West Palm Beach, Florida Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in West Palm Beach, Florida: median public in-state tuition $31,922 (+479.1% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $49,232 (-9.5% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 80.5% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $22,500 (+69.5% vs U.S.) 3,680 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 8 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 3,680 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $31,922 (+479.1% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $49,232 (-9.5% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 80.5% (-7.5 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $29,368 (+194.6% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $22,500 (+69.5% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,456
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 55.3%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 68.0%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in West Palm Beach serve students across Florida with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 8 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 3,680 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $31,922. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against West Palm Beach, Florida and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
West Palm Beach vs Florida & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Palm Beach, Florida | $31,922 | $29,368 | $22,500 | 55.3% | 3,680 |
| Florida (state median) | $3,110 | $7,247 | $13,000 | 53.0% | 855,761 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: West Palm Beach, Florida vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Palm Beach, Florida | $49,232 | 80.5% | 68.0% | 4.3% | — | 71.1% | 0.46 |
| Florida (state median) | $49,232 | 82.9% | 75.6% | 5.5% | — | 65.3% | 0.41 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Florida (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Palm Beach, Florida | $31,922 | $29,368 | $22,500 | 55.3% | 3,680 | $49,232 | 80.5% |
| Orlando | $17,408 | $18,176 | $13,097 | 38.9% | 110,503 | $65,295 | 83.1% |
| Miami | $15,868 | $18,120 | $9,500 | 54.8% | 107,556 | $55,966 | 84.7% |
| Tampa | $18,145 | $19,484 | $13,000 | 48.9% | 74,134 | $40,092 | 79.2% |
| Gainesville | $5,128 | $15,692 | $15,000 | 84.7% | 52,208 | $71,588 | 88.7% |
| Gainesville | $5,128 | $15,692 | $15,000 | 84.7% | 52,208 | $71,588 | 88.7% |
| Tallahassee | $5,720 | $11,297 | $13,500 | 53.3% | 51,736 | $53,012 | 89.1% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $25,056 | $22,838 | $24,149 | 61.0% | 50,305 | $46,933 | 80.6% |
| Jacksonville | $15,733 | $21,981 | $13,000 | 35.5% | 41,036 | $56,343 | 87.1% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in West Palm Beach, Florida by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 55.3%, Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Top college in West Palm Beach, Florida by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 80.5%, Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Most selective college in West Palm Beach, Florida (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 82.0%, Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Top college in West Palm Beach, Florida by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $70,586, Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Top college in West Palm Beach, Florida by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $76,008, Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Top college in West Palm Beach, Florida by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $42,366, Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Top college in West Palm Beach, Florida by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $45,925, Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Top college in West Palm Beach, Florida by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $49,232, Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Top college in West Palm Beach, Florida by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $87,477, Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Most affordable college in West Palm Beach, Florida (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $28,354, Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Top college in West Palm Beach, Florida by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 68.0%, Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University
In-state tuition: West Palm Beach, Florida vs benchmarks
Sticker price
West Palm Beach, Florida median in-state tuition is $31,922, +479.1% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: West Palm Beach, Florida vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in West Palm Beach, Florida is $22,500 (+69.5% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
Median earnings (10 years out): West Palm Beach, Florida vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in West Palm Beach, Florida center around $49,232 (-9.5% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: West Palm Beach, Florida vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 80.5% at the median West Palm Beach, Florida campus (-7.5 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
West Palm Beach, Florida median public in-state tuition is $31,922, about +479.1% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +539.5%.
Median graduate debt is $22,500 (+69.5% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in West Palm Beach, Florida are $49,232, about -9.5% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 80.5% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-7.5 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 68.0% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 4.3% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 71.1% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Palm Beach Atlantic University (80.5%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in West Palm Beach, Florida is 55.3% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in West Palm Beach?
This city profile covers 8 campuses in West Palm Beach, Florida with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in West Palm Beach?
Median in-state tuition in West Palm Beach is $31,922 and median net price is $29,368. For Florida overall, medians are $3,110 and $7,247; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in West Palm Beach?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in West Palm Beach is $49,232 vs $49,232 for Florida and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for West Palm Beach colleges?
Median completer debt in West Palm Beach is $22,500 vs $13,000 for Florida and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in West Palm Beach?
Top campuses on this page include Palm Beach Atlantic University (graduation) and Palm Beach Atlantic University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in West Palm Beach?
Among 7 campuses in West Palm Beach, Florida, 1 campus with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers-West Palm Beach; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Interdenominational (1).
Sources & related
- Florida college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON