Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico · Private Nonprofit · 41.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 21/100 · Poor Value
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla scores 21 on the CampusROI scale, placing it deep in the Poor Value tier -- but the data needs careful framing because the Puerto Rico labor market operates with substantially lower nominal wages than the U.S. mainland. Sticker tuition is just $5,742 and median federal debt at graduation is only $6,250, both extraordinarily low. The challenge is that 10-year median earnings are also low at $24,776, producing a -29.2% earnings premium versus the high-school baseline (sub-score of 1) and a 999-year payback period -- meaning, by the model's calculation, earnings never recoup the cost of attendance over a normal working life. Net price is $8,742, slightly above sticker because of fees and living costs net of aid. Completion at 42.9% is low. Debt-to-earnings and repayment rate sub-scores are imputed at 50 due to missing data. The honest read: this is a low-cost, high-Pell-share institution serving a Puerto Rico-based population whose post-graduation earnings, measured in U.S. dollars on the mainland scale, look weak -- but the school's debt loads are also genuinely small.
The data raises concerns about Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score21/100 - 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.
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $5,742/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $5,742/yr |
| Average net price | $8,742/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $34,968 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $24,776 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | N/A |
| Median debt at graduation | $6,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $66 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 42.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,906 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla is $5,742/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $8,742/year, or roughly $34,968 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $8,543/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
The median graduate leaves with $6,250 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $66 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $24,776 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is N/A - (insufficient data to assess).
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 | $8,543 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,117 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,361 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,612 |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $8,543 net, which is the bracket containing the vast majority of Aguadilla's students given the 82.9% Pell rate. Over four years that is roughly $34,000. Combined with the very low $6,250 median debt at graduation, students who complete are not leaving with crushing balances -- the issue is that 10-year earnings of $24,776 mean even small loan balances dominate household finances.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Households at $30,001-$48,000 pay $9,117 and $48,001-$75,000 pays $11,361, while $75,001-$110,000 pays $12,612. These prices are quite low by mainland U.S. standards but represent a meaningful share of household income in Puerto Rico's economy. The math works only if students complete the degree (43% currently do) and select a higher-earning major like nursing or computer science.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $110,001-plus bracket has no reported net price, which suggests a thin or zero high-income enrollment. Given the school's Pell-heavy student body, this is not a meaningful tier for IAUPR-Aguadilla's planning purposes.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $36,999 | C |
| Computer Science | $34,985 | - |
| Biology | $28,358 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $29,880 | B+ |
| Security Science and Technology | $29,441 | C |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $21,693 | D |
| Social Work | $21,904 | B+ |
| Accounting | $26,685 | - |
| Entrepreneurship | $21,272 | - |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | $31,241 | - |
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.
Registered Nursing
Nursing graduates from Aguadilla earn $12,797 at one year and $36,999 at four years, with $8,500 of debt -- a 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C grade. The four-year earnings figure is the highest of any reported program at the school and reflects PR's nursing labor market plus the option for some graduates to relocate to the mainland for substantially higher RN wages. With 39 graduates per year this is the school's flagship preprofessional path.
Computer Science
Computer Science graduates earn $34,985 at one year, the highest first-year figure of any program at the school. Four-year earnings are not reported, and debt and ROI grade are likewise unreported. With 36 graduates per year and 36 graduates in biology comprising the largest non-nursing cohorts, CS represents the strongest near-term earnings track at Aguadilla, particularly for graduates who can take remote roles servicing mainland U.S. clients.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates earn $16,702 at one year and $29,880 at four years against a low $5,500 of debt -- a 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ grade. With 35 graduates per year this is a meaningful cohort. Career endpoints are public-sector roles in PR (police, corrections, court system), which carry stable earnings and pension benefits but cap upside relative to private-sector tracks.
Social Work
Social Work graduates earn $21,904 at four years against a very low $7,000 of debt -- a 0.32 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ grade. With 17 graduates per year this is a steady program. The B+ grade reflects how forgiving low debt is even on modest earnings; the absolute earnings are low by mainland standards but the cost-to-earnings math is reasonable.
Biology
Biology graduates earn $28,358 at four years against $11,000 of debt -- a 0.39 ratio and a B grade. With 36 graduates per year this is one of the school's larger cohorts, and the B grade reflects the very low debt load. As is typical for biology bachelor's, most well-paid downstream paths require graduate or professional school (medicine, PA, dentistry, biomedical research).
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | N/A | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | N/A | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | N/A | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | N/A | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 41.8% |
| Enrollment | 2,906 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 82.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,059 |
IAUPR-Aguadilla admits 41.8% of applicants, which is moderately selective on paper, though the figure may reflect self-selected applicant pool dynamics typical of regional Puerto Rico institutions. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported in current Scorecard data, consistent with the Spanish-language testing environment. Selectivity here does not translate into stronger completion -- 57% of admitted students do not graduate within standard timeframes, the single biggest financial risk for incoming students.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The CampusROI peer set includes Universidad Adventista de las Antillas (PR), Atlantic University (FL), Indiana Tech College of Professional Studies, Morehouse College (GA), and Tuskegee University (AL). The cleanest comparison is Universidad Adventista, another small Puerto Rico private; the two perform similarly on the low-cost, low-earnings axis. Morehouse and Tuskegee are HBCUs operating in mainland U.S. markets and are not clean financial comps. Indiana Tech and Atlantic University are both small private nonprofits with similarly weak ROI scores nationally.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla (this school) | 21 | $8,742 | $24,776 |
| University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo | 22 | $10,680 | $30,512 |
| University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon | 22 | $8,484 | $34,409 |
| University of Puerto Rico-Carolina | 22 | $12,945 | $30,626 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce | 21 | $9,026 | $26,721 |
| University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla | 21 | $7,765 | $27,997 |
Who Thrives Here
With 2,906 students, an extraordinarily high 82.9% Pell rate, and a Puerto Rico location, IAUPR-Aguadilla fits Spanish-language students seeking an affordable bachelor's degree close to home. Outcomes look strongest in nursing ($36,999 four-year earnings) and computer science ($34,985 first-year). The student profile here is fundamentally different from a mainland U.S. private nonprofit; the relevant question is not 'is this a good ROI versus a Massachusetts liberal arts college' but 'is this a good ROI versus other PR options', and on that comparison it is broadly competitive.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla. With a net cost of $8,742 per year and median graduate earnings of only $24,776 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 42.9% graduation rate and a long payback period.
Median debt of $6,250 is very manageable against $24,776 in annual earnings - well within the financial advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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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.