FAU vs. Pensacola State

Deciding between Florida Atlantic University and Pensacola State College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Florida Atlantic University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • FAU Boca Raton, FL
  • Pensacola State Pensacola, FL
  • Setting
  • FAU Small City
  • Pensacola State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • FAU 31,607
  • Pensacola State 9,491
  • Type
  • FAU Public 4 Year
  • Pensacola State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • FAU #657
  • Pensacola State
  • Religious Affiliation
  • FAU -
  • Pensacola State -
  • Status
  • FAU Non-profit
  • Pensacola State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • FAU
  • Pensacola State
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • FAU $4,879
  • Pensacola State $2,361
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • FAU $17,324
  • Pensacola State $9,460
  • Room & Board
  • FAU $15,860
  • Pensacola State $17,556
  • Average Net Price
  • FAU $10,225
  • Pensacola State $5,376
  • Average Grant Aid
  • FAU $10,857
  • Pensacola State $6,499
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • FAU 86%
  • Pensacola State 80%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • FAU 31,511
  • Pensacola State -
  • Admitted
  • FAU 20,838
  • Pensacola State -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • FAU 66.1%
  • Pensacola State Open
  • Enrolled
  • FAU 20.3%
  • Pensacola State Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • FAU 1120
  • Pensacola State
  • Typical ACT score
  • FAU 23
  • Pensacola State
  • Average High School GPA
  • FAU 3.74
  • Pensacola State 2.54
  • Typical High School Grades
  • FAU A-
  • Pensacola State B-
  • Admissions Standards
  • FAU Moderate
  • Pensacola State Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • FAU Low
  • Pensacola State
  • ACT Range
  • FAU 21/26
  • Pensacola State
  • SAT Range
  • FAU 1040/1200
  • Pensacola State
  • Submit Test Scores
  • FAU Required
  • Pensacola State Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • FAU May 1, 2027
  • Pensacola State Aug 30, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • FAU 24:1
  • Pensacola State 25:1
  • Popular Majors
  • FAU
    • Business (27%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Pensacola State
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (53%)
    • Health Professions (25%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (3%)
    • Engineering Technology (3%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • FAU 43%
  • Pensacola State -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • FAU $46,200
  • Pensacola State $30,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • FAU 54%
  • Pensacola State 46%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • FAU $16,861
  • Pensacola State $3,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • FAU $174
  • Pensacola State $36
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • FAU 43%
  • Pensacola State 35%
  • % Women
  • FAU 57%
  • Pensacola State 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • FAU High
  • Pensacola State Medium
  • HBCU
  • FAU No
  • Pensacola State No
  • % White
  • FAU 43%
  • Pensacola State 66%
  • % Asian
  • FAU 4%
  • Pensacola State 3%
  • % Black
  • FAU 20%
  • Pensacola State 16%
  • % Hispanic
  • FAU 26%
  • Pensacola State 6%
  • % Native American
  • FAU 0%
  • Pensacola State 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • FAU 0%
  • Pensacola State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • FAU 4%
  • Pensacola State 5%
  • % International
  • FAU 2%
  • Pensacola State 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • FAU 1%
  • Pensacola State 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • FAU 78%
  • Pensacola State 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • FAU 19%
  • Pensacola State 4%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • FAU Yes
  • Pensacola State No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • FAU No
  • Pensacola State No
  • Meal Plan
  • FAU Yes
  • Pensacola State No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • FAU Yes
  • Pensacola State No
  • Daycare Facility
  • FAU No
  • Pensacola State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL with Pensacola State College in Pensacola, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Florida Atlantic University is larger than Pensacola State based on total student enrollment (31,607 students vs. 9,491 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Florida Atlantic University is located in Boca Raton, FL (Small City setting); Pensacola State College is in Pensacola, FL (Small City setting).
  • Florida Atlantic University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pensacola State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida Atlantic University 24:1; Pensacola State College 25:1.

FAU vs. Pensacola State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FAU or Pensacola State? 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 Pensacola State College than FAU ($5,376 vs. $10,225).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Atlantic University are 9.7% lower than at Pensacola State College ($15,860 vs. $17,556).
  • Florida Atlantic University is 106.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pensacola State (about $2,518 more per year; $4,879.00 vs. $2,361.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 83.1% higher at FAU than at Pensacola State College (about $7,864 more per year; $17,324.00 vs. $9,460.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Florida Atlantic University than at Pensacola State College (86% vs. 80%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Florida Atlantic University students is 67.1% larger than aid received by Pensacola State College students ($10,857 vs. $6,499).

FAU vs. Pensacola State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FAU or Pensacola State? 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 Pensacola State and FAU.

  • Pensacola State College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Atlantic University 1040/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Atlantic University 21/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FAU - Required; Pensacola State - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: FAU May 1, 2027; Pensacola State Aug 30, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman FAU students have a 1.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Pensacola State (2.54).

FAU vs. Pensacola State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FAU and Pensacola State? 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 Atlantic University earn a median of about $15,900 more per year than Pensacola State graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,200 vs. $30,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Pensacola State College graduates have a $13,361 lower median loan debt than FAU graduates ($3,500 vs. $16,861).
  • Among borrowers, Pensacola State graduates have an estimated $138 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than FAU graduates ($36 vs. $174).
  • More FAU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pensacola State students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 46%)

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.