Palm Beach Atlantic University

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Enriching, Engaged Christian Liberal Arts Education at PBA

Palm Beach Atlantic University appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Online Christian Colleges for Future Missionaries.

Ranked 165th for social mobility by the U.S. News & World Report, Palm Beach Atlantic University is a premier private, nonprofit CCCU member in Greater Miami that provides 67 bachelor’s, 16 master’s, and five doctoral degrees plus the Dual Enrollment Program (CEP) at a 12:1 student-teacher ratio. For example, the Psychology B.S. builds a 120-credit, four-year sequence led by Dr. Claire Wolan-O’Connor on-campus or online with opportunities to join Psi Chi, intern with JFK Medical Center, and volunteer with Homeless Advocacy. Chaired by Dr. James Todd, the 120-credit Political Science B.A. encourages Sailfish to collaborate in the LeMieux Center for Public Policy, celebrate American Free Enterprise Day, take the Congressional Internship in Washington DC, and travel from Italy to Israel.

Available online on Canvas in 49 states, the Leadership M.S. has a 36-credit, 24-month Web curriculum headed by Dr. Craig Domeck where Fall and Spring cohorts of 20 pursue the Corporate, Nonprofit, or Organizational track with 5000-level courses like Performance Analysis. Directed by Dr. Jeff Lewis, the Doctor of Pharmacy follows a 142-credit, ACPE-accredited path toward Florida board certification with Phi Lambda Sigma membership, Center for Medical Missions trips abroad, Drug Information Center resources, and nine four-week clinical rotations. Other Palm Beach Atlantic degrees include the Ministry B.A., Forensic Science B.S., Cinema Arts B.A., Marketing B.S., Music Education B.A., School Counseling M.S., Accountancy M.S., Christian Studies M.A., and Nurse Practitioner D.N.P.

About Palm Beach Atlantic University

Palm Beach Atlantic University originated in September 1968 when President Jess Moody welcomed the first coed students to First Baptist Church for Palm Beach Atlantic College. In December 1972, President Warner Fusselle led Palm Beach Atlantic to initial accreditation. In 1978, President George Borders acquired 29 acres to begin building a campus along Okeechobee Boulevard. In 1983, the Lassiter Student Center was unveiled. In 1991, the first two graduate programs were organized by President Paul Corts. In 2002, the School of Music & Fine Arts moved into the 43,000-square-foot Vera Lea Rinker Hall. The next year, Palm Beach Atlantic purchased property on Millenia Boulevard for Orlando evening programs. In 2007, the 220,000-volume Warren Library was dedicated. In 2015, PBA invested $18 million to erect the Rinker Athletic Campus for its Sunshine State Conference teams.

Endowed for $85.7 million, Palm Beach Atlantic University now employs 180 full-time faculty teaching 2,407 undergrad and 850 post-grad Sailfish from 50 countries online, at its 101-acre West Palm Beach home, or at the Orlando Campus with 45+ clubs like Kairos Ministries. In 2014, PBA received the Florida Campus Compact Community Partnership Award. In 2019, Palm Beach Atlantic won the ACCESS Hybrid Course of the Year Award. Palm Beach Atlantic University accepted a Sigma Tau Delta Outstanding Chapter Award too. The U.S. News & World Report named PBA the 98th best pharmacy school with the 111th highest NAPLEX pass rate. On Niche, PBA boasts America’s 57th best location, 142nd top Christian education, and 339th best small classes. College Factual picked Palm Beach Atlantic 63rd for human resources, 90th for legal studies, and 57th for theology degrees.

