University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico · Public · 56.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 53/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez (UPRM) is the island's flagship STEM campus and scores 53 - Below Average Value on the headline number but with crucial caveats. The standout sub-score is debt-to-earnings at 97 out of 100 (raw 0.213), because median debt is only $8,250. Earnings of $38,700 at six years and $48,992 at ten years reflect Puerto Rico's wage scale (substantially below mainland equivalents in nominal terms). Tuition is just $5,274, but net price jumps to $17,936 because mandatory fees, living costs, and books dominate the total. Four-year cost is $71,744. Repayment is 79.3% at three years (sub-score 68) - strong. Completion of 49.1% is the main drag. The crucial story: UPRM's engineering programs are nationally competitive (computer, electrical, mechanical, chemical, industrial all earn A grades), and graduates who relocate to the mainland capture mainland engineering wages. This is an A-tier engineering value masked by a Puerto Rico-context wage average.
How University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 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.
- Payback period15.1 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $5,274/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $5,274/yr |
| Average net price | $17,936/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $71,744 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $48,992 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $8,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $87 |
| Estimated payback period | 15.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 49.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 9,539 |
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: $5,274/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 $17,936/year, or roughly $71,744 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 $17,939/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,466/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $8,250, which works out to about $87 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($38,700) and comes to 0.21, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $17,939 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,931 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,929 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,457 |
| $110,001+ | $18,466 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $17,939 net - essentially identical to all middle brackets. Four-year cost is around $71,800, against $48,992 in 10-year median earnings. The math works much better for engineering graduates (six-figure first-year earnings); for non-STEM tracks the PR wage ceiling limits payoff.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $17,929 - the brackets are essentially flat across the income range, suggesting aid is need-driven and capped at a low absolute amount. Four-year cost is $71,700. Engineering tracks justify the spend; non-STEM does not.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $17,457 (actually slightly less than middle-income brackets), while $110,000+ pays $18,466. Net price compression across all income tiers signals limited need-based price differentiation, mostly because tuition is already low and aid is bounded. Four-year cost stays around $74,000 regardless of income.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | $82,511 | A |
| Biology | $40,422 | D |
| Computer Engineering | $96,870 | A |
| Animal Sciences | $37,629 | C+ |
| Psychology | $30,372 | C |
| Electrical Engineering | $91,631 | A |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $40,501 | B |
| Industrial Engineering | $75,096 | A |
| Chemical Engineering | $74,254 | A |
| Accounting | $38,688 | B |
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.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering is UPRM's largest engineering program with 173 graduates earning $64,869 in year one and $82,511 by year four against just $7,625 in median debt - a 0.118 debt-to-earnings ratio and A grade. This program's graduates carry little debt. Many relocate to Texas, Florida, and Northeast aerospace/automotive employers.
Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering produces 137 graduates earning $83,545 in year one and $96,870 by year four against $10,300 debt (0.123 ratio, A grade). The highest first-year earnings of any UPRM program. A standout pipeline feeding mainland tech firms.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering produces 94 graduates with $77,221 first-year earnings rising to $91,631 by year four against $10,000 debt (0.129 ratio, A grade). Strong utility, telecom, and aerospace placement - both island and mainland. The combination of high earnings and minimal debt creates exceptional ROI.
Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering produces 77 graduates earning $47,701 in year one and $74,254 by year four against $7,250 debt (0.152 ratio, A grade). The first-year number is below other UPRM engineering programs, likely reflecting graduates initially working in PR pharmaceutical and chemical industry roles; the four-year climb reflects relocation to mainland refining, biotech, and chemical processing employers.
Industrial Engineering
Industrial Engineering produces 90 graduates earning $45,322 in year one and $75,096 by year four against $9,500 debt (0.210 ratio, A grade). Strong four-year earnings growth signals graduates moving into mainland manufacturing, operations, and consulting roles. PR pharmaceutical sector also absorbs a substantial portion.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 74.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 67.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | N/A | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez’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 | 56.5% |
| Enrollment | 9,539 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 64.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,407 |
UPRM admits 56.5% of applicants. SAT and ACT scores are not reported because PR institutions typically use the College Board's Spanish-language PAA test. The 49.1% completion rate combined with the relatively selective admit rate suggests financial constraints and family-context factors drive non-completion more than academic preparation. The school's engineering programs in particular admit a strong technical cohort - prepared engineering applicants face real competition.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez (this school) | 53 | $17,936 | $48,992 |
| Albizu University-San Juan | 46 | $9,732 | $41,544 |
| Dewey University-Hato Rey | 33 | $3,577 | $19,761 |
| Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music | 32 | $7,260 | $19,474 |
| University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras | 32 | $9,175 | $35,723 |
| Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico | 21 | $5,669 | $21,790 |
Who Thrives Here
UPRM fits Puerto Rican students with strong technical preparation aiming at engineering, computer science, agriculture, and applied sciences. Pell rate is 64.9% - a high-need-based student body. Enrollment of 9,539 is substantial. The school produces large engineering cohorts (137 in computer engineering, 173 in mechanical, 94 in electrical) and feeds mainland tech and energy companies as well as island industry. Strong fit for technically prepared, financially constrained students; engineering and CS in particular offer A-grade ROI. Weaker fit: students aiming at humanities or general business tracks where PR wages limit upside.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $17,936 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $48,992 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 15.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 49.1% graduation rate, a long payback period.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. Median debt of $8,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $38,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez: Common Questions
Is University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez scores 53/100 on our ROI scale. At $17,936 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $48,992 ten years after entry, so it takes about 15.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 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 $17,936 a year, or roughly $71,744 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-Mayaguez graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $48,992 ten years after enrolling, roughly $7,192 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez?
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 15.1 years for University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $8,250, against average earnings of $38,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21. In our view that is very manageable: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
What is the graduation rate at University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez?
The six-year graduation rate is 49.1%. 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.
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.