South University-West Palm Beach
Royal Palm Beach, Florida · Private For-Profit
ROI Score: 8/100 · Poor Value
South University-West Palm Beach earns an 8 ROI score (Poor Value)--one of the lowest in our entire dataset. Every sub-score is in single digits or low teens: earnings premium 6 (raw -0.007, meaning grads earn slightly less than typical high-school graduates), payback period 7 (raw value of 999 means earnings are projected to never recoup the cost--this is a structural never-payback case), debt-to-earnings 15, completion rate 3 (just 18.2% of the cohort finishes), and repayment rate 6. Tuition is $18,145 with average net price of $20,271 and total four-year cost around $81,084. Median earnings of $32,500 at six years grow only to $34,421 at ten--essentially flat. Median debt is $26,123 with a $277/month payment. The 999-year payback figure is a flag, not a literal number: it means the model can't find a year in which graduates' lifetime earnings exceed what they would have earned without the credential. Nursing is the only program that produces a defensible outcome; everything else posts F grades with debt loads above $54K against earnings in the $28-44K range. This is a school where the institutional ROI math actively works against students.
The data raises concerns about South University-West Palm Beach
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score8/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate18.2% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers — the cost may not recoup within a working career.
South University-West Palm Beach
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $18,145/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $18,145/yr |
| Average net price | $20,271/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $81,084 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $34,421 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $32,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,123 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $277 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 18.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 251 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at South University-West Palm Beach is $18,145/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $20,271/year, or roughly $81,084 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $16,177/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,323/year.
The median graduate leaves with $26,123 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $277 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $34,421 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.80 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $16,177 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $21,337 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | N/A |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | N/A |
| $110,001+ | $26,323 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families at $0-$30,000 pay $16,177 net (~$65K over four years). With Pell plus federal loans, students will borrow at or above the $26K median. With an 18.2% completion rate, the most likely outcome is debt without a degree. Pell-eligible students should look hard at Palm Beach State College or Florida Atlantic before enrolling here.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
$30,001-$48,000 households pay $21,337. Brackets for $48,001-$75,000 and $75,001-$110,000 are not reported in current Scorecard data--likely because too few students at those income levels enroll. The reported $21,337 figure for the $30-48K bracket is also notably higher than the $0-30K bracket, an inverted pattern indicating the low-income subsidy is steeper than usual but still leaves the price unworkable.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $26,323 (~$105K over four years). At that price, comparing against University of Miami (private), University of Florida, or even out-of-state state-school options would deliver dramatically better outcomes. Almost no high-income family should choose this school over public Florida alternatives.
Earnings by Major
Top 6 most popular majors at South University-West Palm Beach with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $91,363 | C+ |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $46,885 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $46,322 | F |
| Public Health | $45,993 | F |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $53,445 | F |
| Psychology | $39,694 | F |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is the only program with defensible ROI here: 67 graduates, $77,635 first-year earnings rising to $91,363 by year four. Median debt of $41,815 is high (well above the school median, suggesting nursing-specific BSN cohorts borrow more), but the 0.539 debt-to-earnings ratio still produces a C+ grade. For a determined nursing completer, the program is real--but only if the student finishes, and the 18.2% institutional completion rate is the central risk factor.
Health and Medical Administrative Services
Health administration posts an F grade with just 4 graduates, $39,722 first-year earnings, and $55,123 median debt--debt-to-earnings of 1.388. Borrowing $55K to earn $40K is mathematically untenable. Avoid this program; community-college health-admin pathways accomplish more for far less.
Psychology
Psychology earned an F grade with $28,684 first-year earnings against $54,702 in debt--a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.907, among the worst in the entire dataset. Just one graduate in the reported cohort. Without exception, this program-school combination should be avoided.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal justice posts an F with 2 graduates: $37,713 first-year earnings against $55,652 debt (1.476 ratio). Florida public colleges deliver criminal justice degrees at a fraction of the cost with substantially better completion rates. Strong avoid.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 38.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 45.3% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 27.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 33.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 251 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 59.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,088 |
Admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data, and SAT/ACT mid-ranges are missing. South University West Palm Beach is a for-profit private institution that historically has open enrollment for most programs. The 18.2% completion rate is the more meaningful selectivity signal: more than 4 in 5 students who enroll do not graduate. Prospective students should weight that figure heavily.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among peers, South University-West Palm Beach sits in the same Poor Value cluster as Full Sail University, Strayer University-Florida, the sibling South University-Virginia Beach campus, Eagle Gate College, and Nossi College of Art and Design. All are for-profit institutions with structurally weak ROI. South-West Palm Beach is at or near the bottom of even this peer set on completion rate. Florida public alternatives (Florida Atlantic, FIU, Palm Beach State College) deliver dramatically better outcomes at lower cost.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| South University-West Palm Beach (this school) | 8 | $20,271 | $34,421 |
| Strayer University-Florida | 24 | $16,064 | $40,092 |
| Full Sail University | 13 | $38,875 | $38,219 |
| Eagle Gate College-Layton | 8 | $25,873 | $37,518 |
| South University-Virginia Beach | 7 | $27,843 | $34,421 |
| Nossi College of Art and Design | 6 | $24,044 | $35,113 |
Who Thrives Here
South University West Palm Beach has a 251-student enrollment, 59.5% Pell grant rate, and serves a heavily working-adult, often non-traditional student body. The nursing program is the school's one genuine value proposition--for a determined nursing student who completes, outcomes are defensible. Outside of nursing, the data is unforgiving. Students should compare carefully against Palm Beach State College's nursing pathway and Florida Atlantic University before committing here.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about South University-West Palm Beach. With a net cost of $20,271 per year and median graduate earnings of only $34,421 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 18.2% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $26,123 against $34,421 in earnings is concerning. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 exceeds the commonly recommended threshold. Major choice is critical here.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.