Palm Beach Atlantic vs. Palm Beach State College

Comparable Facts

Compare Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, 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 Palm Beach Atlantic based on total student enrollment (25,916 students vs. 4,147 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palm Beach Atlantic University is located in West Palm Beach, FL (Small City setting); Palm Beach State College is in Lake Worth, FL (Large Suburban setting).
• Palm Beach Atlantic University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Palm Beach State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palm Beach Atlantic University 13:1; Palm Beach State College 31:1.

Palm Beach Atlantic vs. Palm Beach State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palm Beach Atlantic 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 Palm Beach State College than Palm Beach Atlantic ($9,577 vs. $31,231).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Palm Beach State College are 7.1% lower than at Palm Beach Atlantic University ($12,825 vs. $13,800).
• Palm Beach Atlantic University is 1,232.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palm Beach State College (about $37,600 more per year; $40,650.00 vs. $3,050.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 272.6% higher at Palm Beach Atlantic than at Palm Beach State College (about $29,740 more per year; $40,650.00 vs. $10,910.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palm Beach Atlantic University than at Palm Beach State College (100% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palm Beach Atlantic University students is 216.5% larger than aid received by Palm Beach State College students ($22,493 vs. $7,107).

Palm Beach Atlantic vs. Palm Beach State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Palm Beach Atlantic 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 Palm Beach Atlantic.

• Palm Beach State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Palm Beach Atlantic University 950/1220.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Palm Beach Atlantic University 18/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Palm Beach Atlantic - Test optional; Palm Beach State College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Palm Beach State College Aug 20, 2027.

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

How do outcomes compare for Palm Beach Atlantic 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 Palm Beach Atlantic University earn a median of about $10,300 more per year than Palm Beach State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,300 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palm Beach State College graduates have a $16,954 lower median loan debt than Palm Beach Atlantic graduates ($5,750 vs. $22,704).
• Among borrowers, Palm Beach State College graduates have an estimated $175 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Palm Beach Atlantic graduates ($59 vs. $234).
• More Palm Beach Atlantic graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palm Beach 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.