Admissions

Palm Beach Atlantic University selects candidates for admission who display high academic quality and a solid commitment to faith.

PBA seeks to enroll a dynamic class of individuals with a variety of accomplishments, interests and attributes by evaluating each applicant’s academic record, essay, test scores, and extracurricular activities. Though a traditional entry term begins in the fall, PBA will accept applicants for spring and summer terms. The University will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, handicap, religion, or national/ethnic origin.

The Office of Admissions and those representing the university in recruitment efforts adhere to guidelines set forth by the North American Coalition for Christian Admissions Professionals (NACCAP), the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO). Other memberships and affiliations may include the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), regional chapters of the national organizations, and other special focus recruitment and admissions organizations. In general, as part of our agreement and affiliation with some or all of these organizations, we engage in fair and equitable admission, recruitment, and marketing practices. For the full review of the policies, please refer to each organizations website.

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

There are three different modalities of instruction for undergraduate degrees and programs at the University: Traditional Undergraduate (on-campus), Evening Undergraduate (on-campus), and Online Undergraduate (online). Within each modality, students may be classified as an incoming freshman student, transfer student, or readmitted student.

Traditional Undergraduate

Freshmen Students (Undergraduate)

A freshman student classification includes any student who has not attempted more than 12 college level credit hours post-graduation from high school or post-completion of a GED. Students who have attempted more than 12 college level credit hours may be considered a transfer student for admission and scholarship purposes. Credits earned prior to high school graduation as part of a dual enrollment program are not considered in the 12 college-level credit hours.

Students may begin to apply for admission after their junior year in high school. The Office of Admissions recommends students submit all items listed below for admission review.  Students may be reviewed, however, without all materials below and receive an admissions decision.

• A completed online application and a non-refundable $50 application fee
• High school transcripts, including any college credit coursework.
• Scores on the SAT, ACT or the Classic Learning Test (CLT) you would like to submit for consideration. Admission to PBA is test optional for 2022-2023. Some scholarship application, state and federal grants may require a test score. PBA reserves the right to request a test score at any point in the admissions process.
• Any additional materials or steps requested by the Office of Admissions (i.e. international transcript evaluations, letters of recommendation, post-secondary transcripts, or personal interview).

In general, students should complete at least the following college preparatory coursework including: English (4 units), mathematics (3 units at the level of Algebra I or higher), natural science (3 units with lab), social science (3 units of history, government, economics, psychology, or sociology). Some flexibility is permitted in choice of subjects. Students may be accepted for admission without the recommended number of courses in a particular field. The GED is acceptable as a substitute for a high school diploma. Final transcripts with graduation date should be submitted prior to enrollment. Failure to submit final transcripts and/or official test scores or other requested items may result in a hold or automatic withdrawal from classes (subject to corresponding tuition, fees, or other charges assessed to that point in time).

The Admission Review Committee holistically considers all pieces of an application file including, but not limited to the academic strength of a student’s program, grade point average (GPA), SAT, ACT or CLT scores, participation in extracurricular activities, or overall fit with the University.

Transfer Students

A transfer student classification includes any student who has attempted more than 12 college level credit hours post-graduation from high school or post-completion of the GED. Students who have attempted less than 12 college level credit hours may be considered a freshman student.

Students may begin to apply for transfer admission at any point after completion of post-secondary education. Transfer students must be in good standing with all previous institutions attended and eligible for return prior to enrolling at PBA. The Office of Admissions recommends students submit all items listed below for admission review.  Students may be reviewed, however, without all materials below and receive an admissions decision.

• A completed online application and a non-refundable $50 application fee
• Official transcripts from all colleges previously attended. NOTE: Unofficial electronic documents may be used during the admission process; however, they are not acceptable for official university use (i.e. official course transfer credit evaluation).
• Any additional materials or steps requested by the Office of Admissions (i.e. international transcript evaluations, letters of recommendation, post-secondary transcripts, or personal interview).

Despite having transferable college credit, a student applying for transfer admissions may be required to submit ACT/SAT/CLT and/or high school transcripts as part of the application process.

Students attending an institution with an established Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Articulation Agreement (Agreement) will be held to the same application and admission requirements. Should an MOU or Agreement dictate differently, we will defer to the terms of those expressed agreements.

