FSW vs. Palm Beach Atlantic

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers, FL with Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Florida SouthWestern State College is larger than Palm Beach Atlantic based on total student enrollment (14,301 students vs. 4,147 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Florida SouthWestern State College is located in Fort Myers, FL (Large Suburban setting); Palm Beach Atlantic University is in West Palm Beach, FL (Small City setting).
• Florida SouthWestern State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Palm Beach Atlantic University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida SouthWestern State College 27:1; Palm Beach Atlantic University 13:1.

FSW vs. Palm Beach Atlantic Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FSW or Palm Beach Atlantic? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Florida SouthWestern State College than Palm Beach Atlantic ($8,356 vs. $31,231).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida SouthWestern State College are 18.9% lower than at Palm Beach Atlantic University ($11,185 vs. $13,800).
• Palm Beach Atlantic University is 1,095.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than FSW (about $37,249 more per year; $40,650.00 vs. $3,401.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 213.2% higher at Palm Beach Atlantic than at Florida SouthWestern State College (about $27,671 more per year; $40,650.00 vs. $12,979.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palm Beach Atlantic University than at Florida SouthWestern State College (100% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palm Beach Atlantic University students is 278.8% larger than aid received by Florida SouthWestern State College students ($22,493 vs. $5,938).

FSW vs. Palm Beach Atlantic Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FSW or Palm Beach Atlantic? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Palm Beach Atlantic and FSW.

• Florida SouthWestern State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresPalm Beach Atlantic University 950/1220.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresPalm Beach Atlantic University 18/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FSW - Open admission; Palm Beach Atlantic - Test optional.
• Enrolled freshman Palm Beach Atlantic students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at FSW (3.06).

FSW vs. Palm Beach Atlantic Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FSW and Palm Beach Atlantic? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Palm Beach Atlantic University's six-year graduation rate is 58%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for FSW.
• Graduates from Palm Beach Atlantic University earn a median of about $8,900 more per year than FSW graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,300 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida SouthWestern State College graduates have a $13,704 lower median loan debt than Palm Beach Atlantic graduates ($9,000 vs. $22,704).
• Among borrowers, FSW graduates have an estimated $141 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Palm Beach Atlantic graduates ($93 vs. $234).
• More Palm Beach Atlantic graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FSW students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 43%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.