Palm Beach State College vs. The University of West Florida

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

 Palm Beach State College The University of West Florida
Location Lake Worth, FL Pensacola, FL
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 24,223 13,521
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #727
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website palmbeachstate.edu uwf.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Palm Beach State College The University of West Florida
Tuition (In State) $3,030 $4,319
Tuition (Out of State) $10,890 $16,587
Room & Board $12,825 $11,268
Avg Net Price $10,549 $8,609
Avg Grant Aid $5,996 $11,515
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 84%

Admission

 Palm Beach State College The University of West Florida
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 9,113
Admitted - 4,377
Acceptance Rate Open 48%
Enrolled % Open 27%
Avg High School GPA - 3.6
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/27
SAT Range 1050/1230
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 20, 2025 Jun 1, 2025

Academics

 Palm Beach State College The University of West Florida
Student to Faculty Ratio 27:1 22:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (54%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Work and Family Studies (4%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

 Palm Beach State College The University of West Florida
Graduation Rate - 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,000 $41,200
Making Student Loan Payments 38% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $5,750 $18,750
Median Loan Payment $59 $193

Diversity

 Palm Beach State College The University of West Florida
% Men 40% 38%
% Women 60% 62%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 35% 65%
% Black 25% 13%
% Hispanic 28% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 5%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

 Palm Beach State College The University of West Florida
% In-State 98% 66%
% Out-of-State 1% 11%

Campus

 Palm Beach State College The University of West Florida
Campus Housing No Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Palm Beach State College is larger than than The University of West Florida based on total student enrollment (24,223 students vs. 13,521 students)

Palm Beach State College vs. The University of West Florida Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palm Beach State College or The University of West Florida?

  • The University of West Florida is 42.5% more expensive to attend than Palm Beach State College for in-state tuition ($4,319.00 vs. $3,030.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 52.3% higher at The University of West Florida than Palm Beach State College ($16,587.00 vs. $10,890.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of West Florida than Palm Beach State College ($8,609 vs. $10,549)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of West Florida are 13.8% lower than costs at Palm Beach State College ($11,268 vs. $12,825)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Palm Beach State College than The University of West Florida (91% vs. 84%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of West Florida students is 92% larger than aid received Palm Beach State College ($11,515 vs. $5,996)

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

Palm Beach State College vs. The University of West Florida Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Palm Beach State College or The University of West Florida? 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 The University of West Florida and Palm Beach State College.

  • Graduates from The University of West Florida earn on average $5,200 more per year than Palm Beach State College graduates after ten years. ($41,200 vs. $36,000)
  • Palm Beach State College students graduate with a $13,000 lower median federal student loan debt than The University of West Florida graduates. ($5,750 vs. $18,750)
  • Palm Beach State College graduates are paying $134 less per month on federal student loans than The University of West Florida graduates. ($59 vs. $193)
  • More The University of West Florida graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palm Beach State College students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 38%)

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