FOR THIS chosen
SOMETHING GREATER chosen for
At Palm Beach Atlantic University, we believe this life comes with a purpose. Not a purpose that we choose for ourselves, but something greater. It’s a calling that has been waiting for you since before you were born. Now, it’s your time to discover that calling—the life you were chosen for.
And we believe you will find it here. You will find it in our city’s vibrancy, innovation, energy. You will find it in the ocean’s power, mystery, comfort. You will find it in our community’s safety, inspiration, rootedness. It’s your time to find your purpose. It’s your chance to live out your calling. And PBA is your place to begin.
ADVENTURE discover
IMAGINE LIVING IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.
Our beach attracts visitors from all over the world — for good reason.
IT’S GORGEOUS. IT’S EXCITING. IT’S FUN.
The beach means that we can offer things other schools can’t: scuba and sailing clubs, Bible study under a palm tree, bike trails you can use all year round.
Our students longboard from their classes to their dorm, they blow off steam with a volleyball match, they take their textbooks and their towels to study sessions.
But fun is only part of what our oceanside location offers. The beach is an empowering backdrop to something much bigger: a life that is surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation, that is empowered by lasting friends and dedicated champions, that is inspired by a vision so much bigger than you.
THE JOURNEY YOU WERE CHOSEN FOR BEGINS HERE.
CHOSEN TO EXPLORE
It’s one thing to learn about something. It’s altogether different to experience it. At PBA, we believe that the best learning sets you free to explore the real world.
LIVE YOUR PASSIONS NOW
In courses at PBA, we prioritize hands-on experience. Journalism students create in our podcasting studio. Education majors spend hours in real K-12 classrooms. Management students design innovative business plans and get actual funding to bring them to life. By the time you graduate, you’ve got a resume that proves you’re qualified to pursue your passions — because you’ve already been doing it.
USE THE BEST TOOLS
Research is enhanced when you have access to world-class laboratory facilities. PBA’s Human Performance Laboratory, for example, gives student scientists access to state-ofthe-art equipment like a BodPod®, metabolic analyzer, cardiac ultrasound, and more. Opportunities like this are how you’ll gain invaluable skills — exploring, inquiring, leading, creating — and you’ll learn them in real time.
A WORLD TO EXPLORE, NEARBY
Our location gives us a wealth of resources for field experience. Biology students head to the Everglades, the Florida Keys, and the Gulf Stream. Sociology students can work with diverse populations who call West Palm Beach home. Business students have access to Fortune 500 companies right next to campus.
“I’m a very hands-on learner, so having all these resources— the lab, the equipment, the BodPod® —has been amazing for me. My professors have helped me see how what I’m learning connects well beyond just my major; I’m being exposed to concepts in biology, physical therapy, and medicine all at the same time. I hope to later earn an advanced degree in physical therapy so I can use what I’ve learned at PBA to offer healing and hope to people who have had injuries.”
KRISHAUNA WILLIAMS (PICTURED LEFT) CLASS OF 2020
EXERCISE SCIENCE MAJOR
DISCOVER opportunity
Imagine living in the midst of a world-class city that offers endless opportunity to build your dreams, expand your world, and have the time of your life while you’re doing it.
In West Palm Beach, you’ll experience internships at Bank of America or the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience. You’ll help a refugee family or tutor local middle schoolers. You’ll find the calling that makes you come alive and the courage to pursue your bold next step. PBA graduates are consistently accepted into elite graduate schools, pass professional certification exams, and land jobs at the White House, Facebook, and Johns Hopkins.
Our city is also also infused with adventure. Go to the opera or a broadway show, sample unforgettable food, peruse museums and streetside murals, or catch an NBA or NFL game in nearby Miami. And find a cozy coffee shop where the barista will soon know your name.
THIS PLACE WILL HELP TO SHAPE WHO YOU’RE CHOSEN TO BECOME.
“When we visited for Parents Weekend, we signed up for a walking food tour in West Palm Beach. It was super fun; we walked right from campus and tried meatballs, pizza, a delicious coffee. Later, when our student texted that she was at Subculture for a latte, we could picture right where she was. We knew she was safe. And more than that, we knew she was having the time of her life.”
DAVID MICHAELI (NOT PICTURED)
PARENT OF ABBI MICHAELI CLASS OF 2022
CHOSEN TO CHART YOUR OWN COURSE
NO ONE CAN FIND YOUR PATH FOR YOU—IT TAKES DISCERNMENT, COURAGE, AND AN OPEN MIND. AT PBA, YOUR ADVENTURES WILL BE AS LIMITLESS AS YOUR CURIOSITY. THE SKILLS YOU GAIN WILL BE AS DIVERSE AS YOUR INTERESTS. FIND WHAT MAKES YOU COME ALIVE.
AT PBA, THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING MORE TO TO EXPLORE.
From acting to sailing, from spiritual mentoring to computer coding, from late nights in the dorm lobby to sunrises on a beach blanket, you’ll ignite sparks of creativity, of competition, of camaraderie that empower who you are becoming. They lead you to your dream career. They uncover your unique gifts. They push you to try what you once thought impossible— and open up a whole new future.
