University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
San Juan, Puerto Rico · Public · 54.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 32/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, the flagship campus of UPR, scores 32 out of 100 - a Poor Value tier rating that requires careful interpretation. UPR-RP is a low-cost public ($5,354 in-state tuition, $9,175 net price, $36,700 four-year total) but Puerto Rico's local labor market depresses earnings: median earnings six years out are $23,600, climbing to $35,723 at year ten. Median debt is just $5,500 - one of the lowest in the dataset - producing an excellent 0.233 debt-to-earnings ratio. The paybackPeriod field shows 244.4 years, which functionally means earnings never recoup the cost under the algorithm's standard assumptions; this reflects the islanded labor market, not a debt problem. The earnings premium of 0.020 over a high-school baseline is essentially flat, which is the binding ROI weakness. Completion rate is 50.3%. The program-level data reveals a strong feature: many programs earn A grades because debt is so low that even modest earnings produce favorable debt-to-earnings ratios. UPR-RP is the strongest higher-education institution in Puerto Rico; its ROI score reflects island economic conditions, not the institution's quality.
The data raises concerns about University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score32/100 - 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-Rio Piedras
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $5,354/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $5,354/yr |
| Average net price | $9,175/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $36,700 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $35,723 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $23,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $5,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $58 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 50.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 8,572 |
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: $5,354/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 $9,175/year, or roughly $36,700 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 $8,018/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $13,018/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 $35,723 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.23, 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 | $8,018 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,553 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,002 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $11,925 |
| $110,001+ | $13,018 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $8,018 net annually - one of the lowest net prices in the dataset. Pell + UPR institutional aid does substantial work. Four-year exposure of about $32,000 is genuinely affordable. For low-income Puerto Rican students this is a defensible value, especially given the very low median debt of $5,500 across graduates.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $11,002, and $75,001-$110,000 pays $11,925. Four-year cost runs $44,000-$48,000 - still extremely competitive. Middle-income island families get an excellent absolute price; the binding constraint is the post-graduation earnings ceiling on the island, not affordability.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $13,018 net per year - four-year cost of about $52,000. Affordable in absolute terms. High-income island families often consider UPR-RP versus mainland privates with merit aid; for students planning mainland careers, mainland degrees may produce stronger long-run earnings, but the cost differential is enormous.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $40,152 | C+ |
| Psychology | $30,052 | C+ |
| Linguistic and Comparative Language Studies | $31,930 | C |
| Accounting | $57,201 | A |
| Marketing | $46,038 | A |
| International Relations | $41,417 | B |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $31,848 | A |
| Human Resources Management | $34,844 | A |
| Finance and Financial Management | $57,851 | - |
| Environmental Design | $35,023 | A |
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 is UPR-RP's largest program at 231 graduates, with $11,923 first-year earnings rising to $40,152 by year four. The dramatic year-one to year-four jump strongly suggests medical and dental school graduates entering practice. $5,500 median debt produces a 0.461 ratio and a C+ grade. UPR-RP's biology track has historically been one of the strongest pre-medical pipelines in the Hispanic-serving institution network. For students aiming at medical school, this is one of the best ROI-adjusted pre-med pathways in the dataset.
Accounting
Accounting produces 83 graduates with $27,883 first-year earnings rising to $57,201 by year four, $5,750 median debt, and a remarkable 0.206 debt-to-earnings ratio earning an A grade. The low-debt, decent-earnings combination makes this one of the strongest absolute ROI programs in the entire dataset. CPA pathways and corporate-accounting roles in San Juan and at mainland firms with island connections drive the year-four earnings ramp.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance produces 48 graduates with $61,729 first-year earnings - by far the highest first-year figure on file at UPR-RP. Year-four median earnings drop to $57,851, an unusual inversion that may reflect a small cohort effect or graduates returning to the island from mainland positions. Either way, this is the highest-earning program at UPR-RP and a strong choice for ROI-focused students.
Psychology
Psychology produces 127 graduates with $10,082 first-year earnings rising to $30,052 by year four, $5,500 debt, and a 0.546 ratio for a C+ grade. The first-year earnings figure is genuinely concerning - among the lowest in the dataset - and reflects the saturation of bachelor's-level psychology in PR's labor market. Students should commit to graduate-school continuation from day one.
Computer Science
Computer Science produces 27 graduates with $54,102 median earnings four years out - strong for the local market. Median debt and one-year earnings are not reported, limiting ROI grade computation. CS at UPR-RP feeds both the island tech ecosystem (limited but growing) and remote/mainland employment, which likely drives the favorable year-four figure. A defensible choice for ROI-focused PR students.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 52.8% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 63.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 37.6% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | N/A | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras’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 | 54.6% |
| Enrollment | 8,572 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 66.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,128 |
Admission rate is 54.59%. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported - UPR-RP relies on the College Board PR (CEEB) exam used by Puerto Rico high schools rather than the standard mainland SAT/ACT. Stronger applicants from Puerto Rico's top public and private high schools fill the entering classes; the institution remains the most selective option on the island. The 50% completion rate reflects both academic-prep distribution and the economic pressure many students face during enrollment.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UPR-RP's peer set includes Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico, Idaho State University, North Carolina A&T State University, and University of Akron Main Campus. The two PR peers are specialized arts institutions with different program mixes. NC A&T (an HBCU flagship) and Akron are useful mainland-public comparisons - both larger and serving different demographic mixes. UPR-RP's true peer comparison is mainland flagship publics; on the academic side it competes well, but earnings outcomes are constrained by the local labor market in ways those mainland peers are not.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras (this school) | 32 | $9,175 | $35,723 |
| Dewey University-Hato Rey | 33 | $3,577 | $19,761 |
| Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music | 32 | $7,260 | $19,474 |
| Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico | 31 | $5,669 | $21,790 |
| Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico | 27 | $17,540 | $47,540 |
| Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa | 27 | $6,440 | $21,410 |
Who Thrives Here
UPR-RP fits Puerto Rican students who want the island's flagship public-university experience and plan to remain in or return to Puerto Rico. Pell rate is 66.47% - one of the highest in the dataset, reflecting island income distribution. Total enrollment of 8,572 supports a real research-university experience in Spanish-medium instruction. For students planning to leave the island for grad school or mainland employment, UPR-RP is an exceptional value: low debt, strong academic foundation, and graduate placement at top mainland programs. Students who stay face the local-earnings constraint that drives the headline ROI score down.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras are a real concern. With a net cost of $9,175 per year and the typical graduate earning only $35,723 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 it has going for it: manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 50.3% graduation rate, concerning loan repayment rates, a long payback period.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. A median $5,500 owed against $35,723 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-Rio Piedras: Common Questions
Is University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras 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-Rio Piedras scores 32/100 on our ROI scale. At $9,175 a year after aid against $35,723 in typical earnings ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years.
How much does University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras cost after financial aid?
The average net price - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $9,175 a year, or roughly $36,700 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-Rio Piedras graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $35,723 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-Rio Piedras?
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-Rio Piedras. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $5,500, against $35,723 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-Rio Piedras?
The six-year graduation rate is 50.3%, 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.