Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo
Arecibo, Puerto Rico · Private Nonprofit · 38.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 20/100 · Poor Value
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo earns a 20 ROI score and lands in the Poor Value tier, but the numbers need Puerto Rico context. Median 10-year earnings of $24,539 reflect the island's substantially lower wage scale, not graduate underperformance per se -- the same dollar nominal earnings represent very different real income than mainland equivalents. The 999-year payback period signals that under the scorecard's national-wage methodology, earnings never recoup full cost. Tuition is low at $5,780, and net price is $9,217, but the net price exceeds tuition because mandatory fees, books, and living costs are folded in. Completion is 38.9%, debt is modest at $9,000 median, and repayment data is not reported (imputed at 50). The earnings premium is actually negative -- graduates earn less than the high-school-only national reference. For prospective students this is a cost-modest local option whose value depends entirely on staying in Puerto Rico's labor market; mainland comparisons distort the picture.
The data raises concerns about Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo
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.
- 6-year graduation rate38.9% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- 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-Arecibo
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $5,780/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $5,780/yr |
| Average net price | $9,217/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $36,868 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $24,539 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | N/A |
| Median debt at graduation | $9,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $95 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 38.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,220 |
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-Arecibo is $5,780/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $9,217/year, or roughly $36,868 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $8,897/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
The median graduate leaves with $9,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $95 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $24,539 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 | $8,897 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,892 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,216 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $14,497 |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 -- the majority here given 77% Pell -- pay $8,897 net, almost identical to the $9,217 overall average. Four-year cost is roughly $35,600, against $24,539 in 10-year median earnings. The math is tight but the absolute debt ($9,000 median) is small enough that even modest local wages can service it.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $11,216 net, with four-year cost around $44,900. This is the squeezed-middle bracket -- too high for max Pell but with the same earnings ceiling. The income brackets march upward cleanly, suggesting aid is need-based and well-targeted.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $14,497; the $110,000+ bracket is not reported -- likely because too few high-income families enroll to produce a published figure. At higher incomes the four-year cost approaches $58,000, but given the low PR wage base the value calculus is purely about cost containment and staying local.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $37,522 | C |
| Biology | $41,681 | C |
| Teacher Education | $42,795 | C+ |
| Social Work | $27,638 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $13,072 | D |
| Computer Science | $38,420 | A |
| Accounting | $34,159 | - |
| Entrepreneurship | $28,461 | - |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $22,424 | - |
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 is the flagship with 98 graduates -- by far the largest program. First-year earnings of $15,731 grow sharply to $37,522 by year four, reflecting the licensure delay and pay scale ramp common in healthcare. Median debt is only $10,000 and the four-year debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.636 (C grade). For local nursing labor demand, this is a solid pipeline; nurses who relocate to mainland can capture substantially higher mainland wages.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education produces 41 graduates earning $29,491 in year one and $42,795 by year four, against $13,687 in median debt for a 0.464 debt-to-earnings ratio (C+ grade). These earnings actually outperform the school's overall average, reflecting Puerto Rico Department of Education pay scales. Modest debt makes this a manageable path for local teachers.
Biology
Biology produces 65 graduates -- the second-largest program -- with $15,569 year-one earnings rising to $41,681 by year four (C grade, 0.642 ratio on $10,000 debt). Like most biology programs, this is a pre-professional pipeline: graduates feeding medical, dental, and graduate programs. Bachelor's-only outcomes are modest; the program's real value sits with students who continue.
Social Work
Social Work shows a strong B grade despite $27,638 four-year earnings, because median debt is only $10,500 (0.380 ratio). Thirty-six graduates feed local nonprofit and government social-service jobs. This is a textbook example of low-cost regional public-service training where the debt-to-earnings math works even on modest pay.
Computer Science
Computer Science is the standout on paper: $38,420 four-year earnings against just $5,500 median debt produces a 0.143 ratio and A grade. Only 19 graduates, so sample is small, but the program clearly outperforms on cost-to-earnings. Graduates with strong English and remote-work skills can capture mainland wages while based in Puerto Rico -- the asymmetric upside this program offers.
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 | 38.2% |
| Enrollment | 2,220 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 77.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,468 |
Inter American Arecibo admits 38.2% of applicants -- selectivity figures are reported but SAT and ACT scores are not, since Puerto Rico institutions typically use the College Board's Spanish-language PAA test rather than SAT/ACT. The admit rate alone is a thin signal: it likely reflects program-specific capacity (nursing especially) rather than overall academic gating. The 38.9% completion rate is the more telling number -- many admitted students do not finish in six years.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The peer set mixes a true island peer -- Universidad Adventista de las Antillas -- with mainland small private-nonprofits (Atlantic University, Indiana Tech CPS, Lindsey Wilson) and a yeshiva (United Talmudical Seminary). Comparing Inter American Arecibo to Antillas is meaningful; the others are apples-to-oranges given the wage and currency-context differences. Within Puerto Rico, Inter American is part of a multi-campus system with established nursing and education pipelines and competes mainly with sister UPR and Universidad Ana G. Méndez campuses.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo (this school) | 20 | $9,217 | $24,539 |
| United Talmudical Seminary | 36 | $6,640 | $25,113 |
| Atlantic University | 26 | $6,425 | $25,272 |
| Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professional Studies | 24 | $20,473 | $47,327 |
| Lindsey Wilson College | 23 | $15,070 | $41,129 |
| Universidad Adventista de las Antillas | 11 | $9,919 | $28,465 |
Who Thrives Here
This is a high-Pell (77.1%) institution serving 2,220 mostly local Puerto Rican students. The fit is straightforward: residents of north-central PR seeking nursing, teaching, or social-work credentials at low absolute cost, planning to stay on the island. Median debt of $9,000 is among the lowest on the scorecard, which limits the downside. Mainland-bound students would face the same low PR-context earnings ceiling without local labor-market familiarity.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo. With a net cost of $9,217 per year and median graduate earnings of only $24,539 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 38.9% graduation rate and a long payback period.
Median debt of $9,000 against $24,539 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.