University of Puerto Rico-Humacao
Humacao, Puerto Rico · Public · 54.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 23/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Puerto Rico-Humacao scores 23 in the Poor Value 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 median 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 just $5,500, the lowest in the dataset, and the 75.2% three-year repayment rate (sub-score 55) is healthier than UPR-Humacao's earnings might predict, suggesting graduates either land stable government/teaching jobs or relocate to the US mainland. Completion rate of 47.1% is mid-pack. Like other UPR campuses, the data understate the value for graduates who migrate stateside for work.
The data raises concerns about University of Puerto Rico-Humacao
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score23/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers - the cost may not recoup 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 |
| Median 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. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $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.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $5,500 in federal loans, which works out to about $58 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $29,521 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to N/A, which we can't fully judge without more data.
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, and at this price they are typically comparing UPR-Humacao to mainland regional publics with stronger earnings outcomes, where the comparison favors leaving the island.
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 | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 73.6% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 75.2% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 66.7% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | N/A | 72.0% |
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.
UPR-Humacao's peer set (Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico, University of Guam, Cameron University, University of Montevallo) is a mix of island and small-public comps. University of Guam is the closest structural fit as another US-territory public regional university. Cameron and Montevallo are small mainland regional publics with comparable enrollment but materially better earnings outcomes due to mainland wage scales. The PR arts/conservatory peers carry similar Puerto Rico earnings ceilings. UPR-Humacao's 23 score reflects island labor-market reality, not academic underperformance versus peers.
| 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 - one of the highest in the dataset. 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: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at University of Puerto Rico-Humacao are a real concern. With a net cost of $12,675 per year and the typical graduate earning only $29,521 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost - go in with your eyes open.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 47.1% graduation rate, a long payback period.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. A median $5,500 owed against $29,521 in annual earnings is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
University of Puerto Rico-Humacao: Common Questions
Is University of Puerto Rico-Humacao worth it?
In our view, the numbers are a real concern - for most students the financial return does not justify the cost. University of Puerto Rico-Humacao scores 23/100 on our ROI scale. At $12,675 a year after aid against $29,521 in typical earnings ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years.
How much does University of Puerto Rico-Humacao cost after financial aid?
The average net price - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $12,675 a year, or roughly $50,700 over four years. That is the number to plan around, not the sticker price. 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, near 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 about >50 years for University of Puerto Rico-Humacao. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do University of Puerto Rico-Humacao graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $5,500, against $29,521 in typical earnings a decade out. That is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should stay under a year of salary.
What is the graduation rate at University of Puerto Rico-Humacao?
The six-year graduation rate is 47.1%, below the 64% national average (NCES, 2022) - and not finishing is the fastest route to a poor return. 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.