STUDENTS DISCOVER WHERE THEY COME ALIVE AT PBA
9 6 100+ 40
STUDENT CLUBS ACADEMIC HONOR SOCIETIES
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE STUDENT PERFORMANCES EVERY YEAR
“When I transferred to PBA, I wanted to find a way to get involved. I found it right away: as a leader in the Transfer Club. I met other students, found immediate common ground, and realized my strength as a connector and encourager. This opened lots of doors for me for friendships and other leadership opportunities, too. God’s plan is sometimes much bigger than the one that you have for yourself.”
BRIANNA ALI CLASS OF 2021 PUBLIC RELATIONS MAJOR
BELONGING discover
It’s the way we point each other to Jesus through how we live, how we care, and how we invest our energy into a story bigger than ourselves.
The support of professors gives you courage—to publish a paper alongside a former U.S. Senator. To join in developing cutting-edge cancer treatments. The compassionate staff inspires you—to advocate for human trafficking victims. To participate in a Workship project at a local shelter. True friendships with peers build a foundation that lasts a lifetime— forged on a train in Barcelona. Strengthened by a service trip to Bolivia.
Here, you know you’re part of something special— something that will stay with you forever. It’s what it means to come to PBA, to be chosen for life-long, Christ-focused community.
WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT PBA, THE FIRST THING THEY MENTION ISN’T THE SUNSETS OR THE INTERNSHIPS AT GOOGLE.
it’s the community
CHOSEN TO BELIEVE
“God is at the center of my learning, and I don’t know biology majors at other schools who say that. I’ve grown so much in my faith and my friendships, and I am so thankful for the doors PBA has opened for me.”
ABBY PHILLPOT CLASS OF 2021 BIOLOGY MAJOR
Faith has always guided your path, leading you to make the choices that were right—not the choices that were easy. At Palm Beach Atlantic University, we believe those choices are leading you toward something greater. And we want to help you get there.
PBA is the top Christian university in Florida, and faith shapes everything we do. It’s integrated into your courses. It shapes how we form leaders. It creates the foundation for the kinds of relationships you’ll make, and keep, at PBA.
grow in faith
CHAPEL OFFERED FOUR TIMES PER WEEK
WORKSHIP SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
MISSION TRIPS ABROAD
BIBLE STUDY AND PRAYER GROUPS
CHRISTIVAL, AN ANNUAL WORSHIP CONFERENCE
INTEGRATED FAITH AND SCHOLARSHIP
DISCOVER YOUR strengths
AT PALM BEACH ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY, WE ARE BETTER BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU BRING.
The community that we create together depends on the authenticity, the giftings, the personality of every person who calls PBA home.
Because of this, we put energy behind the idea that diversity is what makes PBA a stronger community.
From the MOSAIC multicultural programs, to the new Council for Intercultural Engagement, to the Freethinkers Club and student groups representing both sides of the political aisle, to accessible buildings and academic, mental health, and social support for students, we have created a community where every person belongs, because each of us bears within us the image of God.
THE UNIQUENESS GOD IS DEVELOPING IN YOU? THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR.
OUR INVESTMENT MAKES IT POSSIBLE
We want you here. So we work hard to ensure an affordable path for you to be part of the Sailfish family. We offer tens of millions of dollars each year in financial aid, and many students actually pay less than they would at a public university. We believe that PBA is an investment that will transform your life, so we help make it happen.
“At PBA, I have felt people genuinely accept me, invite me in, notice the things about me that are unique — my talents, my culture, my experiences — and appreciate what I bring. I’ve been built up and encouraged by the community here.”
BIRHANU VAN DER RIET CLASS OF 2023
INTERCULTURAL STUDIES MAJOR
CHOSEN TO RISE
YOU’VE NEVER BEEN ONE TO SETTLE FOR WHAT’S EASY—YOU NEED TO BE CHALLENGED.
And at PBA, challenges abound. We are ready to equip and inspire you toward deeper, better thinking. This is the kind of scholarship that makes a true impact in the world.
SET UP FOR SUCCESS
We know how to grow what God has planted in you. In our Refresh program, leaders of on-campus student activities get hands-on training to identify, sharpen, and grow their leadership strengths. The LeMieux Center for Public Policy connects you with powerful career opportunities and esteemed experts all over the world. And there are a hundred other ways that PBA invests in you now to prepare you well for what comes next.
A RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT
The Frederick M. Supper Honors Program surrounds you with other high-achieving students, and the prestigious National Scholarship Program prepares and guides you through the competition for graduate schools, fellowships, and the next steps you know you’re ready for.
PBA HAS CELEBRATED THE SUCCESSES OF SEVEN FULBRIGHT SCHOLARS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
REPRESENTING PBA’S VALUES
PBA’s Presidential Ambassadors (pictured) demonstrate PBA’s values to the watching world.
They represent the PBA community in public places, and promote ongoing, strong, and positive relationships between our community, parents, and partners, as well as the greater West Palm Beach community.
