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Florida Atlantic University

#2 Most Affordable MBA Programs
Public Boca Raton, FL · Urban · Southeast · 100% data
A Value A Social Mobility B+ Affordability
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
Earnings +39% vs avg
Graduation +11% vs avg
Net Price +-49% vs avg
Mobility Top 10%

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.

42.8× return on investment

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

  1. A B+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Earnings 39% above the national college median.

  3. Social mobility rate of 3.07% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

  4. 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

Research-intensive environment
Active labs and research-active faculty
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Engine of upward mobility
A strong record of moving students up the income ladder
Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

B+
Top 20% overall
B+
Earnings
$56,746 median
A
Value
6.5× net price
B+
Affordability
$8,752/yr net
C+
Graduation
63% graduate
A
Social Mobility
3.1% climb Q1→Q5
B-
Selectivity
66% admit rate
B+
Diversity
0.70 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

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

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.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

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
Source: Florida Atlantic University's Common Data Set, 2024-25 View the source document on collegedata.fyi →

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.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

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

$45,647 6yr $51,826 8yr $56,746 10yr

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.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation63%Earnings 10yr$57KNet Price$9KRetention84%Median Debt$17KPell Grant Rate34%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$3K$0-30K$4K$30-48K$8K$48-75K$17K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%11.6%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%26.4%MOBILITY3.07%

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)

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.

Economic Connectedness
1.49
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.01
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
5.2%
Support Ratio
0.96
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

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.

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.

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.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys