Florida Atlantic University
#2 Most Affordable MBA ProgramsBottom 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.
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What The Data Says
A B+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
Earnings 39% above the national college median.
Social mobility rate of 3.07% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical
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
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 admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 66%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,127. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 63%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending Florida Atlantic University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $17,324 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $8,752 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,022 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $17,236.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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 national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
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 genuine 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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Florida Atlantic University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Florida Atlantic University's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
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 admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 66%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,127. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 63%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Florida Atlantic University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Florida Atlantic University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $17,324 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $8,752 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,022 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $17,236.
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 national averages for 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 genuine 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.49 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Florida Atlantic University.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.49 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note