Palm Beach State College attracts a diverse student body representing nearly 140 countries.  About 7 in 10 students identifies with a minority group, and nearly 80% take at least one online class during the fall term.

Over $66 million was awarded in financial aid for 2016/17 year.  Over 60% of PBSC students receive some form of financial aid.  60% of financial aid students receive maximum Pell grant allowed by Department of Education.  Average Pell Grant awarded for 2016/17 was $3,226.  Average scholarship awarded was $912.

Palm Beach State offers a wide range of scholarships for students. Merit based scholarships are usually awarded on the basis of scholastic ability, talent, area of study, or leadership potential. Others, known as need-based scholarships, are awarded on the basis of financial need. Students must apply for Financial Aid, be in a degree-seeking program and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA for most awards.

Scholarship information can be found on Palm Beach State College's Financial Aid Website.

In keeping with our mission to provide equal access to its educational programs, Palm Beach State College maintains an open door admission policy.  The College accepts applicants regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status or sexual orientation.  In addition, Palm Beach State College conforms to the regulations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) for maintaining and protecting student records, as outlined in the College Catalog. Admission to the College does not ensure acceptance into a particular course or program of study.  Some college credit programs have special admissions requirements.  Refer to the Areas of Study section of the College Catalog for additional information.

The college calendar provides the timeframes for registration through the academic year.  Academic Calendar: http://www.palmbeachstate.edu/academiccalendar/

All students whether taking online or traditional on-campus classes will register in the same manner.

For more information: https://www.palmbeachstate.edu/admissions/howtoregister.aspx

Distance Learning fees are $12 per credit hour for asynchronous Online courses (i.e., Canvas) and $10 per course for Live Online courses (i.e., Zoom synchronous / real-time online lectures).  This is subject to change.

Palm Beach State College offers e-learning classes in both credit and non-credit areas that require few (if any) on-campus meetings. Classes are designed to provide close interaction with instructors while also allowing greater time and space flexibility to serve the students' needs. Use of email, discussion boards, synchronous online chat rooms and Web conferencing occur to encourage effective communication with students and instructor or student-to-student interaction. These courses are rigorous and cover the same material as on-campus classes. Credits earned though e-learning course work are transferable and appear on transcripts identically as in-class courses.

Palm Beach State College has numerous student activities for students to enhance their college experience.  Engaging activities, events, workshops, and travel opportunities are offered throughout the year.  Students can participate in Civic Engagement, Diversity Awareness, Health & Wellness, Intramural Sports, Academic Competition, Community Service, Career Development, and Leadership Development activities.  In addition, the College has over 100 clubs & organizations offering social, political, special interest, academic, and faith-based opportunities for students to get involved. 

Palm Beach State College is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and competes at the intercollegiate Division II level in Region 8 in the following sports: Baseball, Men and Women’s Basketball, Women's Beach Volleyball, and Women’s Volleyball. The College is a member of the Sun Lake Conference, which is governed by the Council of Athletic Affairs (CAA), a division of the Florida College System Activities Association (FSCAA).

Scholarships are available in all sports for those student athletes who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in their sport and academic achievement. Please contact the coach of your sport for additional information. The college mascot is the Panther and the college colors are green and gold.