Palm Beach Atlantic University Accreditation Details

On January 24, 2019, Palm Beach Atlantic University announced that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Board of Trustees voted to extend the Level VI accreditation through the next 2028-29 evaluation under the eighth president, Dr. William Fleming Jr., who earned the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award. Located 602 miles up State Road 91 in Decatur, this esteemed 11-state Southeast Region accreditor is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and Florida Department of Education (FLDOE). The Institutional Research Office also lists the following approvals:

  • Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
  • Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
  • Association of Christian Schools International
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
  • International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
  • Association of Theological Schools Commission on Accrediting
  • National Association of Schools of Music

Palm Beach Atlantic University Application Requirements

Getting into Palm Beach Atlantic University is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s though 1,376 of the 1,444 Fall 2018 applicants were chosen for high 95 percent acceptance. First-year Sailfish must be finishing 18 or more units of college-prep high school courses or the GED. Dual Enrollment Program entrants must be juniors or seniors at DEP partners with GPAs above 3.0. The Class of 2022 achieved an average GPA of 3.57. The middle 50th percentile had SAT scores of 980-1200. Mid-range admitted ACT composite scores were 21-27. Transfers must be in good standing with 12+ college-level credits graded C- or better. Adult Accelerated Bachelor’s options are reserved for individuals age 21 and older with work experience. International students are held to a minimum 6.5 IELTS or 79 TOEFL iBT score. The Graduate School requires four-year cumulative bachelor’s GPAs of 2.75 and greater. Clinical Mental Health Counseling M.S. entrants must have at least 290 GRE composite scores. The Doctor of Pharmacy strongly prefers 3.4 GPA, 70 PCAT, and higher marks.

Palm Beach Atlantic University has rolling admission through August 1st for Fall and December 1st for Spring starts. Freshmen have a non-binding Early Action deadline of May 1st. The Gregory School of Pharmacy closes on June 3rd each year. Licensed RNs must apply to the Master of Science in Nursing by July 1st or November 15th. The Master of Global Development only considers candidates through July 1st. Check degree-specific deadlines to complete the PBA Application online for $50. Mail sealed transcripts to 901 South Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Send standardized test results using SAT/GRE code 5553, ACT code 0739, or PCAT code 902. Forward supplemental materials, such as the 500-word essay, ministerial reference, teacher evaluation, resume, and teacher or RN license. Contact (888) 468-6722 or admit@pba.edu with questions.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2019-20, Palm Beach Atlantic University is billing full-time undergrads $15,960 each semester or $31,920 annually. Overload bachelor’s credits beyond 18 cost $655 apiece. Student health insurance is $2,163 each year. Living at the Mango Promenade campus’ dorms like Johnson Hall adds $2,105 to $3,535 per semester. All-Access Gold plans for Lassiter Student Center are $2,440 extra. PBA budgets $1,058 for books and $6,286 for miscellaneous. Annual undergrad attendance equals about $48,914 on-site or $39,782 if commuting. Online baccalaureate courses charge $450 per credit. The Graduate School generally requires $570 per credit. MBA cohorts pay more at $625 per credit. Doctor of Nursing Practice students spend the most at $825 per credit.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid on Hood Hall’s 1st Floor links 100 percent of beginning full-time PBA Sailfish to median tuition assistance of $20,575 apiece for $10.92 million combined. University funds include the Jerms McGraw Scholarship, Catherine MacArthur Scholarship, Great Commission Pharmacy Mission Scholarship, Jennifer Criss Psychology Scholarship, Linda Terrell Scholarship, Mary Lou Harrison Scholarship, Joe Eassa Jr. Scholarship, Phyllis Adams Nursing Scholarship, Karen Swick Mathematics Scholarship, Mary Sissler Scholarship, and Vaughn-Jordan Scholarship. The $1,000 Dual Enrolled Scholarship has a May 1st deadline for high school students with GPAs above 3.8. The Bebe Warren Scholarship gifts up to $22,500 annually to Elementary Education B.S. majors meeting the 1100 SAT or 22 ACT minimum. Federal programs, such as the Pell Grant and Direct Unsubsidized Loan, require FAFSA applications coded 008849. Floridians also pursue the Bright Futures Scholarship, Effective Access to Student Education Grant, Student Assistance Grant, and others.

Search through seven schools with 85+ close-knit, Christ-centered degrees placed 197th overall by Washington Monthly at the Palm Beach Atlantic University website.

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