Palm Beach State College continues to embrace professionalism and the experience of the college staff to provide the best learning environment and quality education.
In addition to the enthusiasm and zeal, the students have ranked Palm Beach among the most affordable and best colleges in Florida, not forgetting the support the college gets from the community.
Below is a review of the admissions, rankings, scholarships, and all else about PBSC that will make your application much more accessible.
Table of contents
Why Study At Palm Beach State College?
Palm Beach State College is a welcoming college where personalized service matters and the school community thrives to support student success. The College has over 130 study programs and is the largest institution of higher learning in Palm Beach County, with an outstanding faculty dedicated to your success.
The college has five conveniently located campuses, and all these work hard to provide the best life and education to the students.
Palm Beach College has flexible schedules during the day, evenings, and weekends and many choices of online classes. Also, it is a great college to get a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree, and other certificate programs with which to transfer to a university.
The teachers are great, and the classrooms are smaller, which creates room for a much more intimate relationship between the teachers and their peers. The students get one-on-one attention from their teachers since these professors are approachable.
Students at Palm Beach State College represent over 161 countries and territories, allowing them to learn about other cultures and create many friends.
Aside from the cookie-cutter reasons i.e., “academics, location, etc.,” there’s a lot of fun and experience in the college, which includes partying, football, games, etc., not forgetting “the Panthers athletics team’s effect in the college,” and the college is located near a few food options.
Above all, Palm Beach State College is affordable and provides quality services; there are also various scholarship opportunities.
Read: How To Get A College Student Stimulus Check-
How Do I Get Admissions At Palm Beach State College?
This 87-year-old US higher-education institution has a selective and open admission policy. International applicants are eligible to apply for enrolment.
PBSC also provides students with several academic and non-academic facilities and services, including a library, study abroad and exchange programs, online courses, distance learning opportunities, and administrative services.
The applicants should carefully read the following instructions o determine which application process to complete. You are also advised to regularly check your email account or your newly signed PBSC email account to be updated on your application status.
New students will pay a $40 application fee, and international students will pay a $75 application fee. This fee is non-refundable. However, returning students, early admission students, high school dual enrolment students, and transient students attending a Florida public school will not be assessed the fee.
The acceptance rate at Palm Beach Community College is 100%; you can also apply online. However, you will need to select a career path in your application before you start your application process by taking a free career assessment to determine your career path.
The following steps will help you in applying.
- Firstly, you must apply through the Palm Beach State College portal; then, you can begin your application.
- Secondly, you must apply for financial aid by completing the “My FAFSA Application.”
- Thirdly, you will submit the required transcripts to be eligible for financial aid or scholarships.
- Then, you must confirm your state of residency: Are you a Florida resident? Therefore, you will have to declare your residence.
- Next, complete your placement testing and register for New Student Orientation. Students must present their official scores from SAT, ACT, and PERT, and that must be before registration. Degree-seeking students must complete their New Student Orientation before they are allowed to register for their classes.
- Lastly, you should consult your academic advisor on what classes you should take, and then you can register and pay for your classes.
For Dual Enrolment:
To be eligible for a dual enrolment program, a student must have a GPA (Grade Point Average) of 3.0 and above; you must complete a Mandatory Dual Enrolment Orientation before class registration.
You must submit official placement test scores, i.e., SAT, ACT, PERT, etc., less than two years since you last took the test; you must submit an online PBSC Application for admission.
Finally, you must submit a Dual Enrolment Authorisation form to the high school counselor every academic enrolment period.
How Do I Get Dual Enrolment
Firstly, you are advised to meet with the High School Counsellor to get some advice and discuss the qualifications one should have to be eligible for dual enrolment. You should have earned four high school credits, two of which must include an English Language Arts course and a Mathematics course.
Again, you should be in a position to submit placement test scores (SAT, PERT, ACT) which should not be more than two years old after the time you took the test. Having an unweighted high school cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above would be best.
Home education students must be registered with the Palm Beach County School District Home Education Office and complete and submit a Dual Enrolment Authorisation form to the PBSC coordinator and a Home Education.
Secondly, complete the Palm Beach State College Application and submit it. Once your application is submitted, set up your PBSC Workday Student account, download the MyPBSC mobile application, and request your Panthercard (PBSC student ID)
Thirdly, you should complete your Mandatory Dual Enrolment Orientation, and you can do this online. Submit the required documents so they can be verified before classes start.
- A Dual Enrolment Authorization Form: this must be completed by High School Counsellor with the student and legal guardian or parent.
- A GPA verification/transcript
- Scores from IB, AP, or AICE for any course requiring a pre-requisite.
