Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Fajardo
Fajardo, Puerto Rico · Private Nonprofit · 26.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 20/100 · Poor Value
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Fajardo earns an ROI score of 20 out of 100 and lands in the Poor Value tier, with the score reflecting Puerto Rico's depressed labor market more than any failing specific to the institution. The school is genuinely inexpensive: tuition is $5,780, net price after aid is $9,230 (the net price actually exceeds tuition, indicating limited institutional aid relative to fees and living costs), and the four-year all-in is just $36,920. Median federal debt is only $5,750. But Puerto Rico's depressed wage environment drags earnings down severely: median ten-year earnings are $23,132 (six-year earnings unreported) and the Scorecard reports a 999-year payback, meaning the earnings premium over a typical Puerto Rico high school graduate never recoups even this modest cost. The 37.7% completion rate is the additional structural drag. The debt-to-earnings ratio and repayment rate are both imputed because actual data is unavailable, with dataCompleteness at 0.80. For students staying in Puerto Rico, the financial decision is constrained more by labor market conditions than by school choice.
The data raises concerns about Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Fajardo
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 rate37.7% - 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-Fajardo
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $5,780/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $5,780/yr |
| Average net price | $9,230/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $36,920 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $23,132 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | N/A |
| Median debt at graduation | $5,750 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $61 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 37.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,072 |
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-Fajardo 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 $9,230/year, or roughly $36,920 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $9,062/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
The median graduate leaves with $5,750 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $61 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $23,132 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 | $9,062 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,480 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,307 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | N/A |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $9,062 in net price, and the $30,001-$48,000 band pays $9,480. These are very low figures by mainland standards, but in Puerto Rico's compressed wage environment they still represent a meaningful share of household income. Pell Grant fully covers tuition for most families; the remaining cost is largely living expenses. Workable for students who finish.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 band pays $11,307. The $75,001-$110,000 and $110,001-plus brackets are unreported, likely because too few students at this Pell-heavy school come from those income tiers to produce reliable estimates. Treat the upper brackets as effectively not applicable; this school serves overwhelmingly working-class Puerto Rican families.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Net price data for households above $75,000 is not reported, which is itself informative: high-income families essentially do not attend this school. Any high-income student considering Inter American Fajardo would face approximately full sticker, but the realistic decision space for these families is mainland or UPR system institutions rather than Inter American Fajardo.
Earnings by Major
Top 4 most popular majors at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Fajardo with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $32,816 | B+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $21,931 | - |
| Communication Disorders Sciences | $25,816 | - |
| Social Work | $26,201 | - |
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.
Biology
Biology is Inter American Fajardo's strongest program at 37 graduates. Four-year earnings of $32,816 against a $9,000 median debt produce a 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ ROI grade, the program's bright spot. Most biology graduates either continue to medical or graduate school or work in clinical settings in Puerto Rico; the four-year earnings reflect that mix. A defensible pathway for students with clear graduate-school plans.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates 20 students with $5,087 first-year earnings and $21,931 four-year earnings. Median debt is unreported. The very low first-year figure suggests substantial post-graduation unemployment or underemployment, with the four-year recovery reflecting eventual hiring into Puerto Rico's law enforcement or corrections workforce. Workforce pay in this sector is structurally weak.
Communication Disorders Sciences
Speech and hearing sciences graduates 12 students with four-year earnings of $25,816. Median debt and ROI grade are unreported. This program typically requires graduate study (SLP requires a master's) so the four-year earnings reflect the cohort that has continued training. A reasonable pathway for students committed to the graduate program.
Social Work
Social Work graduates just 7 students with four-year earnings of $26,201. Sample size limits confidence and median debt is unreported. Social work in Puerto Rico is structurally low-paying, and many graduates work in nonprofit or government settings. Mission-driven students may find the program a good fit; financially, the return is modest.
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 | 26.5% |
| Enrollment | 1,072 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 82.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,114 |
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Fajardo admits 26.5% of applicants, a surprisingly selective rate that likely reflects a small applicant pool or specific program prerequisites rather than nationally competitive admissions. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported, consistent with a Puerto Rico-focused school where the College Board PR exams may serve as the local standard. The 37.7% completion rate suggests significant attrition pressure that selectivity is not fully offsetting.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Inter American Fajardo's peer set is mostly other small specialized institutions. Universidad Adventista de las Antillas, another Puerto Rico private institution, is the most relevant peer, with similar labor market constraints. Atlantic University, Mary Baldwin University in Virginia, and Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky are small mainland privates with different economic contexts. Be-er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary is a niche religious institution. Within Puerto Rico, comparison to UPR system schools would be more useful; against those, Inter American typically loses on completion rate.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Fajardo (this school) | 20 | $9,230 | $23,132 |
| 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 |
| Caribbean University-Vega Baja | 20 | $5,235 | $22,842 |
| University of Puerto Rico at Ponce | 19 | $10,990 | $31,394 |
Who Thrives Here
Inter American Fajardo enrolls 1,072 students with an 82.7% Pell rate, marking it as a low-income access institution serving primarily local Puerto Rican students. The fit profile is a Fajardo-area student who needs a low-cost option close to home, often pursuing biology, allied health, or criminal justice toward local employment. The 37.7% completion rate and depressed earnings reflect Puerto Rico's broader economic challenges rather than something unique to this school. Best outcomes go to biology-track students who continue to graduate or professional school.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Fajardo. With a net cost of $9,230 per year and median graduate earnings of only $23,132 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 37.7% graduation rate and a long payback period.
Median debt of $5,750 is very manageable against $23,132 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.