Credit will be awarded for courses completed at regionally accredited institutions if they approximately correspond to PBA courses and if the student has earned a grade of “C-” or better. All official college transcripts must be submitted directly to Palm Beach Atlantic University from every institution previously attended prior to enrollment. This includes institutions where courses were attempted and credit was not earned (failing grades or withdrawals). If the transcripts are not submitted, financial aid and class registration will be frozen. Failure to submit official transcripts may result in automatic withdrawal from courses (subject to corresponding tuition, fees, or other charges assessed to that point in time). We will make an effort to encourage official transcripts prior to the student enrolling for their respective term. For Financial Aid, FAFSA self-certify will verify high school completion. PBA reserves the right to research previous institutions attended through the National Student Clearinghouse database.

A student presenting transfer credit from an institution that was not accredited as degree granting by a post-secondary regional accrediting commission at the time the course work was completed may seek credit validation upon the successful completion (at least a cumulative GPA of 2.0) of 30 credit hours at PBA. For planning purposes, an unofficial evaluation of credit will be provided at the time of enrollment. Only courses that parallel those of PBA and for which a grade of “C-” or better has been earned will be considered. Upon the completion of the residency requirement and satisfaction of the academic progress requirement, the unofficial evaluation will be validated and the courses will transfer as noted on the official evaluation. The student must submit written notification to the Office of the Registrar upon successful completion of the residency requirement.

Articulation Agreement: Any student completing an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited community college is guaranteed:

• Junior standing with the application of a minimum of 60 credit hours toward the baccalaureate degree; and
• Recognition of completion of the general education requirements, excluding Exploring the Bible, Christian Values and Biblical Faith, and Freedom in American Society.

Readmitted Students

Students who previously attended PBA as a degree-seeking student may apply for readmission back to PBA if they have formally withdrawn from the university or did not enroll into classes for at least two consecutive fall and spring semesters. The Office of Admissions recommends students submit all items listed below for admission review. Students may be reviewed, however, without all materials below and receive an admissions decision.

• A completed online readmission application and a non-refundable $35 application fee
• An essay responding to the current year’s essay prompt
• Official transcripts from all colleges attended before and after PBA NOTE: Unofficial electronic documents may be used during the admission process; however, they are not acceptable for official university use (i.e. official course transfer credit evaluation)
• Any additional materials or steps requested by the Office of Admissions (i.e. international transcript evaluations, letters of recommendation, post-secondary transcripts, or personal interview)

Students who left PBA with holds may be asked to resolve those holds prior to enrollment. Students must be in good standing with all previous institutions attended and eligible for return prior to reenrolling at PBA.

Evening Undergraduate

Freshmen Students

A freshman student classification includes any student who has not attempted more than 12 college level credit hours post-graduation from high school or post-completion of a GED. Students who have attempted more than 12 college level credit hours may be considered a transfer student for admission and scholarship purposes. Credits earned prior to high school graduation as part of a dual enrollment program are not considered in the 12 college-level credit hours.

Students may begin to apply for admission after their junior year in high school. The Office of Admissions recommends students submit all items listed below for admission review.  Students may be reviewed, however, without all materials below and receive an admissions decision.

• A completed online application and a non-refundable $50 application fee
• An essay responding to the current year’s prompt.
• High school transcripts, including any college credit coursework.
• Scores on the SAT, ACT or the Classic Learning Test (CLT)
• Any additional materials or steps requested by the Office of Admissions (i.e. international transcript evaluations, letters of recommendation, post-secondary transcripts, or personal interview).

In general, students should complete at least the following college preparatory coursework including: English (4 units), mathematics (3 units at the level of Algebra I or higher), natural science (3 units with lab), social science (3 units of history, government, economics, psychology, or sociology). Some flexibility is permitted in choice of subjects. Students may be accepted for admission without the recommended number of courses in a particular field. The GED is acceptable as a substitute for a high school diploma. Final transcripts with graduation date should be submitted prior to enrollment. Failure to submit final transcripts and/or official test scores or other requested items may result in a hold or automatic withdrawal from classes (subject to corresponding tuition, fees, or other charges assessed to that point in time).

The Admission Review Committee holistically considers all pieces of an application file including, but not limited to the academic strength of a student’s program, grade point average (GPA), SAT, ACT or CLT scores, participation in extracurricular activities, or overall fit with the University.

Transfer Students

A transfer student classification includes any student who has attempted more than 12 college level credit hours post-graduation from high school or post-completion of the GED. Students who have attempted less than 12 college level credit hours may be considered a freshman student.

