,·Private (nonprofit)·Est. 1968
“Private nondenominational Christian university in downtown West Palm Beach with nine colleges.”
Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) is a private, nondenominational Christian university founded in 1968 and set on a compact 26-acre urban campus in downtown West Palm Beach, Florida — walking distance from the Intracoastal Waterway, the Clematis Street nightlife district, and the Norton Museum of Art. PBA enrolls roughly 3,800 students (about 2,900 undergraduates) across 69+ majors, offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs through divisions that include the Rinker School of Business, the Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy, the School of Nursing, the School of Ministry, the School of Communication and Media, and a nationally recognized School of Music and Fine Arts. The university's academic identity is built around its 'Workship' program — a PBA-coined blend of 'work' and 'worship' — which requires every undergraduate to complete community service hours, and around a Christian worldview core curriculum woven through every major. Student life at PBA is intentionally tight-knit and faith-centered: chapel meets four days per week (attendance is required), and traditions such as The Anchor student-led worship night, the Fall Festival, and the annual Christmas at PBA concert fill the calendar. Athletics compete in NCAA Division II (Sunshine State Conference) under the Sailfish mascot, and students have ready access to Palm Beach's beaches, Kravis Center performing-arts venue, and — fifteen minutes north — the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience and Scripps Research Florida for biosciences internships. Freshmen live on campus in one of seven residence halls; housing is guaranteed for first-year students, and upperclassmen often move into university-owned apartments near Okeechobee Boulevard. For international students, PBA hosts a long-standing community of learners from roughly 75 countries, with strong representation from the Caribbean, Latin America, and Brazil. The university is SEVP-certified to issue I-20s, runs a dedicated International Student Services office (ISS), and extends its merit-based Academic Excellence and Farish Scholars awards to non-U.S. citizens — meaningful leverage given PBA's sticker tuition of ~$43,500. TOEFL (79), IELTS (6.5) or Duolingo (105) are required for applicants whose first language is not English, and SAT/ACT is optional. PBA's compact size, Florida location, and explicitly Christian mission make it a self-selecting fit: ideal for internationals who want a warm-climate, faith-integrated, small-classroom American college experience.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceEarly Action
Non-binding; priority consideration for merit scholarships.
Regular Decision
Rolling admissions thereafter; international applicants encouraged to apply at least 6 months before intended start.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$40,650
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
4 years
ACPE-accredited professional program with clinical rotations across Palm Beach County and dual-degree options (PharmD/MBA, PharmD/MSPS). Strong NAPLEX first-time pass rates and Florida-licensure placement.
4 years
NASM-accredited conservatory-style program with studio instruction, chamber ensembles, and opera productions at the PBA Helen K. Persson Recital Hall. Faculty include Kravis Center and Palm Beach Opera artists.
4 years
CCNE-accredited pre-licensure BSN with clinical placements across South Florida health systems. Known for small cohort size, faith-integrated patient-care curriculum, and strong NCLEX pass rates.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $40,650
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
