Head-to-head comparison
Lynn University vs Palm Beach Atlantic University: which has better ROI?
Option A Boca Raton, FL
Lynn University
- Net price / year
- $44,089
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,006
- Payback
- 273 yrs
Option B West Palm Beach, FL
Palm Beach Atlantic University
- Net price / year
- $28,354
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,232
- Payback
- 130.1 yrs
Palm Beach Atlantic University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $113,416 in 130.1 years versus 273 years at Lynn University, on median earnings of $49,232 vs $49,006 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lynn University | Palm Beach Atlantic University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $44,089 | $28,354 |
| Total net cost | $176,356 | $113,416 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,006 | $49,232 |
| Median debt | $17,940 | $22,500 |
| Payback | 273 yrs | 130.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$163,436 | -$95,976 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lynn University or Palm Beach Atlantic University?
Palm Beach Atlantic University, at $28,354 a year after aid versus $44,089 — a gap of $15,735 a year, or $62,940 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Lynn University or Palm Beach Atlantic University graduates earn more?
Palm Beach Atlantic University graduates report a median $49,232 ten years after entry, $226 more than the $49,006 at Lynn University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Lynn University or Palm Beach Atlantic University?
Lynn University: its completers carry a median $17,940 in federal loans versus $22,500 at Palm Beach Atlantic University, a difference of $4,560. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
55% of students finish at Palm Beach Atlantic University, against 52% at Lynn University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.