South University-West Palm Beach: A Comprehensive Overview of Programs, Costs, and Student Life

South University-West Palm Beach, serving the Palm Beach area since 1987, offers a variety of programs designed to help graduates make an impact in their professional and personal lives. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the university provides associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees, along with certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. The campus, conveniently located near bus route 43 and I-95, blends downtown life with the beach aesthetic Florida is known for.

Academic Programs

South University-West Palm Beach offers degree programs in several key areas:

Business & Technology
Counseling & Psychology
Criminal Justice and Legal Studies
Healthcare
Nursing
Public Health

These programs are available in various modalities, including entirely online, hybrid (online and in-person), and entirely in-person formats. Regardless of the chosen modality, students have complete access to campus amenities and full support from faculty and staff. Some hybrid courses require in-person clinical components.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at South University-West Palm Beach was $15,732. This is $568 more than the national average for Special Focus Institutions ($15,164). The cost of tuition at South University-West Palm Beach is more than the overall (public and private) national average for Special Focus Institutions.

Average Net Price

The average net price, which factors in grants and loans, was $20,494 in 2023. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price grew by 4.91%. This calculation considers full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state, or local governments, or the institution.

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Financial Aid

In 2023, 85% of undergraduate students received financial aid through grants, while 65% received aid through loans. This represents a decline of 3.41% with respect to 2022, when 88% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

Other Student Expenses

The average yearly cost of room and board was $8,141 in 2023, a 4.48% increase from 2022. The average yearly cost of books and supplies remained at $1,500.

Student Loan Default Rate

In 2022, the default rate for borrowers at South University-West Palm Beach was 0%, representing 0 out of 6,332 total borrowers. It's important to interpret cohort default rates with caution, as they only account for borrowers who default in the first three years and may not reflect the entire school population.

Enrollment and Demographics

Enrollment Statistics

In 2023, South University-West Palm Beach had a total enrollment of 468 students, with 387 enrolled full-time and 81 part-time (82.7% full-time).

Race and Ethnicity

The enrolled student population is diverse:

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38.9% Black or African American
25.6% White
21.6% Hispanic or Latino
5.56% Asian
2.35% Two or More Races
0.641% American Indian or Alaska Native
0.214% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders

Full-time undergraduate programs are predominantly Black or African American Female (42.5%), followed by Hispanic or Latino Female (17.9%) and White Female (14.1%). In full-time graduate programs, the majority are White Female (32.5%), followed by Hispanic or Latino Female (14.3%) and White Male (13.8%).

Retention Rate

The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at South University-West Palm Beach was 43%, lower than the average of 73% for similar Special Focus Institutions.

Graduates

Degree Awards

In 2023, 177 degrees were awarded, with 79.7% to women and 20.3% to men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was Black or African American (71 degrees), 1.27 times more than White (56 degrees).

Most Common Majors

The most common master's degree concentration was Physician Assistant, with 39 degrees awarded. The most specialized majors, with significantly more degrees awarded than the national average, include:

Health (172 degrees)
Protective Services (2 degrees)
Psychology (1 degree)

Time to Complete

In 2023, 7% of students completed their program within the "normal time" (e.g., 4 years for a 4-year degree), 36% within 150% of the normal time, and 36% within 200%.

Graduation Rate

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 was Female and Black or African American (33.3%).

Operations and Staff

South University-West Palm Beach employs 16 Assistant professors and 3 Instructors, with a majority being Female Assistant professors. The most common positions for non-instructional staff are Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services.

Salary Expenditure

In 2023, South University-West Palm Beach paid a median of $5.24M in salaries, a 5.8% increase from the previous year.

Location and Accessibility

The West Palm Beach campus is a short distance from bus route 43 and the I-95 interstate, with the beaches only a thirty-minute drive away.

Commitment to Students

South University-West Palm Beach is committed to delivering the best student experience possible, offering hybrid classes in some programs. The campus is small enough that faculty know students personally.

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