University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
Carolina, Puerto Rico · Public · 54.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 22/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Puerto Rico-Carolina scores 22 (Below Benchmark). University of Puerto Rico-Carolina is a public regional campus serving 2,404 students in the San Juan metro area. In-state tuition is $7,986 but median net price runs $12,945 (which exceeds tuition because of room/board/fees), and four-year out-of-pocket totals $51,780. The structural challenge is the Puerto Rico labor market: median earnings ten years after entry are $30,626, well below mainland baselines, and the six-year earnings figure is unreported. Median federal debt is just $5,500 - remarkably restrained - and the 78.4% three-year repayment rate is a relative strength. Debt-to-earnings is unreported (imputed score 50) because the debt sample is too thin. The payback period of 999 years means earnings, measured against the cost of attendance and US median high-school earnings, never recoup - but this metric is somewhat distorted for Puerto Rico because the comparison baseline assumes a mainland labor market. The 37.3% completion rate is the binding outcome constraint. Pell rate is 76.0%, meaning federal aid heavily underwrites attendance.
How University of Puerto Rico-Carolina scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score22/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate37.3% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
- Payback period>50 years - In our estimate, the earnings premium over a high school completer is small next to the cost, so the cost may not be recouped within a working career.
University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,986/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $7,986/yr |
| Average net price | $12,945/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $51,780 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $30,626 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | N/A |
| Median debt at graduation | $5,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $58 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 37.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,404 |
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: $7,986/year, which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $12,945/year, or roughly $51,780 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 $12,287/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,229/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $5,500, which works out to about $58 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. We do not have the six-year earnings figure needed to work out a debt-to-earnings ratio for this school.
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 | $12,287 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,001 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,267 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,900 |
| $110,001+ | $18,229 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30,000 pay $12,287 net - modestly below the headline. For Puerto Rico households at this income level (where median household income is roughly $24,000), this represents a heavy ongoing cost even with Pell. The flat institutional aid curve across income brackets means the school does not heavily price-discriminate.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
$30,001-48,000 pays $13,001 and $48,001-75,000 pays $15,267. The bracket structure escalates predictably.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $18,229 - the highest of the brackets, with the curve escalating monotonically. At UPR-Carolina's earnings outcomes, full-pay attendance from a high-income family is poor ROI.
Earnings by Major
Top 6 most popular majors at University of Puerto Rico-Carolina with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitality Administration | $36,742 | - |
| Clinical Psychology | $26,214 | - |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $32,928 | - |
| Finance and Financial Management | $22,039 | - |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $21,492 | - |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $18,739 | - |
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.
Hospitality Administration
Hospitality Administration is the largest reported program (66 graduates), with $36,742 four-year median earnings. Debt and one-year earnings are unreported. San Juan's tourism and hospitality sector is the dominant employer for this credential, and earnings reflect Puerto Rico hospitality wage scales rather than mainland resort markets. Graduates who relocate to mainland US hospitality hubs typically see meaningful earnings step-ups.
Clinical Psychology
Clinical Psychology produces 64 graduates with $26,214 four-year median earnings. With no debt or one-year earnings reported, the picture is incomplete. The earnings figure is consistent with bachelor-level psychology work in a Puerto Rico labor market that is structurally lower-paying than mainland equivalents; most clinical psych careers require graduate study.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates 60 students with $32,928 four-year earnings - the second-strongest in the portfolio. Public-safety roles in Puerto Rico (police, corrections, federal placement) offer stable employment, and earnings reflect island wage scales. Graduates pursuing federal CJ paths (FBI, DEA, Customs) often relocate and see significant earnings gains.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business produces only 15 graduates with $21,492 four-year earnings - among the weaker outcomes in the portfolio. The small graduate count suggests Business is not a flagship program here, and the earnings figure reflects the constrained Puerto Rico business labor market.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance graduates 15 students with $22,039 four-year earnings - a soft signal for what is normally one of the higher-earning bachelor-level credentials. Puerto Rico's financial services sector is small, and graduates typically need to relocate to drive earnings. The credential is portable to mainland markets, but on-island ROI is weak.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 70.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 78.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 61.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | N/A | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Puerto Rico-Carolina’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
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
| Acceptance rate | 54.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 398-519 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 411-538 |
| Enrollment | 2,404 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 76.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,539 |
UPR-Carolina admits 54.5% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges (Math 398-519, Reading 411-538) reflect a Spanish-dominant student population for whom the College Board scores understate academic readiness in Spanish-medium coursework. The selectivity-to-completion gap (54.5% admit, 37.3% completion) suggests persistence challenges driven by the broader Puerto Rico economic context as much as academic preparation.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Puerto Rico-Carolina (this school) | 22 | $12,945 | $30,626 |
| University of Puerto Rico-Humacao | 23 | $12,675 | $29,521 |
| University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo | 22 | $10,680 | $30,512 |
| University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon | 22 | $8,484 | $34,409 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla | 21 | $8,742 | $24,776 |
| University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla | 21 | $7,765 | $27,997 |
Who Thrives Here
UPR-Carolina serves 2,404 students in a heavily local, Spanish-medium environment with a 76.0% Pell rate. The school fits Puerto Rico residents seeking a low-cost public-university credential who plan to remain in the island labor market or who are positioned to relocate to the mainland after graduation (where their earnings trajectory typically improves substantially). Mainland US students should not view this as a substitute for a stateside public regional - the labor-market context fundamentally changes the ROI calculation.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, University of Puerto Rico-Carolina scores 22/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $12,945 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $30,626 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at more than 50 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 37.3% graduation rate, a long payback period.
University of Puerto Rico-Carolina: Common Questions
Is University of Puerto Rico-Carolina worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. University of Puerto Rico-Carolina scores 22/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $12,945 a year after aid against $30,626 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at more than 50 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does University of Puerto Rico-Carolina cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $12,945 a year, or roughly $51,780 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Puerto Rico-Carolina graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $30,626 ten years after enrolling, at or below the $41,800 median for high-school graduates (NCES, 2022). With little earnings gap to cover the cost, the financial return is hard to make.
How long does it take to pay off University of Puerto Rico-Carolina?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at more than 50 years for University of Puerto Rico-Carolina. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
What is the graduation rate at University of Puerto Rico-Carolina?
The six-year graduation rate is 37.3%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.