Palm Beach Atlantic University
- Graduation Rate
- 57% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $49,232 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $28,354 F
- 65% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 82% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 10.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $10.4 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $10.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,064,724.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 21% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $10.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Palm Beach Atlantic University Matters
Palm Beach Atlantic University is a private doctoral / professional university in West Palm Beach, FL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. 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
- Private Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 2,603
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 42
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Palm Beach 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
Accessible — admits about 82% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 950–1220. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $28,354 a year after grants and scholarships — 65% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $49,232 ten years after enrolling — 21% above the typical college, against $22,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 47% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.62 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Palm Beach Atlantic University has an acceptance rate of 82%, making it accessible to a wide range of students. With an enrollment of 2,603, it’s a mid-sized private nonprofit university that fosters a close-knit community.
The 10-year earnings for graduates average $49,232, indicating a solid return on investment for many students. While the graduation rate stands at 57%, the university emphasizes support for those who may struggle academically. The lack of specific mobility and economic connectedness data means potential students should look closely at how this school can impact their financial future.
The net price of attending is $28,354, with a median student debt of $22,500. This financial aspect is crucial for students to consider. Those pursuing degrees in business, health professions, psychology, or the arts may find a supportive environment that aligns with their career goals.
Rankings
- #15 Best Business Colleges in Florida
- #17 Best Communications Colleges in Florida
- #19 Best Online Colleges in Florida
- #20 Best Bachelor's Programs in Florida
- #20 Best Psychology Colleges in Florida
- #21 Best Colleges in Florida
- #21 Best Biology Colleges in Florida
- #24 Best Master's Programs in Florida
Can I Get In?
How selective Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach Atlantic University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in West Palm Beach, Florida, Palm Beach Atlantic University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 82%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,075. The graduation rate is roughly 57%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Retention Rate
- 68%
- SAT Average
- 1075
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- SAT Range
- 950–1220
- ACT Range
- 18–26
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,265
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.61
- First-Gen Students
- 22%
- Applicants
- 6,220
- Admitted
- 5,888
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 Palm Beach Atlantic University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Palm Beach Atlantic University is $40,650, 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 $28,354. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $25,570 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $40,650
- Out-of-State
- $40,650
- Avg Net Price
- $28,354
- Median Debt
- $22,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 23%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 37%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $25,570
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $25,312
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $25,619
- Family Income $110K+
- $32,786
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 Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach Atlantic University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Palm Beach Atlantic University earn a median of $49,232, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $42,366
- 8 Years
- $45,925
- 10 Years
- $49,232
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.46x
- Earning > $25K
- 64%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (236)
- 46%
- 100% (236)
- 46%
- 100% (236)
- 46%
- 100% (236)
- 46%
How Palm 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 Palm Beach Atlantic University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Palm Beach Atlantic University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $28,354/year ($113,416 total). Graduates earn $49,232 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,178,140 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,064,724 (10.4× your investment). The median debt is $22,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 57% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $113,416
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,178,140
- Net Return
- $1,064,724
- ROI Multiple
- 10.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $28,354
- Median Debt
- $22,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 57%
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 Palm Beach Atlantic University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Palm Beach 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 1.51%, well above the typical college. About 7.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 19.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $92,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.51%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 19.3%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $125,268
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $6,887,000
- Investment Income
- $-2,855,000
Top Programs
The fields Palm Beach 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 31% $52,482 early-career
- Health Professions 15% $65,346 early-career
- Psychology 8% $33,980 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 8%
- Communications 7% $39,121 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6% $26,097 early-career
- Education 3% $46,961 early-career
- English & Literature 3%
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 Palm Beach 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
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Palm Beach Atlantic University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in West Palm Beach, Florida, Palm Beach Atlantic University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 82%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,075. The graduation rate is roughly 57%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Palm Beach Atlantic University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Palm Beach Atlantic University is $40,650, 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 $28,354. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $25,570 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,500 in federal student loans.
Is Palm Beach Atlantic University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Palm Beach Atlantic University earn a median of $49,232, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Palm Beach Atlantic University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Palm Beach 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 1.51%, well above the typical college. About 7.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 19.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $92,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach Atlantic University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.62, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Palm Beach Atlantic University.
- Flagler CollegeSaint Augustine, FL · Close peer56% grad $49,483 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Everglades UniversityBoca Raton, FL · Close peer59% grad $47,597 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Husson UniversityBangor, ME · Close peer58% grad $45,025 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Lynn UniversityBoca Raton, FL · Close peer52% grad $49,006 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Loyola University New OrleansNew Orleans, LA · Close peer63% grad $52,927 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Webster UniversitySaint Louis, MO · Close peer63% grad $50,876 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach Atlantic University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.62, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note