University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras at a Glance
The University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus is a public land-grant research university in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is the largest campus in the University of Puerto Rico system in terms of student population and it was Puerto Rico's first public university campus.
1903
123 years old
$203M
$202.5 million (2020)
18,653
15,186 undergrad · 3,467 grad
1,374
289 acres
Identity
Is University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Worth It?
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras offers moderate value at $9,175/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $35,723, which is 34% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1 year — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 51% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Median student debt of $5,500 is manageable at just 15% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
How University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #29 of 76 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Indian River State College | 100 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
| #2 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #3 | Taft College | 96 | $2,823 | $38,861 |
| #4 | Pensacola State College | 91 | $3,957 | $36,739 |
| #5 | Gulf Coast State College | 90 | $4,709 | $38,359 |
| #6 | Shasta College | 89 | $2,878 | $39,269 |
| #29 | University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras | 50 | $9,175 | $35,723 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
The highest-earning program at University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras is Marketing at $17,400/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language at $13,400/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Marketing graduate from University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras earns $17,400, while a Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language graduate earns $13,400. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $9,175/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing | $17,400 | $17,400 | $5,500 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $16,400 | $16,400 | N/A |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $14,600 | $14,600 | $5,463 |
| Biology, General | $13,800 | $13,800 | $5,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $13,600 | $13,600 | $5,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $13,500 | $13,500 | N/A |
| Psychology, General | $13,500 | $13,500 | $5,350 |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | $13,400 | $13,400 | N/A |
Similar Colleges in PR
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- San Juan, PR
- Student Body
- 8,572 students
- Admission Rate
- 55%
- Graduation Rate
- 51%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $9,175
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $35,723
- Median Student Debt
- $5,500