Florida Southern vs. Palm Beach Atlantic

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL with Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Palm Beach Atlantic University is larger than Florida Southern based on total student enrollment (4,147 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Florida Southern College is located in Lakeland, FL (Small City setting); Palm Beach Atlantic University is in West Palm Beach, FL (Small City setting).
• Florida Southern College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Palm Beach Atlantic University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida Southern College 11:1; Palm Beach Atlantic University 13:1.

Florida Southern vs. Palm Beach Atlantic Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florida Southern or Palm Beach Atlantic? 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 Southern College than Palm Beach Atlantic ($29,384 vs. $31,231).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Palm Beach Atlantic University are 3.9% lower than at Florida Southern College ($13,800 vs. $14,360).
• Florida Southern College is 8.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palm Beach Atlantic (about $3,390 more per year; $44,040.00 vs. $40,650.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.3% higher at Florida Southern than at Palm Beach Atlantic University (about $3,390 more per year; $44,040.00 vs. $40,650.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Florida Southern College as at Palm Beach Atlantic University (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Florida Southern College students is 39.6% larger than aid received by Palm Beach Atlantic University students ($31,394 vs. $22,493).

Florida Southern vs. Palm Beach Atlantic Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florida Southern or Palm Beach Atlantic? 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 Atlantic and Florida Southern.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Florida Southern College (1240) is 150 points higher than at Palm Beach Atlantic (1090).
• Incoming Florida Southern students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 22 at Palm Beach Atlantic).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Southern College 1150/1330; Palm Beach Atlantic University 950/1220.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Southern College 25/30; Palm Beach Atlantic University 18/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Florida Southern - Test optional; Palm Beach Atlantic - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Florida Southern May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Florida Southern students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Palm Beach Atlantic (3.36).
• Palm Beach Atlantic has a higher acceptance rate (82%) than Florida Southern (64.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11% at Florida Southern vs. 9.9% at Palm Beach Atlantic.

Florida Southern vs. Palm Beach Atlantic Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Florida Southern and Palm Beach Atlantic? 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).

• Palm Beach Atlantic University's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Florida Southern College's (55%).
• Graduates from Palm Beach Atlantic University earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than Florida Southern graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,300 vs. $42,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palm Beach Atlantic University graduates have a $1,296 lower median loan debt than Florida Southern graduates ($22,704 vs. $24,000).
• Among borrowers, Palm Beach Atlantic graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Florida Southern graduates ($234 vs. $248).
• More Florida Southern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palm Beach Atlantic students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 56%)

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.