Palm Beach Atlantic University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Palm Beach Atlantic University charges a net price of $28,354/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $113,416. Graduates earn a median $49,232 ten years after entry, $872/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 130.1 years — a 20-year net return of -$95,976, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Palm Beach Atlantic University's 130.1-year payback ranks #1,241 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 3% of them, and #38 of 166 in Florida.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $28,354/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $113,416 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $49,232 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $872/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $22,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 130.1 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$95,976 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Palm Beach Atlantic University's own numbers. Net price $28,354 × 4 years = $113,416 total. Median earnings $49,232 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $872 a year of premium. $113,416 ÷ $872 = 130.1 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$95,976. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Palm Beach Atlantic University students graduate with?
A median $22,500 in federal loans among completers, or 46% of the $49,232 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Palm Beach Atlantic University students graduate?
55% finish their degree — 45% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $113,416 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $206,211 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Palm Beach Atlantic University expensive compared with other Florida colleges?
Its $28,354 net price runs $8,542 above the $19,812 median across the 166 Florida colleges we profile, or $34,168 more across the full degree.