University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
#8 Colleges With the Lowest Student Debt- Graduation Rate
- 51% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $35,723 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $9,175 B+
- 46% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 55% B+
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 40.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $40.0 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Colleges With the Lowest Student Debt.
Every $1 spent returns $40.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,432,500.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $40.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Matters
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras is a public research university in San Juan, PR and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and 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 Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 8,572
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology, Social Sciences
Why students choose University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
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. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $9,175 a year after grants and scholarships — 46% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $35,723 ten years after enrolling — 12% 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 1.62 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 8,572 students, the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras stands out as a solid choice for those looking to dive into programs like Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology, Education, and Social Sciences. It captures the attention of students who want a vibrant campus life in San Juan while engaging in meaningful academic pursuits. The acceptance rate of 55% makes it accessible for a broad range of applicants, which is a great starting point for anyone considering their options.
When it comes to life after graduation, the numbers paint a hopeful picture. Graduates earn an average of $35,723 a decade post-graduation, which provides a decent foundation for starting a career. Plus, with a net price of $9,175 after aid, the financial burden is relatively manageable for many students. A significant percentage, 66%, of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a commitment to helping those from lower-income families succeed.
In terms of financial health, the median debt for graduates is only $5,500, making it an appealing option for those who want to minimize student loans. This school tends to attract students who are determined to make a difference in their communities, especially given its focus on social sciences and education. Those who thrive here often appreciate the blend of academic rigor and cultural richness that comes with studying in Puerto Rico's capital.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras 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-Rio Piedras? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, located in San Juan, PR, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 55% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 51%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 55%
- Retention Rate
- 77%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 74%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,128
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.11
- First-Gen Students
- 16%
- Applicants
- 4,859
- Admitted
- 2,507
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-Rio Piedras? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras is $5,354, 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 $9,175. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,018 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $5,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,354
- Out-of-State
- $5,354
- Avg Net Price
- $9,175
- Median Debt
- $5,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 66%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 5%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,018
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,553
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,002
- Family Income $110K+
- $13,018
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-Rio Piedras — 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-Rio Piedras Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras report median earnings of $35,723, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $22,417
- 8 Years
- $27,824
- 10 Years
- $35,723
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.15x
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (387)
- 17%
- 100% (387)
- 17%
- 100% (387)
- 17%
- 100% (387)
- 17%
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-Rio Piedras 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-Rio Piedras delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,175/year ($36,700 total). Graduates earn $35,723 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,469,200 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,432,500 (40.0× your investment). The median debt is $5,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 51% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $36,700
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,469,200
- Net Return
- $1,432,500
- ROI Multiple
- 40.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $9,175
- Median Debt
- $5,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 51%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $998,598
- Investment Income
- $102,339
Top Programs
The fields University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras 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.
- Business & Marketing 20% $27,732 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 14% $14,081 early-career
- Psychology 10% $21,979 early-career
- Social Sciences 9%
- Communications 7% $21,979 early-career
- Education 6% $23,930 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 5% $16,281 early-career
- Physical Sciences 4%
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-Rio Piedras'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
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, located in San Juan, PR, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 55% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 51%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras is $5,354, 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 $9,175. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,018 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $5,500 in federal student loans.
Is University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras report median earnings of $35,723, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras? 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-Rio Piedras. Its economic connectedness score is 1.62, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras.
- University of West FloridaPensacola, FL · Close peer60% grad $49,137 earn 58% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Akron Main CampusAkron, OH · Close peer50% grad $46,600 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- North Carolina A & T State UniversityGreensboro, NC · Close peer56% grad $44,440 earn 50% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Universidad del Sagrado CorazonSanturce, PR · Close peer48% grad $31,754 earn 58% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Northern Kentucky UniversityHighland Heights, KY · Close peer50% grad $50,220 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Puerto Rico-AreciboArecibo, PR · Close peer51% grad $30,512 earn 59% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras? 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-Rio Piedras. Its economic connectedness score is 1.62, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note