Palm Beach Atlantic University

West Palm Beach, FL 2,603 Undergrads 55.6% Grad Rate

School Website|Financial Calculator

Total Cost

$53,827

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$28,354

After Aid

Median Earnings

$54,983

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$28,354

Peer Midpoint: $20,081

Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation

$54,983

Peer Midpoint: $60,428

Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment

$49,232

Peer Midpoint: $53,763

Graduation Rate55.6%

Peer Midpoint: 58.9%

Average Starting Age22.2

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients30.6%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time95.3%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS70.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance

82.0%

SAT Avg

1,075

SAT Reading

25th: 50057575th: 620

SAT Math

25th: 45056075th: 600

ACT Composite

25th: 182375th: 26

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV

Vs Median Peer

Vs HS Grad

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

+$495k

+$28k

+$11k

Median Cost$28k/yr

+$393k

-$74k

-$91k

Full Cost$54k/yr

+$301k

-$166k

-$183k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

∞

Median Cost$28k/yr

Never

-90%

Full Cost$54k/yr

Never

-95%

Analysis Assumptions:

Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-81%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-84%

Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services

BachCIP: 5203

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $76,194

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

BachCIP: 5109

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $70,786

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Bible/Biblical Studies

BachCIP: 3902

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $44,533

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Biology, General

BachCIP: 2601

Median Debt

$19,500

Earnings (4yr)

$56,258

Natl Median: $57,214

Lifetime Value Added

-$81k

Business Administration, Management and Operations

BachCIP: 5202

Median Debt

$19,303

Earnings (4yr)

$59,081

Natl Median: $68,257

Lifetime Value Added

-$58k

Chemistry

BachCIP: 4005

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,120

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Communication and Media Studies

BachCIP: 0901

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$47,847

Natl Median: $56,359

Lifetime Value Added

-$151k

Computer and Information Sciences, General

BachCIP: 1101

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $92,374

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer Science

BachCIP: 1107

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $107,009

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Dance

BachCIP: 5003

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $39,980

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Design and Applied Arts

BachCIP: 5004

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,490

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

BachCIP: 5005

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $39,775

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

English Language and Literature, General

BachCIP: 2301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,590

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Film/Video and Photographic Arts

BachCIP: 5006

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $43,765

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Finance and Financial Management Services

BachCIP: 5208

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$66,689

Natl Median: $83,343

Lifetime Value Added

+$2k

Fine and Studio Arts

BachCIP: 5007

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,367

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

History

BachCIP: 5401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $50,680

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Human Resources Management and Services

BachCIP: 5210

Median Debt

$28,089

Earnings (4yr)

$60,379

Natl Median: $68,069

Lifetime Value Added

-$48k

International Business

BachCIP: 5211

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$53,943

Natl Median: $73,201

Lifetime Value Added

-$109k

Journalism

BachCIP: 0904

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $56,278

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

BachCIP: 2401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $53,072

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Marketing

BachCIP: 5214

Median Debt

$22,750

Earnings (4yr)

$53,668

Natl Median: $69,303

Lifetime Value Added

-$102k

Mathematics

BachCIP: 2701

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,562

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology

BachCIP: 3903

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$42,589

Natl Median: $40,103

Lifetime Value Added

-$196k

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

BachCIP: 3099

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,693

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Music

BachCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $42,892

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Non-Professional Legal Studies

BachCIP: 2200

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $61,959

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Philosophy

BachCIP: 3801

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $54,455

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Political Science and Government

BachCIP: 4510

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $63,293

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Psychology, General

BachCIP: 4201

Median Debt

$22,844

Earnings (4yr)

$51,530

Natl Median: $50,706

Lifetime Value Added

-$120k

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

BachCIP: 0909

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $63,560

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

BachCIP: 5138

Median Debt

$24,979

Earnings (4yr)

$76,008

Natl Median: $88,910

Lifetime Value Added

+$73k

Social Sciences, General

BachCIP: 4501

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $53,366

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

BachCIP: 3105

Median Debt

$25,000

Earnings (2yr)

$29,685

Natl Median: $54,562

Lifetime Value Added

-$297k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

BachCIP: 1312

Median Debt

$23,616

Earnings (5yr)

$50,693

Natl Median: $47,382

Lifetime Value Added

-$135k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

BachCIP: 1313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,389

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Theological and Ministerial Studies

BachCIP: 3906

Median Debt

$25,279

Earnings (4yr)

$53,398

Natl Median: $44,535

Lifetime Value Added

-$105k

Master's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services

MastCIP: 5203

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $95,833

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Business Administration, Management and Operations

MastCIP: 5202

Median Debt

$33,225

Earnings (4yr)

$72,925

Natl Median: $103,485

Lifetime Value Added

-$49k

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other

MastCIP: 5299

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $96,656

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology

MastCIP: 4228

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$55,731

Natl Median: $65,184

Lifetime Value Added

-$215k

International/Globalization Studies

MastCIP: 3020

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $86,219

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions

MastCIP: 5115

Median Debt

$51,043

Earnings (4yr)

$54,393

Natl Median: $59,571

Lifetime Value Added

-$217k

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

MastCIP: 5138

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $120,193

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Religion/Religious Studies

MastCIP: 3802

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $57,737

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Student Counseling and Personnel Services

MastCIP: 1311

Median Debt

$43,318

Earnings (4yr)

$59,954

Natl Median: $60,111

Lifetime Value Added

-$165k

Theological and Ministerial Studies

MastCIP: 3906

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $61,300

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration

DocCIP: 5120

Median Debt

$228,375

Earnings (4yr)

$132,063

Natl Median: $136,696

Lifetime Value Added

+$229k

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

DocCIP: 5138

Median Debt

$64,401

Earnings (4yr)

$116,095

Natl Median: $138,131

Lifetime Value Added

+$112k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.