Florida's first public junior college, now a comprehensive state college serving 24,000+ students across 170+ programs.
Palm Beach State College enrolls nearly 25,000 students across over 170 programs of study. The college offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science, Bachelor of Applied Science, and Bachelor of Science degrees, along with short-term certificates and continuing education courses. Career pathways span STEM, business, health sciences, education, public safety, arts and humanities, and industry/manufacturing/construction/transportation. The college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The main Lake Worth campus spans 114 acres with 51 buildings and has served as the college's hub since 1956. Additional full-service campuses operate in Belle Glade (1978), Palm Beach Gardens (1982), Boca Raton (1983), and Loxahatchee Groves (2017). The college operates the Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center, Duncan & Stage West Theatres, and Eissey Campus Theatre. Student services include a library, career center, student accessibility center, and wellness programs. The Panthers compete in NJCAA Division I athletics (Southern Conference).
The college offers open admissions and serves both first-time and transfer students. Dual enrollment and early admissions programs are available for high school students. The college provides orientation and registration support. Online and in-person class formats are available, with flexible scheduling to accommodate working students.
Founded in 1933 during the Great Depression to provide training for unemployed high school graduates, Palm Beach State College was the first public junior college in Florida. Originally located at Palm Beach High School, it moved to Morrison Field (1948), Lake Park Town Hall (1951), and finally to its current Lake Worth campus (1956). The college merged with Roosevelt Junior College in 1965 and transitioned from a junior college to a state college in 2010 upon offering baccalaureate degrees.