,592 3,828
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #738 #491
Religious Affiliation - Interdenominational - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fau.edu pba.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

FAU Palm Beach Atlantic
Tuition (In State) $2,522 $34,900
Tuition (Out of State) $14,374 $34,900
Room & Board $12,536 $11,690
Avg Net Price $9,711 $30,276
Avg Grant Aid $10,334 $22,749
% Receiving Grant Aid 85% 99%

Admission

FAU Palm Beach Atlantic
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 24,268 6,220
Admitted 19,734 5,888
Acceptance Rate 81.3% 94.7%
Enrolled % 22.1% 12%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.36
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Easy Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/25 19/26
SAT Range 1020/1200 1000/1240
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 1, 2025

Academics

FAU Palm Beach Atlantic
Student to Faculty Ratio 22:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Business (44%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

FAU Palm Beach Atlantic
Graduation Rate 43% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,200 $46,300
Making Student Loan Payments 54% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,861 $22,704
Median Loan Payment $174 $234

Diversity

FAU Palm Beach Atlantic
% Men 42% 36%
% Women 58% 64%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 43% 62%
% Black 20% 12%
% Hispanic 26% 17%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

FAU Palm Beach Atlantic
% In-State 72% 46%
% Out-of-State 22% 51%

Campus

FAU Palm Beach Atlantic
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Florida Atlantic University is larger than than Palm Beach Atlantic based on total student enrollment (29,592 students vs. 3,828 students)

FAU vs. Palm Beach Atlantic Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FAU or Palm Beach Atlantic?

  • Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach is 1,283.8% more expensive to attend than FAU for in-state tuition ($34,900.00 vs. $2,522.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 142.8% higher at Palm Beach Atlantic than Florida Atlantic University ($34,900.00 vs. $14,374.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Florida Atlantic University than Palm Beach Atlantic ($9,711 vs. $30,276)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach are 7.2% lower than costs at Florida Atlantic University ($11,690 vs. $12,536)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach than Florida Atlantic University (99% vs. 85%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach students is 120.1% larger than aid received Florida Atlantic University ($22,749 vs. $10,334)

FAU vs. Palm Beach Atlantic Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FAU or Palm Beach Atlantic? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Palm Beach Atlantic or FAU .

  • The average SAT score at Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach (1065) is 18 points higher than at FAU (1047)
  • Incoming FAU students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at Palm Beach Atlantic (23)
  • Accepted freshman FAU students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Palm Beach Atlantic (3.36)
  • Palm Beach Atlantic has a higher acceptance rate (94.7%) than FAU (81.3%)

FAU vs. Palm Beach Atlantic Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, FAU or Palm Beach Atlantic? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Palm Beach Atlantic and FAU.

  • The graduation rate at Palm Beach Atlantic is higher than Florida Atlantic University (58% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates from Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach earn on average $100 more per year than FAU graduates after ten years. ($46,300 vs. $46,200)
  • Florida Atlantic University students graduate with a $5,843 lower median federal student loan debt than Palm Beach Atlantic graduates. ($16,861 vs. $22,704)
  • FAU graduates are paying $60 less per month on federal student loans than Palm Beach Atlantic graduates. ($174 vs. $234)
  • More Palm Beach Atlantic graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FAU students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/