Florida Atlantic University
#2 Most Affordable MBA Programs- Graduation Rate
- 63% C+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $56,746 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $8,752 B+
- 49% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 66% B-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B+ overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 42.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $42.8 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Most Affordable MBA Programs.
Every $1 spent returns $42.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,462,618.
What The Data Says
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A B+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 39% above the national college median.
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Social mobility rate of 3.07% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $42.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Florida Atlantic University Matters
Florida Atlantic University is a public research university in Boca Raton, FL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, a strong record of moving students up the income ladder, and low net price paired with solid completion. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 23,757
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Humanities, Psychology
Why students choose Florida Atlantic University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 66% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1040–1200. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $8,752 a year after grants and scholarships — 49% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $56,746 ten years after enrolling — 39% above the typical college, against $17,236 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 10% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.49 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Florida Atlantic University serves over 23,000 students, making it a significant player in Florida's higher education landscape. With a net price of just $8,752, it offers an affordable pathway for many students seeking a college degree in a vibrant coastal location.
The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data highlights the importance of outcomes. While specific mobility rates are not available, the university’s graduation rate stands at 63%, indicating a steady progression for many students. Graduates earn a median salary of $56,746 ten years after enrollment, reflecting a solid return on investment for those who complete their degrees.
Practical considerations matter here. With a median debt of $17,236, students graduate with a manageable financial burden. The school attracts a diverse student body, including a significant 34% of students receiving Pell Grants, indicating strong support for low-income individuals. Florida Atlantic University is a good fit for students pursuing degrees in business, health professions, psychology, biology, and communications, particularly those looking for an affordable education close to the beach.
Rankings
- #2 Most Affordable MBA Programs
- #3 Best Business Colleges in Florida
- #5 Best Bachelor's Programs in Florida
- #5 Best Master's Programs in Florida
- #5 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Florida
- #5 Best Communications Colleges in Florida
- #5 Best MBA Programs in Florida
- #6 Most Affordable Colleges for Criminal Justice
Can I Get In?
How selective Florida Atlantic University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Florida Atlantic University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Boca Raton, Florida, Florida Atlantic University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 66% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,127. The graduation rate is roughly 63%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 66%
- Retention Rate
- 84%
- SAT Average
- 1127
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- SAT Range
- 1040–1200
- ACT Range
- 21–26
- Full-Time Faculty
- 75%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,706
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 22:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.70
- First-Gen Students
- 39%
- Applicants
- 24,268
- Admitted
- 19,734
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Florida Atlantic University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds.
- Submitted SAT
- 76%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 23%
- of enrolled freshmen
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Florida Atlantic University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Florida Atlantic University is $17,324, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $8,752. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,022 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,236 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,879
- Out-of-State
- $17,324
- Avg Net Price
- $8,752
- Median Debt
- $17,236
- Pell Grant Rate
- 34%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 26%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $3,022
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $4,135
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $8,106
- Family Income $110K+
- $16,854
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Florida Atlantic University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Florida Atlantic University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $56,746, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $45,647
- 8 Years
- $51,826
- 10 Years
- $56,746
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.3x
- Earning > $25K
- 69%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (985)
- 34%
- 100% (985)
- 34%
- 100% (985)
- 34%
- 100% (985)
- 34%
How Florida Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Florida Atlantic University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Florida Atlantic University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,752/year ($35,008 total). Graduates earn $56,746 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,497,626 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,462,618 (42.8× your investment). The median debt is $17,236, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 63% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $35,008
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,497,626
- Net Return
- $1,462,618
- ROI Multiple
- 42.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $8,752
- Median Debt
- $17,236
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 63%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Florida Atlantic University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Florida Atlantic University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.07%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 26.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $77,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 3.07%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 26.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 11.6%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $104,752
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $3,394,312
Top Programs
The fields Florida Atlantic University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 23% $56,154 early-career
- Health Professions 10% $76,537 early-career
- Humanities 7% $38,775 early-career
- Psychology 7% $32,914 early-career
- Communications 6% $39,333 early-career
- Criminal Justice 5% $43,569 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5% $33,406 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5% $61,541 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Florida Atlantic University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Florida Atlantic University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Boca Raton, Florida, Florida Atlantic University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 66% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,127. The graduation rate is roughly 63%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Florida Atlantic University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Florida Atlantic University is $17,324, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $8,752. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,022 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,236 in federal student loans.
Is Florida Atlantic University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $56,746, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Florida Atlantic University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Florida Atlantic University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.07%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 26.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $77,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Florida Atlantic University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Florida Atlantic University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.49, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Florida Atlantic University offer Early Decision?
No. Florida Atlantic University does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is Florida Atlantic University really test-optional?
Florida Atlantic University reports test-optional admission, but most enrolled students still submit scores: about 99% of first-year students sent an SAT or ACT (2024-25 Common Data Set). Submitting strong scores is the norm here.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Florida Atlantic University.
- Oklahoma State University-Main CampusStillwater, OK · Close peer67% grad $57,413 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Illinois ChicagoChicago, IL · Close peer61% grad $68,740 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, NC · Close peer68% grad $57,289 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX · Close peer52% grad $57,131 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings
- Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ · Close peer59% grad $54,384 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of ArkansasFayetteville, AR · Close peer70% grad $58,191 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Florida Atlantic University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Florida Atlantic University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.49, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note