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Lakeland, FL · West Palm Beach, FL
| Florida Southern College | Palm Beach Atlantic University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $28,551/yr | $28,354/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $23,624/yr | $25,570/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $25,000 | $22,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $21,385/yr | $25,312/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $25,830/yr | $25,619/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $29,044/yr | $26,244/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $33,706/yr | $32,786/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $265/mo | $239/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $14,360/yr | $13,800/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $14,360/yr | $12,824/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,250/yr | $1,186/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,550/yr | $6,706/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $60,768/yr | $53,827/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $44,040/yr | $40,650/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $44,040/yr | $40,650/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 28% | 23% |
| Students taking federal loans | 54% | 37% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 64% | 82% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1150–1330 | 950–1220 |
| SAT average | 1252 | 1075 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 25–30 | 18–26 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 24–31 · Math 21–27 | English 17–28 · Math 16–25 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 10,874 | 7,657 |
| Students accepted | 6,423 | 6,763 |
| Students who enrolled | 640 | 680 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 10% | 10% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 25% | 28% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 21% | 15% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 71% | 55% |
| Freshmen who come back | 80% | 68% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $55,294/yr | $49,232/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $37,450–$81,883 | $29,283–$76,114 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 63% | 55% |
| White students graduating | 75% | 59% |
| Black students graduating | 65% | 40% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 67% | 49% |
| Asian students graduating | 73% | 54% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $47,749/yr | $42,366/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 74% | 70% |
| Graduate on time | 65% | 47% |
| Pell students who graduate | 67% | 48% |
| First-gen students who finish | 62% | 42% |
| Low-income students who finish | 59% | 46% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $51,835/yr | $45,925/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 21% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 20% · Visual & Performing Arts 11% | Business, Management & Marketing 31% · Health Professions 15% · Psychology 8% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 21% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 31% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 20% of degrees | Health Professions — 15% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 11% of degrees | Psychology — 8% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Health Professions — 11% of degrees | Visual & Performing Arts — 8% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Psychology — 8% of degrees | Communication & Journalism — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $99,583/yr | Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration — $110,574/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 27% | 9.8% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 2,656 | 2,603 |
| Students per professor | 11 : 1 | 13 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 529 | 835 |
| Average professor pay | $9,031/mo | $9,265/mo |
| Full-time professors | 100% | 100% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $66,112 | $52,818 |
| Setting | City (midsize) | City (midsize) |
| Location | Lakeland, FL | West Palm Beach, FL |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1883 | 1968 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | Doctoral/Professional Universities |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 3.4% | 5% |
| Men | 35% | 33% |
| Women | 65% | 67% |
| White students | 64% | 58% |
| Black students | 6.7% | 8.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 18% | 18% |
| Asian students | 2.4% | 1.9% |
| Two or more races | 4.3% | 4.1% |
| Other / not reported | 1.6% | 3.6% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 28% | 22% |
| Part-time students | 2.3% | 4.7% |
| Students age 25+ | 4.2% | 6.2% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $11,211/yr | $12,213/yr |
| Endowment | $130.6M | $109.8M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 2,267 | 1,456 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $8,300/yr | $6,040/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,500/yr | $6,570/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 20 meals/week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | United Methodist | Interdenominational |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | Yes — Army |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | No | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | Yes |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division II without football | NCAA Division II without football |
| Football team | No | No |
| Varsity teams | 18 | 18 |
| Student athletes | 495 | 364 |
| Athletic scholarships | $5.2M | $4.1M |
| Athletics budget | $12.8M | $9.3M |
| Athletics revenue | $12.8M | $9.5M |
| Recruiting spend | $53,615 | $70,217 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.