SCF vs. Palm Beach Atlantic

Comparable Facts

Compare State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota in Bradenton, FL with Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota is larger than Palm Beach Atlantic based on total student enrollment (8,750 students vs. 4,147 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota is located in Bradenton, FL (Large Suburban setting); Palm Beach Atlantic University is in West Palm Beach, FL (Small City setting).
• State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Palm Beach Atlantic University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota 23:1; Palm Beach Atlantic University 13:1.

SCF vs. Palm Beach Atlantic Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCF or Palm Beach Atlantic? 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 State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota than Palm Beach Atlantic ($22,034 vs. $31,231).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Palm Beach Atlantic University are 48.3% lower than at State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota ($13,800 vs. $26,718).
• Palm Beach Atlantic University is 1,222.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCF (about $37,576 more per year; $40,650.00 vs. $3,074.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 250.6% higher at Palm Beach Atlantic than at State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota (about $29,055 more per year; $40,650.00 vs. $11,595.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palm Beach Atlantic University than at State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota (100% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palm Beach Atlantic University students is 237.3% larger than aid received by State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota students ($22,493 vs. $6,668).

SCF vs. Palm Beach Atlantic Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCF or Palm Beach Atlantic? 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 Atlantic and SCF.

• State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPalm Beach Atlantic University 950/1220.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPalm Beach Atlantic University 18/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCF - Open admission; Palm Beach Atlantic - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Palm Beach Atlantic students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at SCF (3.1).

SCF vs. Palm Beach Atlantic Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCF and Palm Beach Atlantic? 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 $12,600 more per year than SCF graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,300 vs. $33,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota graduates have a $14,094 lower median loan debt than Palm Beach Atlantic graduates ($8,610 vs. $22,704).
• Among borrowers, SCF graduates have an estimated $145 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Palm Beach Atlantic graduates ($89 vs. $234).
• More Palm Beach Atlantic graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCF students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 35%)

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.