University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
#5 Colleges With the Lowest Student Debt- Graduation Rate
- 39% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $30,626 D
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $12,945 B-
- 24% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 55% B+
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 18.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.3 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Colleges With the Lowest Student Debt.
Every $1 spent returns $18.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $898,356.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduate earnings fall 25% below the national college median.
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Graduation of 39% — 32% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $18.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of Puerto Rico-Carolina Matters
University of Puerto Rico-Carolina is a public college in Carolina, PR and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 2,404
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Psychology, Criminal Justice, Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 55% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 809–1057. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,945 a year after grants and scholarships — 24% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $30,626 ten years after enrolling — 25% below the typical college, against $5,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.38 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
At the University of Puerto Rico-Carolina, you'll find a welcoming atmosphere that suits students eager to pursue careers in fields like Business & Marketing, Psychology, and Criminal Justice. With an enrollment of 2,404, the school fosters a tight-knit community where students can connect easily with faculty and peers. The acceptance rate of 55% suggests that while it's competitive, there's room for those who are motivated to thrive in their studies.
Graduates from this university see an average earnings boost to about $30,626 within a decade of finishing their degree. This figure is vital for understanding what life might look like post-graduation. Affordability is also a key part of the equation, as the net price after aid sits at $12,945, making it accessible for many. With a notable 76% of students receiving Pell Grants, financial support is an essential resource for many who choose to attend.
In terms of debt, the median amount for graduates is $5,500, which is relatively manageable. This can ease the financial burden as students transition into the workforce. The combination of a supportive environment and reasonable costs tends to help students who are dedicated and focused on their career goals. Those who thrive here are often those ready to take advantage of the numerous opportunities available in their chosen fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Puerto Rico-Carolina is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Puerto Rico-Carolina? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
University of Puerto Rico-Carolina, located in Carolina, PR, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 55% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 932. The graduation rate is roughly 39%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 55%
- Retention Rate
- 71%
- SAT Average
- 932
- SAT Range
- 809–1057
- Full-Time Faculty
- 58%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,539
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.07
- First-Gen Students
- 18%
- Applicants
- 1,752
- Admitted
- 971
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Puerto Rico-Carolina? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Puerto Rico-Carolina is $7,986, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,945. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,287 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $5,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $7,986
- Out-of-State
- $7,986
- Avg Net Price
- $12,945
- Median Debt
- $5,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 76%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 3%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,287
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $13,001
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $15,267
- Family Income $110K+
- $18,229
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of Puerto Rico-Carolina — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Puerto Rico-Carolina Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Puerto Rico-Carolina report median earnings of $30,626, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $22,317
- 8 Years
- $27,204
- 10 Years
- $30,626
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.18x
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (204)
- 36%
- 100% (204)
- 36%
- 100% (204)
- 36%
- 100% (204)
- 36%
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Puerto Rico-Carolina Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Puerto Rico-Carolina delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,945/year ($51,780 total). Graduates earn $30,626 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $950,136 in total earnings — a net gain of $898,356 (18.3× your investment). The median debt is $5,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 39% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $51,780
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $950,136
- Net Return
- $898,356
- ROI Multiple
- 18.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,945
- Median Debt
- $5,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 39%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields University of Puerto Rico-Carolina awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Psychology 25% $19,479 early-career
- Criminal Justice 25%
- Business & Marketing 23% $29,138 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 5%
- Communications 3%
- Education 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Puerto Rico-Carolina's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CTraining Manager$125,040 · 6% growthResilient 74
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Puerto Rico-Carolina? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
University of Puerto Rico-Carolina, located in Carolina, PR, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 55% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 932. The graduation rate is roughly 39%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Puerto Rico-Carolina? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Puerto Rico-Carolina is $7,986, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,945. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,287 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $5,500 in federal student loans.
Is University of Puerto Rico-Carolina Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Puerto Rico-Carolina report median earnings of $30,626, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is University of Puerto Rico-Carolina? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Puerto Rico-Carolina. Its economic connectedness score is 1.38, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Puerto Rico-Carolina.
- University of Puerto Rico-HumacaoHumacao, PR · Close peer50% grad $29,521 earn 55% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of Puerto Rico at PoncePonce, PR · Close peer48% grad $31,394 earn 52% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Puerto Rico at CayeyCayey, PR · Close peer49% grad $30,958 earn 53% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of Puerto Rico-AreciboArecibo, PR · Close peer51% grad $30,512 earn 59% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Inter American University of Puerto Rico-MetroSan Juan, PR · Close peer35% grad $30,821 earn 70% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Universidad del Sagrado CorazonSanturce, PR · Close peer48% grad $31,754 earn 58% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Puerto Rico-Carolina? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Puerto Rico-Carolina. Its economic connectedness score is 1.38, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note