Palm Beach Atlantic University

West Palm Beach, FL · SoutheastQuad's selectivityOpen

Known forTest-optional heavyFaith-centeredApplications grew 7× since fall 2014

Admissions · Fall 2024

8 in 10 applicants admitted

Palm Beach Atlantic admits about 8 in 10 applicants (82%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 40% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

82%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

10,335

Admitted

8,474

Yield

10%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

950–1220

8001600

ACT middle 50%

18–26

1236

Applications +561% since fall 2014 · admit rate 95% → 82%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 2,603 undergrads, where 23% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

2.6K

undergrads · larger than 64% of colleges

Diversity index

0.61

Pell Grant

23%

below the median

First generation

22%

below the median

Midsize cityNCAA D-II · Sunshine State ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research

Steady · index 0.59 → 0.61 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (16% of graduates). 13 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 50% of colleges. 100% of faculty are full-time. Spends $12,213 a year on instruction per student.

13 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 50% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $35,776 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $11.5K more than the national median. The 100% who received grants paid $31,231 on average; the other 0% paid the full sticker price of $58,236.

39%

$35.8K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $11.5K above the national median

Full price: $58,236 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid: 38% · avg $18K; of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)

Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 39% of full price

Federal loans

37%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost rising · +31% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $49,232 ten years after enrolling, more than at 36% of colleges; 56% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.9 years of that salary.

56%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$49.2K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$22.5K

≈ $239/month for 10 years

Retention

68%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 55% → 55% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 12% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid rose 31%, as grants covered less of it. Applications rose 561% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 95% to 82%.

Cost
Rising
+31% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+561%
Selectivity
More selective
admit rate 95% → 82%
Diversity
Steady
index 0.59 → 0.61

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

The Catholic University of America

83% admit · 3.2K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso Southeast

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Lewis & Clark College

78% admit · 2.1K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso private

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The Master's University and Seminary

84% admit · 1.6K undergrads

Similar selectivityAlso private

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Shenandoah University

77% admit · 2.1K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso SoutheastAlso private

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

IPEDS unit ID 136330 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything