Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico · Private Nonprofit · 99.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 8/100 · Poor Value
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez scores 8 (Poor Value) on the CampusROI scale -- a near-floor score driven by a convergence of severe problems. Median 6-year earnings of $17,700 are below the national poverty line for a household, and the payback period is reported as 999 by the Scorecard, indicating the model could not resolve a finite payback from the cost-to-earnings relationship. The earnings premium sub-score is -0.219, meaning graduates earn less than a statistically comparable group of non-attendees -- a rare and serious finding. The 39.9% completion rate means fewer than two in five enrolled students graduate. The 45.3% repayment rate indicates a majority of borrowers are not making progress on their loans. Sticker tuition is $6,550; net price averages $11,502. The school enrolls 555 students and serves a high-need population -- 80.4% of students receive Pell grants. Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT ranges. No program earns better than a C+ grade.
The data raises concerns about Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score8/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate39.9% - 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.
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $6,550/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $6,550/yr |
| Average net price | $11,502/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $46,008 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $24,908 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $17,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $15,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $164 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 39.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 555 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez is $6,550/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $11,502/year, or roughly $46,008 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $11,000/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
The median graduate leaves with $15,500 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $164 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $24,908 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.88 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
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 | $11,000 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,890 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,432 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,675 |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $11,000 per year. For a school with 80.4% Pell grant enrollment, this is the dominant cost scenario. At $17,700 median 6-year earnings and a 39.9% completion rate, the financial risk to low-income students is severe -- particularly for the 60%+ who do not complete and leave with debt and no credential. The 45.3% repayment rate confirms this risk is realized for many borrowers.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $13,432 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $15,675. Given that the institution's Pell rate is 80.4%, middle-income families represent a very small share of the enrolled population. The payback math is unfavorable at every income level given the $17,700 median 6-year earnings.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Scorecard does not report a net price figure for the $110,001-plus income bracket. The institution's overwhelmingly low-income student body makes this bracket largely theoretical. For any family with alternatives, the Scorecard data presents a strong case for considering other options before enrolling.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $27,205 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $23,351 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $28,523 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $24,412 | D |
| Social Work | $19,099 | D |
| Political Science and Government | $22,958 | D |
| Special Education and Teaching | $34,645 | - |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $33,066 | - |
| Accounting | $31,158 | F |
| Psychology | $24,118 | C+ |
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 (21 graduates) earns an F grade: $17,632 year-one and $27,205 year-four with $18,500 in median debt and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.049. At year one, debt exceeds annual earnings. The four-year figure of $27k reflects a Puerto Rico labor market where biological sciences pay significantly below continental U.S. norms. Graduates carrying $18,500 in debt on $17-27k earnings face genuine repayment stress.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice and Corrections (16 graduates) earns a C grade with no year-one earnings reported; year-four earnings are $23,351 with $14,150 in median debt and a ratio of 0.606. The C grade reflects a debt-to-earnings ratio that, while not catastrophic, sits against earnings that leave little financial margin. Scorecard does not report year-one data for this cohort.
Psychology
Psychology reports a C+ grade with $26,047 year-one and $24,118 year-four earnings -- an unusual case where four-year earnings are lower than year-one, suggesting a small and variable cohort. Median debt of $12,250 and a ratio of 0.47 produce the grade. Scorecard reports zero graduates for this program cohort, making the earnings figures unreliable for planning purposes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (5 graduates) earns a D grade: $18,225 year-one and $24,412 year-four with $14,357 median debt and a ratio of 0.788. The cohort is very small (5 graduates), limiting the reliability of the earnings figures. Business graduates entering Puerto Rico's private sector face wage compression relative to continental U.S. markets.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal Arts and Sciences (7 graduates) earns a D grade: $19,848 year-one and $28,523 year-four with $19,040 in median debt and a ratio of 0.959. Near year one, debt and earnings are nearly equal. The cohort is small (7 graduates), and the earnings pattern reflects limited high-wage career pathways from a general liberal arts credential in the Mayaguez labor market.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 37.8% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 45.3% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 37.2% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 37.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 99.2% |
| Enrollment | 555 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 80.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $4,241 |
At 99.2% admission, the university is functionally open access. Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT score ranges. Students considering enrollment should place heavy emphasis on the 39.9% completion rate -- more than six in ten enrolled students do not graduate -- and the extremely low repayment rate, which suggests that borrowing is risky relative to observed outcomes.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Scorecard peers include Universidad Adventista de las Antillas and Atlantic University -- institutions with similar Puerto Rico locations and open-access profiles. Among Puerto Rico private institutions, PUCPR-Mayaguez is at the lower end of outcomes. The 8 ROI score reflects genuine structural challenges: regional wage compression, very low completion rates, and a nearly universal low-income student body facing difficult borrowing outcomes. The comparison peer group shares these regional economic constraints, but the completion rate at PUCPR-Mayaguez is an outlier even within this peer set.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez (this school) | 8 | $11,502 | $24,908 |
| Atlantic University | 26 | $6,425 | $25,272 |
| Le Moyne-Owen College | 11 | $7,099 | $35,594 |
| Universidad Adventista de las Antillas | 11 | $9,919 | $28,465 |
| Voorhees University | 8 | $13,335 | $35,339 |
| Jarvis Christian University | 4 | $9,825 | $32,992 |
Who Thrives Here
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez admits 99.2% of applicants and enrolls 555 students in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Scorecard does not report test score ranges. The Pell grant rate of 80.4% is among the highest in the Scorecard dataset, reflecting an almost entirely low-income student body. The school serves a population with limited access to other higher education options. Puerto Rico's labor market produces compressed earnings relative to the continental United States, which partially explains the low Scorecard earnings figures -- but the completion rate of 39.9% and repayment rate of 45.3% represent structural problems beyond regional wage differences.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez. With a net cost of $11,502 per year and median graduate earnings of only $24,908 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 39.9% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $15,500 against $24,908 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.