Doctoral/ProfessionalPrivate nonprofit

Palm Beach Atlantic University

West Palm Beach, Florida·Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above·Southeast·pba.edu
6-yr Graduation
55%
-8.5pp vs Doctoral/Professional
Total enrollment
4,147
peer median 4,136
Avg net price
$28,354
-$81 vs Doctoral/Professional
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AboutAdmissionsOutcomesProgram outcomesAccreditationCostFederal aidLoan defaultsAcademic programsEnrollment trendsAthleticsCampus safetyFacultyPeersIR OfficeCommon Data SetDocumentsGrantsAlumni

About

Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) is a private nondenominational Christian university in West Palm Beach, Florida. PBA's nine colleges focus on the liberal arts with a select collection of professional studies. In 2024, PBA's undergraduate enrollment was approximately 2,600.

Admissions & acceptance rate

First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.

IPEDS
Applied
10,335
10,335 candidates competed
Admitted
8,474
82.0% acceptance rate
Enrolled
841
9.9% yield

Graduation rate & outcomes

Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.

IPEDS
Overall completion
55%-8.5pp vs Doctoral/Professional
4-year graduation
46%
6-year graduation (bachelor’s)
55%
Full-time retention
68%

Pell equity

11.0pp gap
Pell recipients
48%79 of 166
Non-Pell (all)
59%206 of 349
Subsidized loan, no Pell
48%53 of 110
No Federal Aid
64%153 of 239

Non-Pell students graduate at a 11.0-point higher rate than Pell recipients.

Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.

Program outcomes

Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.

FVT/GE

Of 88 Title IV programs, 15 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 0 fail. 73 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.

Total programs
88
Passing
15
17.0% of portfolio
Failing (GE)
0
0.0% of portfolio
Fail rate
0.0%
-0.6pp vs 0.6% national

Pass / fail distribution

88programs
  • Passing15 · 17.0%
  • No Data73 · 83.0%
  • Failing0 · 0.0%

Severity spectrum

Critical
0
Severe
0
Recoverable
0
At Risk
1
Watch
0
Safe
14
No data
73

Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.

Earnings premium gap

Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.

15
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
Master's Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
+5.5%
$54,393 vs $51,545
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
Master's Degree · Education
+29.2%
$59,954 vs $46,391
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology
Bachelor Degree · Theology And Religious Vocations
+31.1%
$42,589 vs $32,488
Business Administration Management and Operations
Master's Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
+41.5%
$72,925 vs $51,545
Communication and Media Studies
Bachelor Degree · Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs
+47.3%
$47,847 vs $32,488
Psychology General
Bachelor Degree · Psychology
+58.6%
$51,530 vs $32,488
Theological and Ministerial Studies
Bachelor Degree · Theology And Religious Vocations
+64.4%
$53,398 vs $32,488
Marketing
Bachelor Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
+65.2%
$53,668 vs $32,488

Debt vs earnings

Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.

13
Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Sciences and Administration
Doctoral Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
159%
$209,651 debt · $132,063 earn
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
Master's Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
89%
$48,359 debt · $54,393 earn
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
Master's Degree · Education
70%
$41,687 debt · $59,954 earn
Registered Nursing Nursing Administration Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Doctoral Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
55%
$64,368 debt · $116,095 earn
Communication and Media Studies
Bachelor Degree · Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs
54%
$25,875 debt · $47,847 earn
Human Resources Management and Services
Bachelor Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
49%
$29,406 debt · $60,379 earn
Business Administration Management and Operations
Master's Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
48%
$35,251 debt · $72,925 earn
Psychology General
Bachelor Degree · Psychology
48%
$24,639 debt · $51,530 earn

Accreditation status & history

Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.

DAPIP
AccreditedInstitutional accreditor

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges

Accredited since 1972Next review Dec 2028

Programmatic accreditations · 6

Action history · 19

  1. Nov 2025Grant Substantive Change: Program
    Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
  2. Oct 2025Grant Substantive Change: Program
    Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
  3. Jun 2025Renewal of Accreditation
    Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education · Pharmacy (PHAR) - Professional degree programs
  4. Jun 2025Heightened Monitoring or Focused Review
    Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
  5. Nov 2024Grant Substantive Change: Program
    Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Tuition & cost

What families actually pay, broken down by family income.

