Head-to-head comparison
Palm Beach Atlantic University vs Eckerd College: which has better ROI?
Option A West Palm Beach, FL
Palm Beach Atlantic University
- Net price / year
- $28,354
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,232
- Payback
- 130.1 yrs
Option B Saint Petersburg, FL
Eckerd College
- Net price / year
- $38,071
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,819
- Payback
- 44 yrs
Eckerd College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $152,284 in 44 years versus 130.1 years at Palm Beach Atlantic University, on median earnings of $51,819 vs $49,232 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Palm Beach Atlantic University | Eckerd College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,354 | $38,071 |
| Total net cost | $113,416 | $152,284 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,232 | $51,819 |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 130.1 yrs | 44 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$95,976 | -$83,104 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Palm Beach Atlantic University or Eckerd College?
Palm Beach Atlantic University, at $28,354 a year after aid versus $38,071 — a gap of $9,717 a year, or $38,868 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 Palm Beach Atlantic University or Eckerd College graduates earn more?
Eckerd College graduates report a median $51,819 ten years after entry, $2,587 more than the $49,232 at Palm Beach Atlantic 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, Palm Beach Atlantic University or Eckerd College?
Palm Beach Atlantic University: its completers carry a median $22,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Eckerd College, a difference of $4,500. 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?
66% of students finish at Eckerd College, against 55% at Palm Beach Atlantic 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.