Palm Beach Atlantic University

Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA), based in Florida, is a faith-based university with an aim to integrate a Christian worldview with selected academic studies. 

The university’s roots date back to 1968 when it was founded by Jess Moody who was the pastor of First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach. 

PBA's main campus is based in West Palm Beach, however new campuses were established in Orlando in 2002 and Wellington in 2007.

BA provides more than 50 undergraduate and graduate programmes, and is composed of nine schools, which are: the Rinker School of Business, School of Arts and Sciences, School of Communication and Media, School of Education and Behavioral Studies, MacArthur School of Leadership, School of Ministry, School of Music and Fine Arts, School of Nursing, and the Gregory School of Pharmacy.

Religion remains to be a prominent part of university life at PBA and chapel is held four times weekly in the DeSantis Family Chapel. It is a requirement for all full-time students, both undergraduate and graduate, who attend class during the daytime. Students must attend at least 24 chapels per year. Students are also required to volunteer at least 45 hours each year, either on campus or in the nearby community. 

In addition, mission trips are offered to students yearly, which include travel to countries all over the world. Travel is during the summer on a multi-week trip and on a one-week Spring Break trip.

Sports teams at PBA are members of the Sunshine State Conference, NCAA Division II and the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). Sports teams include: baseball, basketball, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, cross country, softball, cheerleading and dance.

Notable alumni include Sierra Grace Minott, a pageant titleholder  who was crowned Miss Florida in 2008, Victoria Lynn Jackson-Wessel, an American comedian and actress, who is best known as a cast member of the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, and Lizbeth Benacquisto, a Republican member of the Florida State Senate since 2012.