College Scorecard

Net price by family income

Aid exceeds costFamily pays
$0–30k$25,570
$30–48k$25,312
$48–75k$25,619
$75–110k$26,244
$110k+$32,786

Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.

Avg net price (private)
$28,354
vs Doctoral/Professional median $28,435
Federal loans
37.2%
In-state tuition
$40,650
Out-of-state
$40,650

Federal aid volume & trends

Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.

Federal Student Aid

In AY 2024–25, 980 students received $5.5M in Pell grants, alongside $28.4M in federal Direct Loans.

Pell recipients
980
AY 2024–25
Pell disbursed
$5.5M
$5,519,785 total
Direct Loans
$28.4M
3,036 loan awards

Pell recipients · 5-year trend

1k
’20
1k
’21
1k
’22
1k
’23
1k
’24

Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25

Subsidized$3.7M
1,000 loan awards
Unsubsidized · UG$4.0M
1,191 loan awards
Unsubsidized · Grad$9.3M
400 loan awards
Parent PLUS$6.7M
291 loan awards
Grad PLUS$4.7M
154 loan awards

Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Student loan default rate

The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.

Cohort Default Rate

Of 901 borrowers who entered repayment, 13 (1.4%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.

Default rate
1.4%
-0.9pp vs 2.3% national
Borrowers in repayment
901
Defaulted
13
Measurement window
3 years
Federal CDR standard

Default rate vs national, by cohort

2016
3.6%
2017
3.3%
2018
3.3%
2019
1.4%
2020*
0.0%
This institutionNational rate

* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Academic programs at Palm Beach Atlantic

Top program areas ranked by completions.

IPEDS
Distinct CIP programs68
UndergraduateOffered
GraduateOffered

Top program families by completions

623 total completions
01Health Professions
21634.7%
02Business
17628.3%
03Theology
416.6%
04Visual/Performing Arts
375.9%
05Psychology
345.5%
06Communication
294.7%
07Biological Sciences
284.5%
08Parks/Recreation
264.2%
09Education
254.0%
10English Language
111.8%

Enrollment trends & demographics

Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.

IPEDS
Fall total
4,147
12-mo unduplicated
4,837
Undergraduate
3,849
Graduate
988

Gender split

Men
37%1,786
Women
63%3,051

Race / ethnicity composition

White
58.4%
Hispanic
18.4%
Black
8.6%
Non-resident
5.0%
Two or more
4.1%
Unknown
3.3%
Asian
1.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0.3%

Athletics & Title IX gender equity

How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.

EADA
Athletes
364
180 M · 184 W
Women athletes
50.5%
Athletic aid
$4.1M
Total student aid
Budget
$9.3M
Total expenses

Men vs women · spending splits

Athletic student aid
$1.9M
$2.3M
Recruiting expense
$21K
$50K
Head-coach salaries
$48K
$47K
Men Women

Sport-by-sport · 11

Lacrosse
38 M · 30 W
$684K
Soccer
37 M · 31 W
$1.2M
Baseball
42 M · —
$822K
Track and Field (Outdoor)
18 M · 19 W
$79K
Cross Country
16 M · 19 W
$374K
Basketball
18 M · 14 W
$1.3M

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Campus safety & crime statistics

Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.

Clery Act
Criminal offenses · per 1,000 students
1.81
7 offenses · 3,875 students

3-year trend

0.812 yrs ago1.571 yr ago1.81Latest
Offenses · 3-yr
16
Last three years
VAWA · 3-yr
1
DV, dating, stalking
Hate crimes · 3-yr
0
Res-hall fires · 3-yr
2

Criminal offenses by type

Burglary
4
Motor vehicle theft
3

By location

7total
  • On campus7

Includes 2 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).

VAWA offenses

0
Domestic violence
0
Dating violence
0
Stalking
0 total under the Violence Against Women Act.

Hate crimes by bias

No hate crimes reported.

Arrests vs disciplinary referrals

CategoryArrestsReferrals
Weapons00
Drugs03
Liquor0177

Residence-hall fires

  • Rinker Hall1 fire
    OtherDamage $100-$999

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Student-faculty ratio

Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.