COMPETITION inspired
THE THRILL OF THE GAME, THE EXCITEMENT OF BEING A FAN, THE RESOLVE OF FACING A CHALLENGE HEAD-ON.
It’s not just about winning. At PBA, our athletes know that their commitment to athletic excellence is rooted in other, bigger commitments: integrity, passion, collaboration, and joy. And our winning NCAA Division II teams are just one part of what athletics means at PBA. We also have 10 intramural teams that will enfold you in camaraderie and fun. We have countless club sports and activities—including clubs that other schools just don’t offer, like freediving and sport fishing.
At PBA, we’re invested in you becoming a healthy, thriving, whole person. As a Sailfish, there are countless ways you can invest in a healthy lifestyle, a competitive spirit, and the thrill of the game—and it all contributes to a larger goal: becoming the full person God chose you to be.
NCAA DIVISION II TEAMS:
BASEBALL (MEN)
BASKETBALL
CROSS COUNTRY
GOLF
LACROSSE
SOCCER
TENNIS TRACK
SOFTBALL (WOMEN)
VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN)
BEACH VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN)
AN IMPRESSIVE FACILITY FOR EVERY INTEREST
At our expansive Greene Complex for Sports and Recreation, you’ll find countless intramural, club sports, and fitness activities going on. There are exercise classes, personal training services, and even kayaks, paddles boards, and snorkel gear to rent.
VALUES inspired
WE ARE A CHRIST-FIRST UNIVERSITY, INSPIRING A LIVING AND ACTIVE FAITH THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. HERE ARE THREE FOUNDATIONAL WAYS WE FOCUS ON THIS COMMITMENT.
WORKSHIP
Workship is our way of combining a life of worship with the call to serve God in tangible ways. In the community and world, through organized service events and volunteerism, we respond to human needs with faith-filled action, such as tutoring children, keeping our beaches clean and safe for wildlife, and traveling abroad to help build a school.
WORSHIP
We stand together at the foot of the cross— faculty, staff, and students, together on a journey of following Christ. When we worship, we focus on the work of the Spirit, the truth of Scripture, and the fellowship of believers coming together.
WORDSHIP
Wordship is how we take seriously the discipline of using words faithfully. We practice civil dialogue, good listening, and considering perspectives that differ from our own. Through Wordship , we aim to meet the present moment with true leadership, moving our world closer to wisdom, justice, and unity.
“When I went on a class trip to Israel, people who were just faces from class became my closest friends. We went on the trip to have fun and to learn, but the bonds we made grew into so much more — it truly changed me. It strengthened my relationship with God. Our tight-knit community followed us back to West Palm Beach, and now we’re roommates and friends for life. The opportunities that PBA has offered have shaped who I am.”
JOCELYN SMITH CLASS OF 2021 MATHEMATICS MAJOR
CHOSEN FOR A BIGGER STORY
At PBA, we believe in more than success, we believe our lives are meant to make an impact. Through powerful living and learning experiences all across the globe, you won’t just change the lives of those you meet. Your own life, too, will be changed.
THE RINKER CENTER FOR EXPERIENTIAL
LEARNING LETS YOU:
SERVE ABROAD
Set off on a mission trip during school breaks, which are offered all over the world.
STUDY ABROAD
Choose from more than 20 locations, like Peru, South Korea, France, or New Zealand.
LEARN ABROAD
Learn in-depth and on-site— like studying socially-conscious business practices in Rio de Janeiro.
BIGGER LIFE chosen for a
The investment you make in a PBA education is one that stays with you for life. And not just any life— a life that follows the path that God chose for you.
Our graduates are consistently accepted into coveted graduate programs at schools such as Cambridge, Northwestern, and Vanderbilt. They far surpass state and national averages on professional certification exams. And they’re sought after by some of the world’s most respected organizations, with names like Ernst & Young, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and the Central Intelligence Agency.
But the impact of our graduates is so much bigger than the impressive résumés they have built. Whether in Washington DC or in a local elementary school, PBA graduates are leading lives that are full of purpose, compassion, and goodness.
AT PBA, WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE THAT GOD CHOOSES US ALL FOR A LIFE MUCH BIGGER THAN THE LIFE WE CAN IMAGINE—AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO HELP YOU FIND YOURS.
“I was challenged to excellence at PBA. It opened something in me — loving learning, valuing intellect, constantly growing. There was such a light at PBA, in my peers, my professors, and the staff who were so authentic and dedicated to walking alongside me.
That’s what I do now in South Africa: I walk alongside young people as they discover who God wants them to be. It’s PBA that taught me how to do it.”
REV. SARAH COLLINS PRINCE ( PICTURED, TOP ) CLASS OF 2002 FOUNDER OF UBUNTU FOOTBALL ACADEMY IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
WE BELIEVE YOU WERE CHOSEN FOR THIS LIFE. FOR THIS PLACE. FOR THIS MOMENT. AT PALM BEACH ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY, WE BELIEVE YOU WERE
CHOSEN to belong
And when you come to PBA, we’ll give everything we have to prepare you to fulfill all God has for you. Because you were chosen by God to explore. To be brave. To become.