Indian River State College vs. Palm Beach Atlantic

Should I go to Indian River State College or Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Indian River State College 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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Indian River State College vs. Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach comparison
Indian River State College Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach College 3 College 4
Indian River State College Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach
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Overview

Indian River State College Palm Beach Atlantic
Location Fort Pierce, FL West Palm Beach, FL
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 15,104 3,875
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #514
Religious Affiliation - Interdenominational - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website irsc.edu pba.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Indian River State College Palm Beach Atlantic
Tuition (In State) $2,496 $36,990
Tuition (Out of State) $9,360 $36,990
Room & Board $8,670 $12,610
Avg Net Price $5,927 $31,103
Avg Grant Aid $5,607 $24,541
% Receiving Grant Aid 58% 100%

Admission

Indian River State College Palm Beach Atlantic
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 7,657
Admitted - 6,763
Acceptance Rate Open 88.3%
Enrolled % Open 10.1%
Avg High School GPA - 3.36
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26
SAT Range 970/1210
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 2, 2026

Academics

Indian River State College Palm Beach Atlantic
Student to Faculty Ratio 27:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (38%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Engineering Technology (4%)
  • Business (44%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

Indian River State College Palm Beach Atlantic
Graduation Rate - 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $31,600 $46,300
Making Student Loan Payments 38% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $6,709 $22,704
Median Loan Payment $69 $234

Diversity

Indian River State College Palm Beach Atlantic
% Men 9% 7%
% Women 14% 13%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 55% 62%
% Black 17% 12%
% Hispanic 20% 17%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

Indian River State College Palm Beach Atlantic
% In-State 99% 46%
% Out-of-State 0% 50%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Indian River State College is larger than than Palm Beach Atlantic based on total student enrollment (15,104 students vs. 3,875 students)

Indian River State College vs. Palm Beach Atlantic Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Indian River State College or Palm Beach Atlantic?

  • Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach is 1,382% more expensive to attend than Indian River State College for in-state tuition ($36,990.00 vs. $2,496.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 295.2% higher at Palm Beach Atlantic than Indian River State College ($36,990.00 vs. $9,360.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indian River State College than Palm Beach Atlantic ($5,927 vs. $31,103)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indian River State College are 45.4% lower than costs at Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach ($8,670 vs. $12,610)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach than Indian River State College (100% vs. 58%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach students is 337.7% larger than aid received Indian River State College ($24,541 vs. $5,607)

Which college is harder to get into, Indian River State College 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 Indian River State College .

Indian River State College vs. Palm Beach Atlantic Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Indian River State College 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 Indian River State College.

  • Graduates from Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach earn on average $14,700 more per year than Indian River State College graduates after ten years. ($46,300 vs. $31,600)
  • Indian River State College students graduate with a $15,995 lower median federal student loan debt than Palm Beach Atlantic graduates. ($6,709 vs. $22,704)
  • Indian River State College graduates are paying $165 less per month on federal student loans than Palm Beach Atlantic graduates. ($69 vs. $234)
  • More Palm Beach Atlantic graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Indian River State College students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 38%)

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