IPEDS
Student-to-faculty
13.0:1
Instructional staff (full-time equivalent)
180

Palm Beach Atlantic vs Peer comparison

The peer institutions Palm Beach Atlantic selected for federal comparison reporting.

IPEDS
GraduationRetentionSelectivityEnrollmentAffordabilityYield
This institutionPeer median

A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.

Carnegie
SubjectPalm Beach Atlantic University
55%—4,147$28,354Doctoral/Professional
Abilene Christian University
59%66.0%5,219$26,182Doctoral/Professional
Azusa Pacific University
62%88.4%6,272$22,212R2 Research
Barry University
37%77.2%6,825$22,613Doctoral/Professional
Bethel University
71%87.8%3,603$28,556Doctoral/Professional
Biola University
68%74.3%5,434$31,495Doctoral/Professional
Calvin University
74%70.9%3,681$22,992Masters Colleges & Universities: Small Programs
Dallas Baptist University
58%88.8%4,124$28,516Doctoral/Professional
Eckerd College
66%75.8%1,893$38,071Baccalaureate
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
67%64.8%11,426$41,272Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Florida Institute of Technology
62%57.7%8,992$35,639R2 Research
Florida Southern College
71%64.4%3,211$28,551Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs
Gordon College
69%69.2%1,595$24,883Baccalaureate
Houston Christian University
49%84.4%4,276$20,629Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Lee University
63%70.5%3,714$18,878Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs
Lynn University
52%73.5%3,514$44,089Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
North Park University
58%68.5%2,557$16,948Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Nova Southeastern University
63%73.2%20,910$30,371R2 Research
Point Loma Nazarene University
77%83.7%4,757$38,729Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Rollins College
75%47.5%3,046$34,732Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Saint Leo University
44%78.4%9,692$21,293Doctoral/Professional
Samford University
77%82.4%6,097$32,622Doctoral/Professional
Seattle Pacific University
62%83.4%2,261$24,488Doctoral/Professional
The University of Tampa
64%40.3%11,433$36,211Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Union University
66%60.4%2,713$27,171Doctoral/Professional
Wheaton College
85%87.4%2,874$26,975Baccalaureate
Peer group median64%73.5%4,136$28,435

Institutions like Palm Beach Atlantic

Explore the federal data for institutions in Palm Beach Atlantic's comparison group.

IPEDS

Palm Beach Atlantic Institutional Research office

The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.

Office
Office of Institutional Effectiveness
Phone
561-803-2055
Address
901 S Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

The Office of Institutional Effectiveness is responsible for providing campus data and research information to students, faculty, administrators, media and community members locally and across the nation.

Visit IR office page

Common Data Set

Palm Beach Atlantic's own annual Common Data Set: the most detailed self-reported reference for selectivity, cost, outcomes, and the student body.

Acceptance rate
88.3%
Accessible
Yield
10.1%
of admitted students enroll
Student–faculty ratio
13 to 1
01

Selectivity & Admissions

Admissions funnel

C1
Applied
7,657
Admitted
6,763
Enrolled
680

7,657 applied → 6,763 admitted (88.3%) → 680 enrolled.

Selectivity

C1
Acceptance rate
88.3%

Accessible — 88.3% acceptance rate.

Admit rate by gender

C1
Men87.9%
Women88.5%

Admit rates are similar across genders (Men 87.9%, Women 88.5%).

SAT range (middle 50%)

C9
25th
980
Median
1100
75th
1210

Middle 50% SAT 980–1210 (median 1100).

ACT range (middle 50%)

C9
25th
19
Median
22
75th
26

Middle 50% ACT 19–26 (median 22).

What matters in admission

C7
Very Important3
Academic Grade Point Average (GPA)Character/personal qualitiesReligious affiliation/commitment
Important2
Rigor of secondary school recordVolunteer work
Considered8
RecommendationsStandardized test scoresApplication essayExtracurricular activitiesAlumni/ae relationGeographical residenceWork experienceLevel of applicant's interest
Not Considered5
Class rankInterviewTalent/abilityFirst generationState residency

Relative importance of each admission factor.

