Palm Beach State College (PBSC), located in Lake Worth, Florida, was formerly called Palm Beach Community College (PBCC). PBSC was the oldest community college in Florida, formerly a two-year institution offering associate's degrees in arts, science, and applied science. With its name change and expansion, the school continues to offer associate's degrees in these areas, as well as technical certificates, and now also offers a four-year bachelor's degree. Students may choose many programs of study that allow them to transfer their credits to a four-year institution.
Palm Beach State College also offers Distance Learning programs, with both credit and non-credit courses available online. The online course goals and objectives for distance learning programs are the same as those offered on campus.
History
Palm Beach State College was founded in 1933 as Palm Beach Junior College. It initially had 41 students enrolled, and it was housed in a building adjacent to Palm Beach High School. Palm Beach State College's main campus west of Lake Worth opened in 1955. The Belle Glade campus opened in 1978, and the Palm Beach Gardens campus opened in 1980. The opening of the Boca Raton campus followed in 1983. The college's name was changed in 1988 to Palm Beach Community College, as a reflection of its broader scope of programs and services. Further expansion and development of its educational offerings led to its most recent name change to Palm Beach State College in 2010.
Academics
The academic calendar of Palm Beach State College follows the semester format, with fall, spring and summer "terms." Within each academic term there are four sessions. Students have the option to attend a full term of 16 weeks, or to enroll in a shorter session of either eight weeks or 12 weeks.
Colleges and Schools
Palm Beach State College is divided into Programs of Study, rather than into colleges and schools. Palm Beach State College's Programs of Study include:
- General Education
- Bachelor of Applied Science
- Associate in Arts Degree (University Transfer)
- Business and Office Management
- Child Care, Human Services and Teacher Education
- Computer Science and Information Technology
- Creative Arts and Communications
- Health Care
- Public Safety
- Science and Environment
- Trade and Industry
Student Life
Each of the four campuses of Palm Beach State College has a Campus of Student Activities Office that provides students with a list of activities that are opportunities for involvement and connecting with other students. There are a variety of student clubs and organizations, many intramural sports activities, as well as academic, community service, and leadership programs, among others.
Student services include a Career Center, Testing Center, Wellness Center, Student Learning Center, Veteran Services Center, and more.
Traditions
Palm Beach State College's mascot is the panther, and the school colors are green and gold.
Athletics
The Palm Beach State College "Panthers" athletics teams participate in several intercollegiate sports including:
Men's Sports:
- Baseball
- Basketball
Women's Sports:
- Basketball
- Softball
- Volleyball
Satellite Campuses
Palm Beach State College has four campuses in and around the Lake Worth, Florida area:
- Belle Glade Campus
- Boca Raton Campus
- Lake Worth Campus
- Palm Beach Gardens Campus
Community Life
Palm Beach State College has several arts and entertainment facilities on its campuses that are open to the general community. It has three theatres located on three of its campuses: Belle Glade (Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center), Lake Worth (Duncan Theatre), and Palm Beach Gardens (Eissey Campus Theatre). These theatres are open to students and community members and offer a full calendar of performances year round.
On Palm Beach State College's Lake Worth campus is the Jan and Gary Dario Gallery, "dedicated to promoting artistic excellence within the visual arts in the Palm Beach area." The gallery holds and annual national painting, drawing and printmaking competition that features local and national artists and is judged by museum directors and curators from the local community.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $2,600. In order to calculate a more accurate and detailed cost of attendance check out their cost calculator here. There is also a $40 application fee for those applying to a program. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- Tuition estimates per year:
- In-State: $2,400-$2,900
- Out-of-State: $8,700-$10,450
- Charges per unit:
- In-State: $100-$120 per unit
- Out-of-State: $360-$440 per unit
Financial Aid Details
The table below breaks down the types of financial aid, the percent of students receiving aid, and average amount of aid per student per year.
| Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Any Financial Aid | 67% | - |
| Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 67% | $5,260 |
| Receiving Student Loans | 13% | $3,498 |
Admissions, Academics, & Student Services
Student Services
To support students and graduates, Palm Beach State College may offer services to students like:
- Distance learning
- Classes offered on nights and weekends
- Remedial instructional courses
- Academic counseling for students
- Work study style employment
- Assistance to find work
- Child care
Graduation & Transfer Rates
Community colleges offer a variety of career and transfer options for students. The following table shows the graduation and transfer-out rates for Palm Beach State College, versus those community colleges in Florida, which can be valuable information for determining which school to attend.