Students may begin to apply for transfer admission at any point after completion of post-secondary education. Transfer students must be in good standing with all previous institutions attended and eligible for return prior to enrolling at PBA. The Office of Admissions recommends students submit all items listed below for admission review.  Students may be reviewed, however, without all materials below and receive an admissions decision.

• A completed online application and a non-refundable $50 application fee
• An essay responding to the current year’s essay prompt.
• Official transcripts from all colleges previously attended. NOTE: Unofficial electronic documents may be used during the admission process; however, they are not acceptable for official university use (i.e. official course transfer credit evaluation).
• Any additional materials or steps requested by the Office of Admissions (i.e. international transcript evaluations, letters of recommendation, post-secondary transcripts, or personal interview).

Despite having transferable college credit, a student applying for transfer admissions may be required to submit ACT/SAT/CLT and/or high school transcripts as part of the application process.

Students attending an institution with an established Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Articulation Agreement (Agreement) will be held to the same application and admission requirements. Should an MOU or Agreement dictate differently, we will defer to the terms of those expressed agreements.

Readmitted Students

Students who previously attended PBA as a degree-seeking student may apply for readmission back to PBA if they have formally withdrawn from the university or did not enroll into classes for at least two consecutive fall and spring semesters. The Office of Admissions recommends students submit all items listed below for admission review. Students may be reviewed, however, without all materials below and receive an admissions decision.

• A completed online readmission application and a non-refundable $35 application fee
• An essay responding to the current year’s essay prompt
• Official transcripts from all colleges attended before and after PBA NOTE: Unofficial electronic documents may be used during the admission process; however, they are not acceptable for official university use (i.e. official course transfer credit evaluation)
• Any additional materials or steps requested by the Office of Admissions (i.e. international transcript evaluations, letters of recommendation, post-secondary transcripts, or personal interview)

Students who left PBA with holds may be asked to resolve those holds prior to enrollment. Students must be in good standing with all previous institutions attended and eligible for return prior to reenrolling at PBA.

International Students

International student classification includes any student without U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency. Please note that students who are U.S. Citizens or have U.S. Permanent Residency who attend an institution outside of the United States may be required to submit third-party translations or evaluations of any transcript. International students applying to PBA should submit an application at least two months prior to the desired date of enrollment for full consideration and must submit the following credentials:

Freshmen

• A completed online application and a non-refundable $50 application fee, US currency
• An essay responding to the current year’s essay prompt.
• Scores on the SAT, ACT, or the Classic Learning Test (CLT)
• English language proficiency scores; For students seeking entry to PBA from a country where English is not the primary language, a minimum TOEFL score of 79, IELTS score of 6.5 or Duolingo score of 105 is required. This requirement is waived for students who have enrolled at a school in the US for at least one academic semester, have  enrolled at an English language school for at least one academic semester or have enrolled at a school outside of the US where the primary language of instruction is English for one academic semester
• Official secondary education transcripts equivalent to graduation from an American high school. Transcripts from schools outside the U.S. not accredited by a US organization must include a course by course evaluation and GPA equivalent from an educational consulting firm that is an approved member* of the NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, www.naces.org). This requirement is waived if a secondary school has conducted an internal evaluation of courses taken outside of the US on the school’s transcript, including course grades and credits.

Transfers

• A completed online application and a non-refundable $50 application fee, US currency
• An essay responding to the current year’s prompt.
• English language proficiency scores; For students seeking entry to PBA from a country where English is not the primary language, a minimum TOEFL score of 79, IELTS score of 6.5 or Duolingo score of 105 is required. This requirement is waived for students who have enrolled at a school in the US for at least one academic semester, have enrolled at an English language school for at least one academic semester or have enrolled at a school outside of the US where the primary language of instruction is English for one academic semester

Official transcripts from all previous universities attended. Transcripts from universities outside the U.S. must include a course by course evaluation and GPA equivalent from an educational consulting firm that is an approved member* of the NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, www.naces.org). 

Student Visa

International students who are not citizens or residents of the U.S. and do not hold a qualifying visa type to study in the US are required to apply for an F-1 student visa to study at PBA. Proof of financial support including tuition, living and other miscellaneous expenses for one academic year is required to apply.

Non-Degree Students

Students may be admitted to PBA on a non-degree seeking basis. To apply, students must submit an online non-degree seeking application with the desired entry term listed (fall, spring or summer). In addition, students may be required to submit an essay, transcripts, standardized test scores, or other requested documents.

