West Palm Beach, Fla. (June 12, 2024) — Numerade analyzed National Center for Education Statistics (NECS) data to rank the 50 colleges where application growth is on the rise compared to pre-COVID, and Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) was number three on the list. To be included, colleges and universities had to receive at least 2,000 applications by the 2022-2023 school year and offer four-year degrees. The schools are ranked by the percentage increase in applications from the 2019-2020 school year to the 2022-2023 school year, the latest data available according to the NECS.
According to the report, PBA’s applications for admission have increased 305.5% since 2019, and the applicants for the 2022-2023 school year totaled 6,220. Additionally, the report cites that since the school’s founding in 1968, there have been nearly 19,000 alumni.
“I believe now more than ever, students value the importance of whole-person, Christ-first education,” said Dr. Debra A. Schwinn, president of PBA. “Not only have we increased our applicant pool since the pandemic, but we have welcomed the largest incoming class in PBA’s history two years in a row. We continually strive to achieve the highest level of academics, and I am grateful that families and students continue to trust PBA with their education.”
As PBA continues to grow, its top tier programs are attracting students from every region of the United States and around the world. The international student population at PBA represents 83 nations, including India, Venezuela, Germany, Canada and the United Kingdom. PBA offers 100 different programs and pathways, including undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees and professional degrees.
Additionally, the school’s programs are attaining the highest accreditation. In 2023 PBA achieved AACSB accreditation for their Marshall E. Rinker Sr. School of Business, placing the institution among the top six percent of business schools worldwide. In 2024, PBA’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling was accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP), and PBA’s undergraduate public relations degree program received a Certification in Education for Public Relations (CEPR), becoming one of only 46 undergraduate programs worldwide to hold this designation.
“Four years ago, Dr. Schwinn challenged the PBA community to dream God-sized dreams,” said Dr. Nancy Brainard, vice president of enrollment management. “We are grateful to witness what God is building at PBA as we welcome students from across the nation and the world to study with us. We know that as they are equipped to grow in wisdom, lead with conviction and serve God boldly, He will use them mightily.”
To learn more about PBA and the different programs offered, visit www.pba.edu.
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About Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University, founded in 1968, is a private, Christian university, offering 100 different programs and pathways, including undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees and professional degrees. The university has a 19-acre campus in West Palm Beach and an Orlando campus, and the 78-acre Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus provides facilities for training and hosting intercollegiate sports. Sailfish athletes compete in 18 NCAA Division II and Sunshine State Conference varsity sports. PBA affirms the values that have built American society, including religious liberty and the free enterprise system. The university is dedicated to the integration of biblical principles to prepare students for learning, leadership, and service. Learn more at www.pba.edu.