| Palm Beach State College | Palm Beach County | Florida | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 35.9% | - | 36.8% |
| Transfer-out Rate | 11.2% | - | 12.6% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
Campus: Palm Beach State College
- Dental Assistant Program
- Accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation (since 1966)
- Dental Hygienist Program
- Accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation (since 1964)
- Montessori Teacher Education Program
- Accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education, Commission on Accreditation (since 1999)
- Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program
- Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. ? May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (since 1996)
- Click the link to get a list of all the Florida nursing schools
- Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) Program
- Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. ? May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (since 2014)
- Click the link to get a list of all the Florida nursing schools
Campus: Palm Beach Gardens Campus
- Radiology Technician Program
- Accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (since 1992)
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.
Get more information about the programs offered by Palm Beach State College by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Agriculture Operations
- Landscaping (A, C)
- Agriculture (A)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biotechnology (C)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Business Administration (A, B, C)
- Business and Personal Financial Services Marketing Operations (C)
- Real Estate (C)
- Office Management and Supervision (A, C)
- Bookkeeping (A, C)
- Entrepreneurship (C)
- Restaurant and Food Services Management (C)
- Hotel and Hospitality Management (C)
- Data Entry Technology (C)
- Hospitality Administration and Management (A)
- Banking and Financial Services (C)
- Operations Management (A)
- Small Business Management (A)
- Administrative Assistant
Communication Technology
Computer and Information Sciences
- Information Technology (A, C)
- Computer Networking (A)
- Computer Information Technology Services Administration and Management (B)
- Computer Graphics (A, C)
- Computer Programming, Specific Applications (C)
- Web Design (A, C)
- Computer Programming, Vendor and Product Certification (C)
- Computer and Information Systems Security
Construction Trades
- Electrician (C)
- Carpentry (C)
- Pipefitting and Sprinkler Fitter
- Plumber
Education
- Early Childhood Education (A)
- Teacher Education and Professional Development (A)
- Teacher Assistant (TA) (C)
- Curriculum and Instruction
Engineering Technology
- Electrical and Communications Engineering Technology (A)
- Energy Management (C)
- Construction Engineering Technology (A)
- Computer Aided Design (CAD)
- Architectural Drafting cad
Family and Consumer Sciences
- Child Care Provider (C)
- Child Care (C)
Health and Clinical Professions
- Nursing (A, B)
- EMT & Paramedic (A, C)
- Nursing Assistant (C)
- Massage Therapy (C)
- Community Health Services, Liaison, Counseling (A, C)
- Medical Assistant (C)
- Radiology Technician (A, C)
- Dental Assistant (C)
- Respiratory Therapy (A)
- Surgical Technologist (C)
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) (C)
- Dental Hygienist (A)
- Health Information and Medical Records Technology (A, C)
- Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling (C)
- Ultrasound Technician (A, C)
- Ophthalmic Technician (A)
Legal Professions and Studies
- Paralegal (A)
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Liberal Arts (A)
Mechanic and Repair Technology
- Auto Mechanic (C)
- Heating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) (C)
- Medium and Heavy Vehicle Truck Technology (C)
- Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technology (C)
- Auto Body (C)
Natural Resources and Conservation
Personal and Culinary Services
- Cosmetology (C)
- Facial Treatment Specialist (C)
- Nail Technician (C)
Precision Production
- Welding (C)
- Machine Shop Technology (C)
Science Technology
- Biology Technician, Biotechnology Laboratory Technician (A)
Security and Protective Services
- Police Science (C)
- Corrections Officer (C)
- Fire Science (C)
- Homeland Security (C)
- Forensic Science (A, C)
- Law and Justice Administration (A, C)
- Fire Prevention (A, C)
- Disaster Management (C)
- Fire Services Administration
- Fire Protection
Social Sciences
Transportation and Materials Moving
- Commercial Airline Pilot (A, C)
- Aviation and Airway Management (A)
- Bus and Truck Driver
Visual and Performing Arts
- Interior Design (A)
- Cinematography And Film (A, C)
Other Community Colleges Nearby
The list of nearby schools has been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to Palm Beach State College.
- Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, FL (35 miles away)
- Miami Dade College in Miami, FL (58 miles away)
- Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, FL (58 miles away)
- South Florida State College in Avon Park, FL (110 miles away)
- Edison State College in Fort Myers, FL (111 miles away)