02

Affordability & Value

Where grant aid comes from

H1
Institutional - Endowed scholarships, annual gifts and tuition funded grants, awarded by the college, excluding athletic aid and tuition waivers (which are reported below)69.3%
State - all states, not only the state in which your institution is located11.8%
Federal11.0%
Scholarships/grants from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) not awarded by the college8.0%

0% of need-based grant dollars come from the institution itself.

Graduate debt

H4/H5
Grads with debt
49%
Avg debt
$28,112

49% of graduates borrowed; those who did owed $28,112 on average.

03

Academic Experience

Class-size distribution

I3
2-9 students94
10-19 students191
20-29 students151
30-39 students47
40-49 students17
50-59 students12
100+ students1

56% of classes have under 20 students; 0% have 50+.

Faculty profile

I
Student–faculty ratio
13 to 1
Faculty with terminal degree
61%
Women faculty
51%

Key faculty indicators.

Degrees by discipline

J
Business/marketing25.9%
Health professions and related programs19.9%
Psychology10.3%
Visual and performing arts8.7%
Theology and religious vocations6.9%
Parks and recreation5.5%
Biological/life sciences4.6%
Communication/journalism3.7%

STEM-dominant: ~8% of bachelor's degrees are in computing, engineering, math & sciences.

04

Transfer Path

Transfer admissions

D1
Applied
738
Admitted
601
Enrolled
203

738 transfer applicants → 601 admitted (81.4%) → 203 enrolled — more selective than first-year admission.

Source publications

Reports & documents (4)

Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.

Grants & funding (1)

Federal grant awards and open funding opportunities awarded to this institution.

USA Spending

Notable alumni of Palm Beach Atlantic (14)

A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.

  • Lizbeth Benacquisto
    Politics
  • Ric Bradshaw
    Law Enforcement
  • Mike Donehey
    Music
  • Nicole Hernandez Hammer
    Science
  • Victoria Jackson
    Entertainment
  • Martin David Kiar
    Politics
  • Molly Michael
    Politics
  • Ruthie Ann Miles
    Theatre
  • Tyler Jacob Moore
    Entertainment
  • Jennifer Rothschild
    Writing
  • Susan Sherouse
    Music
  • Priscilla Taylor
    Politics
Showing 1–12 of 14
1 / 2

Frequently asked questions about Palm Beach Atlantic University

Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Palm Beach Atlantic.

What is the graduation rate at Palm Beach Atlantic University?

Palm Beach Atlantic University reports a 6-year graduation rate of 55% per the latest IPEDS.

How many students attend Palm Beach Atlantic University?

Palm Beach Atlantic University reports a total enrollment of 4,147 students per the latest IPEDS.

What is the average net price at Palm Beach Atlantic University?

The average net price at Palm Beach Atlantic University is $28,354 per the latest College Scorecard. Net price is the published cost of attendance minus grant aid.

What is the yield rate at Palm Beach Atlantic University?

Palm Beach Atlantic University's yield rate is 9.9%, the share of admitted students who enrolled, per the latest IPEDS.

Where is Palm Beach Atlantic University located?

Palm Beach Atlantic University is located in West Palm Beach, Florida 33401.

Who runs Institutional Research at Palm Beach Atlantic University?

Palm Beach Atlantic University's IR work is done by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDS2025 provisional data (Fall 2025–26 release, July 28, 2026)
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
U.S. Department of Education
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.
U.S. Department of Education
DAPIP accreditationContinuously refreshed
Accreditation status for institutions and programs, reported by recognized accrediting agencies.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
Federal Pell Grant volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Pell Grant recipient counts, award amounts, and disbursements by institution and award year.
U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid
Federal student loan volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Federal Direct Loan recipient counts and disbursement volume by institution and award year.
U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid
Cohort Default RatesFY 2022 official rates
Institution-level federal student loan default rates, measuring borrowers who default within three years of entering repayment.
U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid
Equity in Athletics (EADA)Academic year 2024–25
Athletics participation, coaching, revenues, and expenses by sport and gender for Title IV institutions.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
Campus Safety & SecurityData through reporting year 2024
Criminal offenses, arrests, disciplinary actions, VAWA offenses, and fire statistics reported by campus under the Clery Act.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
Last reviewed July 2026All data sources & release dates →

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