Palm Beach Atlantic vs. Pensacola State

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

 Palm Beach Atlantic Pensacola State
Location West Palm Beach, FL Pensacola, FL
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 3,875 8,518
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #514
Religious Affiliation Interdenominational - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pba.edu pensacolastate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Palm Beach Atlantic Pensacola State
Tuition (In State) $36,990 $1,871
Tuition (Out of State) $36,990 $7,483
Room & Board $12,610 $10,226
Avg Net Price $31,103 $3,436
Avg Grant Aid $24,541 $6,614
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 76%

Admission

 Palm Beach Atlantic Pensacola State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,657 -
Admitted 6,763 -
Acceptance Rate 88.3% Open
Enrolled % 10.1% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.36 2.54
Typical High School Grades B+ C+
Admissions Standards Moderate Unavailable
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 30, 2026

Academics

 Palm Beach Atlantic Pensacola State
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 23:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (44%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (53%)
  • Health Professions (25%)
  • Personal and Culinary Services (6%)
  • Work and Family Studies (3%)
  • Engineering Technology (3%)

Outcomes

 Palm Beach Atlantic Pensacola State
Graduation Rate 58% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,300 $30,300
Making Student Loan Payments 56% 46%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,704 $3,500
Median Loan Payment $234 $36

Diversity

 Palm Beach Atlantic Pensacola State
% Men 7% 9%
% Women 13% 12%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 62% 66%
% Black 12% 16%
% Hispanic 17% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 4% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

 Palm Beach Atlantic Pensacola State
% In-State 46% 91%
% Out-of-State 50% 4%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Pensacola State College is larger than than Palm Beach Atlantic based on total student enrollment (8,518 students vs. 3,875 students)

Palm Beach Atlantic vs. Pensacola State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palm Beach Atlantic or Pensacola State?

  • Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach is 1,877% more expensive to attend than Pensacola State for in-state tuition ($36,990.00 vs. $1,871.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 394.3% higher at Palm Beach Atlantic than Pensacola State College ($36,990.00 vs. $7,483.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pensacola State College than Palm Beach Atlantic ($3,436 vs. $31,103)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pensacola State College are 23.3% lower than costs at Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach ($10,226 vs. $12,610)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach than Pensacola State College (100% vs. 76%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach students is 271% larger than aid received Pensacola State College ($24,541 vs. $6,614)

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

  • Accepted freshman Palm Beach Atlantic students have a 0.82 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Pensacola State (2.54)

Palm Beach Atlantic vs. Pensacola State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Palm Beach Atlantic or Pensacola State? 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 Pensacola State and Palm Beach Atlantic.

  • Graduates from Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach earn on average $16,000 more per year than Pensacola State graduates after ten years. ($46,300 vs. $30,300)
  • Pensacola State College students graduate with a $19,204 lower median federal student loan debt than Palm Beach Atlantic graduates. ($3,500 vs. $22,704)
  • Pensacola State graduates are paying $198 less per month on federal student loans than Palm Beach Atlantic graduates. ($36 vs. $234)
  • More Palm Beach Atlantic graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pensacola State students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 46%)

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