Non-degree seeking students will be enrolled at PBA depending on available space for the class or classes requested. In order to ensure availability, degree-seeking students will be prioritized for scheduling. This may result in non-degree seeking students receiving a registration window within two weeks of classes starting. If a student desires to take a course at PBA that has pre-requisites, the student must supply official college transcripts demonstrating completion of those requirements. Non-degree seeking study is limited to nine credit hours only; if a student wishes to take classes beyond nine credits, they must apply as a full-time, degree seeking student. If a student is interested in living on campus, he or she must apply for housing and fulfill any requirements requested by Residence Life. The University reserves the right to deny housing to any student.

Non-degree seeking students also have the ability to audit a course. When auditing a course, the cost for the course will be less but the student will not receive credit. Should the student decide to audit a course, he or she must notify the Admissions Office.

Students who have completed a degree and are seeking to fulfill pre-requisites for graduate school may also apply for admission as a non-degree seeking student.

Due to the nature of our capacity constraints, non-degree students may need to wait on an application decision while the Office of Admission determines if there is space to enroll.

Transient Students from Other Institutions

PBA welcomes transient students who are currently enrolled in other colleges and universities. A non-degree application must be submitted, and the student must also submit a letter of good standing from the institution in which he or she is currently enrolled. Transient study is usually limited to nine credit hours and students should obtain approval from the institution in which they are enrolled. Transient students are subject to the same application process and policies outlined for Non-degree seeking students. In addition, transient students may be required to show proof that the PBA course will transfer to the home institution and has been approved for transient/transfer work.

Supplemental Applications

Some programs require either an audition or a supplemental application prior to official major declaration. The following list includes those programs, but is not limited to these programs:

• Studio Art
• Graphic Arts-Graphic Design
• Art Education
• Dance
• Honors
• Music
• Composition
• Instrument Performance
• Keyboard Performance
• Popular Music
• Music Education
• Voice Performance
• Worship Leadership
• Pharmacy
• Nursing*
• Pre-Health*
• Theatre

Veterans Benefits

The Office of Admissions is committed to working with veterans in the utmost ethical way. As a department, we commit to engaging in low-pressure conversations designed to benefit, support, and educate our veterans in the admissions process. In addition, we do not provide commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing enrollments or federal financial aid to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting, admission activities, or making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance. We will work closely with students to direct them to speak with their Educational Services Officer or counselor within their military service prior to enrolling the student in the institution.

Veterans may qualify for educational assistance according to their length of military service. Widows and children of veterans who died or were disabled as a result of service, connected injury or disease may also be eligible for educational benefits. Information may be obtained from the Veterans Administration or from PBA’s Office of the Registrar. Veterans receiving benefits under chapter 31 and 33 have their tuition and fees paid directly to the school by the government.  Veterans enrolled under all other chapters receive their allowances directly from the government and pay tuition and fees as all students are required.

WARNING: Students who drop or withdraw from a course may not be paid for the course unless the circumstances for having to drop the course are considered to be mitigating circumstances by the Veterans Administration, i.e., circumstances beyond the control of the student.

VA Pending Payment Compliance

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), Palm Beach Atlantic University adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA.  PBA will not:

• Prevent the student’s enrollment;
• Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
• Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
• Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

However, to qualify for this provision, students are required to:

• Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the end of the first week of classes;
• Provide a written request to be certified;
• Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies 

WARNING: Students who drop or withdraw from a course may not be paid for the course unless the circumstances for having to drop the course are considered to be mitigating circumstances by the Veterans Administration, i.e., circumstances beyond the control of the student.

Vocational Rehabilitation

Physically disabled students may be approved to receive financial assistance to attend college for the purpose of vocational rehabilitation. Those who wish to consult with a representative regarding vocational rehabilitation should contact their local district office of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services.

NOTE: The Financial Aid Office coordinates the process for Satisfactory Academic Progress and Eligibility for Financial Assistance. Any student who receives financial assistance at PBA of any type (federal, state, institutional, or outside scholarships/grants) must demonstrate both qualitatively and quantitatively the ability to do satisfactory academic work and to progress measurably toward a degree. At the end of the spring semester of each academic year, the Financial Aid Office evaluates the academic progress of each student receiving financial assistance. This evaluation determines a student’s eligibility to receive financial assistance in the next academic year. In addition, at the end of both the fall and spring semesters, the Office of the Registrar reviews the qualitative academic progress of all degree-seeking students to determine the eligibility for continued enrollment at PBA.

Undergraduate students enrolled in any of PBA’s non-traditional programs, or graduate students or pharmacy students should note the refund policy stated in those sections of the Catalog.