- A Letter of recommendation from the high school principal (Early Admission students only)
Finally, you will have to register and pay for classes. After processing your documents, visit your PBSC student email to check if you have received an email and confirm your registration. If everything is positive, you can start by viewing your course syllabus. In the Current Student icon, review resources.
You will need to obtain an enrolment verification certificate to confirm if you have been enrolled. You can get the enrolment verification certificates through the online Student Self-Service program of the National Student Clearinghouse. This will be a free-of-charge service for all students.
The following steps will guide you in obtaining the enrolment verification certificate;
- You are required to log in to PantherWeb using your Student ID and Password.
- This will take you to your student home page; here, you must click on the Records icon (on the top navigational bar), select Enrolment Certification, and you will see a welcome page, click on the “Click Here” button.
- Go to the National Student Clearinghouse Student Self-Service page and determine whether you would like to see your current enrolment or all the enrolment data; you can select your choice and tap on the “Obtain an enrolment certificate” icon. You should then download the enrolment certificate.
- Once the data has been created (PDF format), you may print, save or e-mail the verification certificate.
- You are advised to log out once you are done with the process so that you can protect your records.
You can also be able to;
- Obtain a Good Student Discount Certificate to print and mail to an auto insurer or other company that requests proof of your status as a Good Student for the current term,
- View your enrolment information.
- Also, view the proof(s) of enrolment provided by the Clearinghouse to your health insurers and other student services or product providers.
- View specific information about your student loans, and
- And view the student loan deferment notifications provided by the Clearinghouse to your loan holders.
What Are Palm Beach State College’s Rankings?
Among the 15 Cheapest Community Colleges in Florida, PBSC was ranked the 1st, the 9th among the Lowest Out-of-State Tuition Colleges in Every State by “bestvalueschools.org.”
Palm Beach Community College was ranked 6th out of the 50 Universities with the lowest tuition by “valuecolleges.com”.
It was also ranked 8th out of the 25 Cheapest State Universities and Colleges by “cbsnews.com” and 20th out of the top Colleges in the Southeast Region by “collegefactual.com.”
It was ranked 3rd out of the 25 Massage Therapy Schools in Florida by “careerswiki.com.” PBSC was ranked the 14th in cheapest Colleges & Universities in Florida for Out State Tuition by “collegecalc.org”.
Ranked the 9th out of top Ranked Universities in Florida by “stateuniversity.com.” It was ranked 22nd out of Online Interior Design Programs 2020 by “valuecolleges.com.”
Read: Lafayette College Reviews 2023 | Admissions, Tuition, Ranking, and Scholarships
How long does it take to get a degree in Palm Beach State College?
The time it takes to earn a degree at Palm Beach State College varies depending on the program and the student’s course load. Here is an overview of the estimated time it takes to complete different types of degrees at Palm Beach State College:
- Associate degree: Associate degree programs typically take two years to complete, assuming full-time enrollment. However, part-time students may take longer to complete the program. Palm Beach State College offers various associate degree programs in business, health sciences, education, and technology.
- Bachelor’s degree: Palm Beach State College also offers several bachelor’s degree programs in nursing, information management, and supervision and management. These programs typically take four years to complete, assuming full-time enrollment.
- Certificate programs: Palm Beach State College also offers certificate programs in various fields. The length of these programs varies, depending on the specific program and the student’s course load. Some certificate programs can be completed in as little as a few months, while others may take a year or longer.
In general, the time it takes to earn a degree at Palm Beach State College depends on several factors, including the specific program, the student’s course load, and any transfer credits they may have. Students should work with their academic advisors to create a plan that meets their educational goals and fits their desired timeline.
How much tuition Will I Pay?
The below tuition statistics are calculated based on the cost of attendance; this includes the tuition, fees, books and supplies, personal expenses, room and board, and transportation expenses.
Tuition costs for eligible degree ad certificate programs
Dependant students (In-state students)
- Tuition/fees-$4,638
- Room/Board-$9,450
- Books/supplies-$2,700
- Personal expenses-$1,755
- Transportation-$5,400
- Total -$23,943
Dependant students (out-of-state students)
- Tuition/fees-$16,875
- Room/Board-$4,080
- Books/supplies-$2,880
- Personal expenses-$1,680
- Transportation-$3,750
- Total -$29,220
Independent students (in-state students)
- Tuition/fees-$4,638
- Room/Board-$12,825
- Books/supplies-$2,700
- Personal expenses-$1,755
- Transportation-$5,400
- Total -$27,318
Independent students (out-of-state students)
- Tuition/fees-$4,638
- Room/Board-$12,390
- Books/supplies-$2,700
- Personal expenses-$1,755
- Transportation-$5,400
- Total -$37,530
Can I Get a Scholarship For PBSC?
