Palm Beach Atlantic University

What Palm Beach Atlantic University does

Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) is a private, Christ-centered university founded in 1968 and headquartered at 901 S Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach, Florida, within one mile of the Atlantic Ocean. The university offers more than 100 undergraduate majors, graduate and professional programs, and certificates across multiple schools including Education, the Rinker College of Business, the School of Ministry, the School of Nursing, and the School of Pharmacy, serving traditional undergraduates, transfer students, graduate and professional learners, online students, homeschool students, and an international cohort representing 75 countries.

PBA delivers its curriculum through on-campus instruction at the West Palm Beach campus, online bachelor's and master's programs, and a dual-enrollment channel partnering with high schools. The technology stack rests on Canvas LMS, the 86,000-square-foot Warren Library with 220,000+ volumes and discipline-specific databases (ProQuest, EBSCOhost), and the Barnes & Noble–operated Sailfish Smart textbook rental program that auto-enrolls students at $27 per credit hour. Student life is anchored in distinctive faith-based programs including Workship (combining community service with worship) and DIVE, an internship pipeline placing students with employers such as Google, Amazon, IBM, Pratt & Whitney, and Northwestern Mutual.

The business model is tuition-driven: undergraduate on-campus tuition and fees of $42,250/year with a $64,866 total cost of attendance; graduate tuition ranges from roughly $11,520 (online) to $16,290 (Rinker MBA), with separate fees in Nursing, Ministry, and Pharmacy. Mandatory housing ($3,100-$7,900/semester across halls) and meal plans ($1,860-$3,775/semester) provide additional recurring revenue. PBA distributes $27 million in scholarships annually to 97% of students. Go-to-market relies on a regional admissions counselor model covering all US regions and international markets, paired with direct-to-consumer channels (campus visits, virtual tours, homeschool days) and community-led referrals through alumni and student testimonials. The university is currently executing the multi-year "God-Sized Dreams" capital campaign, with a 25-story, 990-bed residence hall under construction with Gilbane Building Company, scheduled for completion in Fall 2027 to accommodate record-breaking enrollment growth.

Name

Palm Beach Atlantic University

Legal name

Palm Beach Atlantic University

Website

https://pba.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Palm Beach Atlantic University is a private Christ-centered university in West Palm Beach, Florida, offering 100+ undergraduate and graduate programs across business, nursing, pharmacy, ministry, and education, serving traditional, transfer, online, international, and homeschool students through on-campus and online delivery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Private/Independent Community & Junior Colleges (EDAHADAB)

Keywords

• Private university education
• Christian higher education
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate professional studies
• Online degree programs

Headquarters

HQ city

West Palm Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from undergraduate and graduate tuition. Undergraduate tuition and fees are $42,250 per year for on-campus students. Graduate tuition varies by program (School of Ministry $11,790/year, School of Nursing $15,840/year, Rinker School of Business $16,290/year). Additional fees apply for specific programs.
2. Housing and Dining: On-campus housing generates revenue through semester-based rental rates ranging from $3,100 to $7,900 depending on the residence hall. Meal plans are mandatory for undergraduate students, with plans ranging from $1,860 to $3,775 per semester.
3. Campus Store / Bookstore: The Campus Store sells textbooks, apparel, supplies, and merchandise. Operated through Barnes & Noble College, it generates revenue from course materials and retail sales including Sailfish gear and spirit items.
4. HEERF Federal Relief Funds: PBA received federal COVID-19 relief funding through CARES Act ($1,181,703 institutional, $1,181,703 student), CRRSAA ($2,738,559 institutional, $1,181,523 student), and ARP ($6,929,988 total). These were one-time emergency relief funds, not ongoing revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Palm Beach Atlantic University is a private Christian university offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across multiple schools including business, nursing, ministry, pharmacy, and education. The university delivers courses both on its West Palm Beach campus and through PBA Online, and operates a dual enrollment program for high school students seeking college credit. Ancillary services include on-campus housing, meal plans, the Sailfish Smart textbook program, NCAA Division II athletics, and unique co-curricular programs such as Workship (community service) and DIVE (internships).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate On-Campus Programs Residential undergraduate degree programs across multiple schools including the School of Education, Rinker College of Business, School of Ministry, School of Nursing, and School of Pharmacy. Tuition and fees are $42,250 per year on-campus. Students live on campus in one of nine residence halls. Includes labs, clinical rotations, and teaching residencies for applicable programs.
• Graduate and Professional Programs Master's, doctoral, and professional degree programs through the School of Ministry (e.g., Master of Divinity, $11,790/year), School of Nursing ($15,840/year), Rinker College of Business (e.g., MBA Data Analytics, $16,290/year), Educational Leadership, and School of Pharmacy. Designed for career advancement and professional licensure.
• PBA Online Bachelor's and master's level programs delivered fully online with self-paced, asynchronous coursework. Tuition and fees are $11,520 per year with total cost of attendance of $46,909. Designed for remote students who need flexibility while remaining part of a Christian community.
• Dual Enrollment Program Partnership program with high schools enabling high school students to earn college credits. Courses are 16 weeks and asynchronous. Free for Florida residents; $100 per credit hour for non-Florida residents.
• School of Nursing (BSN) Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program preparing students for nursing boards and clinical practice, with tuition of $15,840 per year for graduate nursing programs.
• Master of Divinity (School of Ministry) Graduate theological degree program preparing students for ministry and theological vocations. Featured through student testimonial by Juan Rocha.
• Apologetics, B.A. Bachelor of Arts in Apologetics undergraduate program combining Christian theology with philosophical defense of the faith.
• Biology: Concentration in Marine Biology, B.S. Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Marine Biology concentration, leveraging PBA's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean for field-based study.
• On-Campus Housing Semester-based residential housing across nine residence halls with semester rates ranging from $3,100 (Pembroke Hall) to $7,900 (Tortoise One). Includes Baxter Hall, Watson Hall, Coastal Towers, Johnson Hall, Oceanview Hall, Pembroke Hall, Rinker Hall, and Weyenberg Hall. A new 25-story, 990-bed residence hall is under construction for Fall 2027 completion.
• Meal Plans (Sailfish Dining) Semester-based dining plans mandatory for undergraduate students. Plans include All Access VIP ($3,775/semester), All Access 7 ($3,515/semester), Block 120 ($2,130/semester), Block 75 ($1,860/semester), and Commuter Flex ($350/semester).
• Sailfish Smart Course Materials Program Auto-enrollment textbook rental program at $27 per credit hour that delivers all required course materials to students before the first day of class, in the format specified by instructors. Includes VIP access to bookstore discounts. Students may opt out during designated opt-out periods.
• NCAA Division II Athletics (Sailfish) NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics program (Sailfish) competing in the Sunshine State Conference. Athletics recruiting drives student-athlete enrollment and contributes to campus culture.