Yellow Ribbon Program

Palm Beach Atlantic University has committed to a maximum Yellow Ribbon Program match of $3,650. This level of match will allow the fulltime undergraduate day student to receive aid equal to tuition and fees for fall and spring semesters only minus the Post 911 GI Bill of $24,476.79. If the student receives tuition restricted grants or scholarships, the match will be reduced so that the total package is equal to tuition and fees. Unrestricted PBA scholarships (Ex. PBA Academic Scholarships, PBA Assist, Res Life, and other PBA institutional scholarships) will be used as the 50% institutional match. If the unrestricted institutional scholarship does not meet the 50% institutional share, a PBA Yellow Ribbon scholarship will be awarded for the difference. For examples and procedures to apply contact the financial aid office. Offering this program each year is based on the approval from the VA.

To apply for Yellow Ribbon students must contact the Registrar’s Office.

Note: Yellow Ribbon doesn’t apply to additional bachelors or students in Professional or graduate programs. 

Deadline for Completing Applications

Applications are accepted throughout the year. The Admission Review Committee convenes weekly from September through August, and reviews files on a rolling admission basis. While there is no deadline, students are encouraged to apply early for housing, registration, and financial assistance.

A mandatory $300 reservation deposit is required for all first-time students. This deposit secures the student’s registration and applied to their bill in their first semester at PBA.

Admission Status

Capacity

The Admission Review Committee encourages early applications from those students who are interested in enrolling at PBA. Historically, PBA has reached capacity early in the recruiting cycle; therefore, prompt submission and completion of applications is strongly recommended. In the event that enrollment has reached capacity, a waitlist will form. As space becomes available, students will be removed from the waitlist and secured a space at the discretion of the Office of Admissions.

Admission Decisions

The Admission Review Committee renders admission decisions based on a holistic review of a student’s application. Students who are admitted to PBA are invited to enroll at PBA for the entry term for which they applied. To secure their spot at PBA, students submit a $300 enrollment deposit; the University only guarantees registration and housing to those students who have deposited while space is available.  Deposits are non-refundable after May 1 for the fall semester, and are non-refundable after December 1 for the spring semester.

Below is an outline of the potential admission decisions rendered by the Admission Review Committee:

• Regular Acceptance: Students who are admitted to PBA without any condition, based on the student’s application materials, at the discretion of the Admission Review Committee.
• Conditional Acceptance: Students are admitted to the University under the condition that they complete specific academic course requirements at the discretion of the Admission Review Committee. Conditional courses may be either remedial or credit-seeking in mathematics and/or English disciplines to provide additional academic support for the students.
• Denial: Students who fail to meet the overall criteria necessary for admission, at the discretion of the Admission Review Committee, may be denied. A letter of denial will be sent directly to these applicants after a decision has been finalized.

Special Programs

Dual Enrolled High School Students

Students may be eligible to enroll in college-level courses at PBA at a reduced rate while still attending high school. In general, students should be 16 years of age prior to the start of classes and maintain a 3.0 high school GPA to be eligible for dual enrollment. Opportunities for dual enrollment are typically available through dual enrollment partnerships with various high schools, dual enrollment online and on-ground.  The Office of Admissions recommends students submit the following items to be reviewed for admission:

• A completed online application and a non-refundable $35 application fee
• High school transcripts

Dual enrollment through any platform (partnerships, online, or on-ground) is limited to 24 attempted credit hours; instruction beyond 24 credit hours requires payment of the full undergraduate tuition rate..

Readmission

Students who previously attended PBA as a degree-seeking student may apply for readmission back to PBA if they have formally withdrawn from the university or did not enroll into classes for at least two consecutive fall and spring semesters. The Office of Admissions recommends students submit all items listed below for admission review. Students may be reviewed, however, without all materials below and receive an admissions decision.

• A completed online readmission application and a non-refundable $35 application fee
• An essay responding to the current year’s essay prompt
• Official transcripts from all colleges attended before and after PBA NOTE: Unofficial electronic documents may be used during the admission process; however, they are not acceptable for official university use (i.e. official course transfer credit evaluation)
• Any additional materials or steps requested by the Office of Admissions (i.e. international transcript evaluations, letters of recommendation, post-secondary transcripts, or personal interview)

Students who left PBA with holds may be asked to resolve those holds prior to enrollment. Students must be in good standing with all previous institutions attended and eligible for return prior to reenrolling at PBA.