Head-to-head comparison
Palm Beach Atlantic University vs Flagler 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 Augustine, FL
Flagler College
- Net price / year
- $30,525
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,483
- Payback
- 108.7 yrs
Flagler College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $122,100 in 108.7 years versus 130.1 years at Palm Beach Atlantic University, on median earnings of $49,483 vs $49,232 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Palm Beach Atlantic University | Flagler College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,354 | $30,525 |
| Total net cost | $113,416 | $122,100 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,232 | $49,483 |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $24,250 |
| Payback | 130.1 yrs | 108.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$95,976 | -$99,640 |
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 Flagler College?
Palm Beach Atlantic University, at $28,354 a year after aid versus $30,525 — a gap of $2,171 a year, or $8,684 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 Flagler College graduates earn more?
Flagler College graduates report a median $49,483 ten years after entry, $251 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 Flagler College?
Palm Beach Atlantic University: its completers carry a median $22,500 in federal loans versus $24,250 at Flagler College, a difference of $1,750. 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?
56% of students finish at Flagler 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.