Despite being among the most affordable colleges in Florida, we know that some people have a tight budget, so various scholarships were made available for everyone in such cases. These include;
The Presidential Honors College Scholarship
This two-year scholarship award is worth $6,000 per academic year, up to $2000 per semester. However, the applicant will only qualify when they have a minimum of 12 credits, and the scholarship is available for Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. These funds cover the In-state tuition, registration fees, books & educational expenses, etc.
To get this scholarship, one must; be a graduated high school senior with a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA, enroll for classes during the fall term following high school graduation, and participate in Honors College’s Gold Track.
Be able to renew if continue with PBSC Bachelor’s program, have a Renewal Cumulative GPA: of 3.5, and must have College placement ready test scores.
Read: Chamberlain University College of Nursing: Admission, Courses, Acceptance rate, Tuition, Aid
Green & Gold Scholarship
This two-year award is worth $2,000 per academic year or $1,000/per semester. One must have a minimum of 12 credits to be able to enroll.
This scholarship is available during the Fall and Spring semesters. The scholarship award funds cover the In-state tuition fees, registration fees, books, and educational expenses.
For one to be able to acquire the scholarship, one must;
- be a graduated high school senior with a minimum 3.2 unweighted GPA
- Enroll for classes during the fall term following high school graduation
- Participate in Honors College’s Gold Track, be able to renew if continue with PBSC Bachelor’s program
- Have a Renewal Cumulative GPA: 3.2
- And must have College placement-ready test scores.
Finish4Free Scholarship
This scholarship award is available for selected students who have earned 30 or more college credits to complete their Associate degree. It covers the in-state and registration fees.
The scholarship funds are available during the spring and fall semesters. To qualify for this scholarship, you must have at least 12 credits.
For one to be able to acquire the scholarship, one must; be a graduated high school senior with a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA, enroll for classes during the fall term following high school graduation, participate in Honors College’s Gold Track, be able to renew if continue with PBSC Bachelor’s program, have a Renewal Cumulative GPA: 3.0.
Have College placement ready test scores and have 30 College credits by the time of graduation (Dual Enrolment, AP, AICE, or CLEP).
2+2 Scholarship
This is a 2-year scholarship program available only to dual-enrolment students. It covers In-state tuition and books.
The scholarship funds are available during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.
To acquire the scholarship, one must; be a graduated high school senior with a minimum 2.5 unweighted GPA and enroll for classes during the fall term following high school graduation. Participate in Honors College’s Gold Track, be able to renew if continue with PBSC Bachelor’s program, and have a Renewal Cumulative GPA: 2.5.
And must have College placement-ready test scores. The applicants should complete an appropriate FAFSA annually and Dual Enrolment courses.
First Step 2 Success Scholarship
This scholarship award is worth a maximum of $500 and covers: In-state tuition, registration fees, and books maximum. This scholarship is available during the summer semester.
To be eligible for the scholarship, one must; complete all the necessary admissions applications and requirements to Palm Beach State College by the start of the summer semester.
Be planning to pursue an AA degree at Palm Beach State College, be a First-Time-in-College (FTIC) student with a standard high school diploma, and should complete a 2023-2024 FAFSA and be eligible to receive the Pell Grant.
Institutional Scholarships
Palm Beach State College funds these scholarships, and awardees are usually selected from departments such as Athletes, Music and Theatre, Honors, etc.
To qualify for the award, you must; complete all the requirements for admissions and registration i.e., admissions applications, residency classification, etc.
Complete appropriate FAFSA application per academic year; for those who need assistance with the FAFSA application, you can FAFSA Workshops for dates and times when they are available.
The Transient and Dual Enrolled students are not eligible due to non-degree seeking and admissions status and will not get the award; therefore, you don’t need to apply for the scholarship.
Departmental Scholarships
These are 2-year scholarship programs where the Palm Beach County Principals make selections. They are available during the fall and spring semesters and are worth $4,000 per academic year or $2000 per semester.
The scholarship covers tuition, registration fees, books & educational expenses.
You must have at least 12 credits so that you can be eligible. Be a graduated high school senior with a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA, enroll for classes during the fall term following high school graduation, be able to renew if continue with PBSC Bachelor’s program, and have a Renewal Cumulative GPA: of 3.5.
Must have College placement ready test scores and not have more than 30 credit hours of Dual Enrolment, Early Admission, or AP credit hours.
Read: Middlesex County College Reviews 2023| Admissions, Tuition, Ranking, And Scholarships
Frequently Asked Questions on Palm Beach State College
Yes
Palm Beach State College enrolls nearly 49,000 students.
Lakeworth, Florida
Yes
Conclusion
Having read through this article, we hope you can decide where you would like to enroll. Since everyone would like to study from the best, choosing PBSC is easy as it is excellent and affordable.
We would like to know if this article has been of great help to you. You can share your views in the comments section below. We love reading them!