Quantifiable outcome

• Record-breaking enrollment growth accommodated through strategic expansion including new 25-story residence hall with 990 beds
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• The Breakers Palm BeachminorOthers · 2 February 2026The Breakers Palm Beach serves as the venue for PBA's 34th Annual Women of Distinction Luncheon, an annual scholarship fundraising event.
• Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County's Kohl Jewish Volunteer CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2026Co-led the 10th Annual MLK Day of Service in Palm Beach County with over 18 volunteer projects including cleaning, food sorting, and environmental protection activities.
• Gilbane Building CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2025Gilbane is developing, designing, constructing, and financing a 25-story, 990-bed residence hall in West Palm Beach as part of PBA's God-Sized Dreams Campaign. The $32+ million project is the second major construction under the campaign and is scheduled for completion in Fall 2027. This is a major infrastructure partnership supporting PBA's strategic growth.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Rollins College: Private liberal arts college in Winter Park, Florida with similar tuition tier and small-class experience. Competes for the same Florida-based traditional undergraduate population as PBA.
• Stetson University: Private Florida university with strong business, law, and arts programs. Directly competes with PBA in the Florida private university market for students seeking personalized education outside large state institutions.
• Lynn University: Private Florida university in Boca Raton with strong international student population and iPad-based curriculum. Directly competes with PBA for international students and South Florida undergraduates.
• Nova Southeastern University: Large private Florida university with extensive graduate and professional programs (pharmacy, nursing, business, education). Competes directly with PBA's graduate and health professions offerings.
• Florida Southern College: Private Florida college in Lakeland with similar mid-size scale, professional programs (nursing, business, education), and tuition tier. Competes for Central Florida and regional students.

Direct peers

• Oral Roberts University: Private Christian university in Tulsa, Oklahoma with similar faith-based mission, professional programs (nursing, business, ministry), and emphasis on spiritual formation alongside academics. Comparable in size and mission focus.
• Wheaton College: Highly regarded private Christian liberal arts college with similar faith-integrated curriculum, residential campus experience, and emphasis on community service. Comparable on mission and academic positioning.
• Belmont University: Private Christian university in Nashville with strong music, business, and health sciences programs. Comparable private Christian identity, professional school mix, and growing enrollment trajectory.
• Liberty University: Large private Christian university with extensive online programs, NCAA athletics, and a similar faith-integrated curriculum. Liberty is the most directly comparable peer given its evangelical identity, scale of online delivery, and broad professional school offerings.
• Regent University: Private Christian university with strong graduate and online programs in law, business, divinity, and education. Comparable faith-based positioning with emphasis on professional graduate degrees.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pbatlantic
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PBAVideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/97149996599
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/palm-beach-atlantic-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/pbauniversity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Palm Beach Atlantic University