University of Puerto Rico-Humacao
Humacao, Puerto Rico · Public · 54.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 23/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Puerto Rico-Humacao scores 23 in the Below Benchmark tier, with a 999-year payback period and a negative earnings premium of -10.8%. The structural issue is the Puerto Rico labor market: ten-year median earnings are just $29,521, below the local high-school-graduate baseline by Scorecard's measurement, which means a UPR-Humacao bachelor's does not statistically outperform a non-degree path on earnings alone. Six-year average earnings are not reported, suggesting the cohort has not yet stabilized into measurable employment patterns. Cost is genuinely low: tuition is $5,364, net price is $12,675, and total four-year cost is about $50,700 - the higher net price relative to tuition reflects living costs and books rather than the school's pricing. Median debt is $5,500, and the three-year repayment rate is 75.2% (sub-score 55). Completion rate is 47.1%.
How University of Puerto Rico-Humacao 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 Score23/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- 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-Humacao
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $5,364/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $5,364/yr |
| Average net price | $12,675/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $50,700 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $29,521 |
| 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 | 47.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,529 |
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: $5,364/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 $12,675/year, or roughly $50,700 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 $12,036/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,547/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 | $12,036 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,957 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,481 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,960 |
| $110,001+ | $19,547 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30,000 pay $12,036 net per year ($48,144 over four years), which is largely covered by Pell for eligible students. With 81% Pell enrollment, this is the dominant case. Effective out-of-pocket cost is near zero for most students; the credential is essentially free even when the earnings outcome is weak.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-110,000) pay $15,481-$16,960 per year - a meaningful step up from low-income brackets but still affordable. Four-year cost runs $62,000-$68,000. The 999-year payback applies to all brackets equally since earnings outcomes do not vary by family income.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $19,547 per year ($78,188 over four years). These families are a small slice of the class given the 81% Pell rate.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Puerto Rico-Humacao with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $38,201 | B |
| Social Work | $29,644 | D |
| Biology | $35,613 | - |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $45,816 | A |
| Accounting | $33,999 | C+ |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $24,322 | - |
| Human Resources Management | $28,024 | - |
| Chemistry | $50,727 | - |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $31,382 | - |
| Business Operations Support | $22,593 | - |
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 49 students with $14,764 first-year earnings, $38,201 by year four, $5,500 of debt, and a 0.373 debt-to-earnings ratio for a B grade. The first-year number reflects Puerto Rico nursing wages; the year-four figure suggests substantial mainland licensure transfer. For students planning stateside RN careers, this very-low-debt credential is genuinely strong value.
Accounting
Accounting graduates 34 students with $11,852 in year one and $33,999 by year four. Debt is $5,500 and debt-to-earnings is 0.464 for a C+ grade. The growth from year one to year four suggests credential mobility into mainland or San Juan-based corporate accounting roles.
Social Work
Social Work graduates 40 students earning $6,869 in year one and $29,644 by year four. Debt is $5,500 and debt-to-earnings is 0.801 for a D grade. The shockingly low first-year earnings reflect part-time or volunteer-stipend social work entry in Puerto Rico; year-four earnings show that licensure and full-time roles do eventually materialize.
Biology
Biology graduates 39 students earning $22,686 in year one and $35,613 by year four. Debt data is not reported. Biology is a feeder into UPR's medical and graduate-school pipelines and the earnings figures likely understate eventual outcomes for students who continue education.
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
Microbiology graduates 38 students with $26,961 first-year earnings and $45,816 by year four. Debt of $5,500 and debt-to-earnings of 0.204 yield an A grade. This is UPR-Humacao's standout outcome and reflects a genuine research-track pipeline into pharma, public health, and stateside graduate programs.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 73.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 75.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 66.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | N/A | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Puerto Rico-Humacao’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 | 54.8% |
| Enrollment | 2,529 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 80.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,890 |
UPR-Humacao admits 54.8% of applicants, modestly selective by Puerto Rico public-university standards. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported. The 55% admit rate combined with 47% completion suggests the admissions screen is real but not a strong predictor of completion, which is more constrained by Puerto Rico's economic conditions, family support structures, and post-Hurricane Maria/COVID disruptions than by initial academic preparation.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Puerto Rico-Humacao (this school) | 23 | $12,675 | $29,521 |
| University of Puerto Rico at Cayey | 24 | $10,176 | $30,958 |
| 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 |
| University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla | 21 | $7,765 | $27,997 |
Who Thrives Here
Enrollment is 2,529 with an 80.6% Pell rate. This is overwhelmingly a low-income, Spanish-speaking student body served at near-zero out-of-pocket cost (Pell typically covers tuition fully). The school works for students entering science programs (microbiology, chemistry, biology, physics) where some research and graduate-school pipelines exist, and for nursing graduates planning to license stateside. It is a difficult value proposition for students who plan to remain on the island in low-wage sectors.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, University of Puerto Rico-Humacao scores 23/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $12,675 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $29,521 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 47.1% graduation rate, a long payback period.
University of Puerto Rico-Humacao: Common Questions
Is University of Puerto Rico-Humacao worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. University of Puerto Rico-Humacao scores 23/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $12,675 a year after aid against $29,521 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-Humacao 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 $12,675 a year, or roughly $50,700 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-Humacao graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $29,521 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-Humacao?
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-Humacao. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
What is the graduation rate at University of Puerto Rico-Humacao?
The six-year graduation rate is 47.1%. 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.
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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.