Photo: Michael Kagdis · CC BY-SA 3.0Palm Beach Atlantic University is 0.9 miles from Palm Beach
No college sits inside Palm Beach’s boundary, but Palm Beach Atlantic University’s campus in West Palm Beach, with 3,657 students on campus, is 0.9 miles from the center of town, and Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations is 5 miles away in West Palm Beach. About 2% of Palm Beach’s residents are enrolled in college, below Florida (6%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Palm Beach. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Palm Beach
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Palm Beach
Nine private colleges within 13.4 miles, and two community colleges.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at Over $110k, where Palm Beach’s median household income ($168,403) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Palm Beach: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: South University-West Palm Beach (10).
Questions about college near Palm Beach
Is Palm Beach a college town?
No. About 2 of every 100 Palm Beach residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Florida (6). The nearest campus, Palm Beach Atlantic University, is 0.9 miles away in West Palm Beach.
What colleges are near Palm Beach?
10 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Palm Beach State College (6.3 miles, 12,903 students on campus), Palm Beach Atlantic University (0.9 miles, 3,657) and Southeastern College-West Palm Beach (2.8 miles, 596).
What is the closest community college to Palm Beach, and what does it cost?
Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations in West Palm Beach, 5 miles away.
How much does Palm Beach State College cost if we live in Florida?
Tuition and fees are $3,050 a year in-state and $10,910 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,131 (under $30,000 income) to $12,013 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Palm Beach. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →