Caribbean University-Vega Baja
Vega Baja, Puerto Rico · Private Nonprofit
ROI Score: 20/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Caribbean University-Vega Baja is a small private nonprofit in Puerto Rico with a CampusROI score of 20 out of 100, firmly in Poor Value tier. The profile reflects the realities of the Puerto Rico labor market more than school-specific weakness: median earnings six years out are just $18,400 climbing to $22,842 by year ten, and the earnings premium over a high-school baseline is actually negative at -58.1%, meaning graduates here earn less on average than the broader high-school-only Puerto Rico workforce in the period measured. The modeled payback period is the maximum 999 years, which the algorithm uses when earnings essentially never recoup cost. On the cost side, however, the school is genuinely inexpensive: sticker tuition is $8,844 and net price is just $5,235, putting four-year total cost at about $20,940. Median debt is also modest at $10,500. The six-year completion rate of 50% is reasonable. The clearest problem is repayment progress: only 41% are making progress at three years and 36% by year seven, suggesting a substantial share of borrowers are in deferment or default. Puerto Rico's broader economic conditions weigh heavily on these outcomes.
The data raises concerns about Caribbean University-Vega Baja
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score20/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers - the cost may not recoup within a working career.
Caribbean University-Vega Baja
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,844/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $8,844/yr |
| Average net price | $5,235/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $20,940 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $22,842 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $18,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $10,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $111 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 50.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 152 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $8,844/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $5,235/year, or roughly $20,940 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of N/A/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $10,500 in federal loans, which works out to about $111 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $22,842 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.57, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | N/A |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $5,235 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | N/A |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | N/A |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The $0-$30,000 bracket is not reported despite the school's 76.3% Pell rate, which suggests the bracket data is incomplete rather than indicative of pricing policy. Families in this band should request a personalized estimate; published Pell + FAFSA aid can typically cover the $5,235 net price for low-income Puerto Rican students nearly completely.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Only the $30,001-$48,000 bracket reports a figure, at $5,235, which is identical to the institutional average. Higher middle-income brackets are not reported, likely because so few students fall into them at this institution. Families considering enrollment should treat the listed figures as preliminary.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income brackets are not reported. The student population at this school is overwhelmingly low- and middle-income, and higher-income Puerto Rico families typically have access to better-resourced options at UPR Rio Piedras or Mayaguez. There is no published net-price data point for full-pay families.
Earnings by Major
Top 4 most popular majors at Caribbean University-Vega Baja with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Social Work | $26,324 | B+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $24,784 | D |
| Practical Nursing | $30,043 | F |
| Accounting | $26,619 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Social Work
Social Work graduates 2 students per year with four-year earnings of $26,324 against $7,500 in median debt. The 0.285 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a B+ ROI grade. The very small graduate count means individual outcomes drive the figures; treat these numbers as directional. Puerto Rico's social services sector is the natural employer pipeline for these graduates, with structurally low but stable wages.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates 1 student per year with $15,127 in first-year earnings and $24,784 by year four against $13,500 in median debt. The 0.892 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a D ROI grade. The credential aligns with Puerto Rico Police, federal pathways through the FBI San Juan field office, and corrections roles. Wages reflect the broader Puerto Rico public-sector pay scale, which is materially below mainland equivalents.
Practical Nursing
Practical Nursing graduates 1 student with $10,084 in first-year earnings and $30,043 by year four against $15,250 in median debt. The 1.512 debt-to-earnings ratio earns an F ROI grade. The earnings ramp from year one to year four is notable, but the first-year figure is unusually low and likely reflects part-time or transitional employment. Puerto Rico's nursing market is the realistic destination, with wages below mainland equivalents.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 34.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 41.0% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 30.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 35.5% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Caribbean University-Vega Baja’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 152 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 76.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $2,185 |
Admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data for Caribbean University-Vega Baja. SAT and ACT scores are not collected; Puerto Rico's PAA test (College Board Spanish-language equivalent) is the more relevant benchmark and is not in this dataset. The school operates as a broadly accessible private institution serving the Vega Baja and northern Puerto Rico region with workforce-oriented programs.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peers in the CampusROI dataset include Universidad Adventista de las Antillas, Atlantic University, Cleveland Institute of Music, Trinity Bible College and Graduate School, and Carolina College of Biblical Studies. The most apples-to-apples peer is Universidad Adventista de las Antillas, another Puerto Rico-based private institution facing similar labor-market challenges. The other peers serve very different student populations and missions. Within Puerto Rico's higher-ed ecosystem, public Universidad de Puerto Rico campuses generally offer materially stronger ROI driven by lower cost and broader program portfolios.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caribbean University-Vega Baja (this school) | 20 | $5,235 | $22,842 |
| University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla | 21 | $7,765 | $27,997 |
| Universidad Central de Bayamon | 20 | $4,827 | $25,021 |
| Universidad Teologica del Caribe | 20 | $9,045 | $23,536 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Fajardo | 20 | $9,230 | $23,132 |
| University of Puerto Rico at Ponce | 19 | $10,990 | $31,394 |
Who Thrives Here
With just 152 students and a Pell Grant rate of 76.3%, Caribbean University-Vega Baja serves an almost exclusively low-income Puerto Rican population pursuing applied workforce credentials. The right fit is a Vega Baja-area student who needs flexible scheduling, Spanish-language instruction, and a low-cost path to social work, nursing, or business credentials. Students with the option to attend a UPR campus typically should, given the stronger pipeline and lower cost. The school's role is essentially access to credentials for students whose alternatives are limited.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at Caribbean University-Vega Baja are a real concern. With a net cost of $5,235 per year and the typical graduate earning only $22,842 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost - go in with your eyes open.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 50.0% graduation rate, concerning loan repayment rates, a long payback period.
Median debt of $10,500 against $22,842 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.