Palm Beach Atlantic vs. USF Main Campus

Should I go to Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach or University of South Florida Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Palm Beach Atlantic or USF Main Campus 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. University of South Florida Main Campus comparison
Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach University of South Florida Main Campus College 3 College 4
Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach University of South Florida Main Campus
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Overview

Palm Beach Atlantic USF Main Campus
Location West Palm Beach, FL Tampa, FL
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 3,828 49,600
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #491 #423
Religious Affiliation Interdenominational - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pba.edu usf.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Palm Beach Atlantic USF Main Campus
Tuition (In State) $34,900 $4,559
Tuition (Out of State) $34,900 $15,473
Room & Board $11,690 $12,622
Avg Net Price $30,276 $11,004
Avg Grant Aid $22,749 $11,066
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 87%

Admission

Palm Beach Atlantic USF Main Campus
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,220 65,568
Admitted 5,888 28,801
Acceptance Rate 94.7% 43.9%
Enrolled % 12% 23.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.64
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/26 24/29
SAT Range 1000/1240 1140/1330
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline May 1, 2025

Academics

Palm Beach Atlantic USF Main Campus
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 22:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (44%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Education (8%)

Outcomes

Palm Beach Atlantic USF Main Campus
Graduation Rate 58% 52%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,300 $46,500
Making Student Loan Payments 56% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,704 $19,147
Median Loan Payment $234 $197

Diversity

Palm Beach Atlantic USF Main Campus
% Men 36% 42%
% Women 64% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 62% 51%
% Black 12% 11%
% Hispanic 17% 21%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 4% 5%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Palm Beach Atlantic USF Main Campus
% In-State 46% 74%
% Out-of-State 51% 16%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Florida Main Campus is larger than than Palm Beach Atlantic based on total student enrollment (49,600 students vs. 3,828 students)

Palm Beach Atlantic vs. USF Main Campus Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palm Beach Atlantic or USF Main Campus?

  • Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach is 665.5% more expensive to attend than USF Main Campus for in-state tuition ($34,900.00 vs. $4,559.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 125.6% higher at Palm Beach Atlantic than University of South Florida Main Campus ($34,900.00 vs. $15,473.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Florida Main Campus than Palm Beach Atlantic ($11,004 vs. $30,276)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach are 8% lower than costs at University of South Florida Main Campus ($11,690 vs. $12,622)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach than University of South Florida Main Campus (99% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach students is 105.6% larger than aid received University of South Florida Main Campus ($22,749 vs. $11,066)

Palm Beach Atlantic vs. USF Main Campus Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of South Florida Main Campus (1177) is 112 points higher than at Palm Beach Atlantic (1065)
  • Incoming USF Main Campus students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Palm Beach Atlantic (23)
  • Accepted freshman USF Main Campus students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at Palm Beach Atlantic (3.36)
  • Palm Beach Atlantic has a higher acceptance rate (94.7%) than USF Main Campus (43.9%)

Palm Beach Atlantic vs. USF Main Campus Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Palm Beach Atlantic or USF Main Campus? 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 USF Main Campus and Palm Beach Atlantic.

  • The graduation rate at Palm Beach Atlantic is higher than University of South Florida Main Campus (58% vs. 52%)
  • Graduates from University of South Florida Main Campus earn on average $200 more per year than Palm Beach Atlantic graduates after ten years. ($46,500 vs. $46,300)
  • University of South Florida Main Campus students graduate with a $3,557 lower median federal student loan debt than Palm Beach Atlantic graduates. ($19,147 vs. $22,704)
  • USF Main Campus graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than Palm Beach Atlantic graduates. ($197 vs. $234)
  • More USF Main Campus graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palm Beach Atlantic students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 56%)

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