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Urban Colleges in Puerto Rico

49 schools in Puerto Rico. See our methodology.

Puerto Rico's urban colleges span an extraordinary cost spectrum, from Instituto Tecnológico de Puerto Rico-San Juan at just $1,067 to health sciences programs reaching $17,687 annually. The island's 49 urban institutions serve students across major cities from San Juan to Mayagüez, with graduation rates varying dramatically from 23.6% to an impressive 86.7%. University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez stands out with the highest graduate earnings at $48,992, reflecting the campus's strong engineering programs that feed into the island's pharmaceutical and manufacturing sectors. Meanwhile, smaller technical institutes like Instituto Tecnológico-Guayama achieve remarkable 86.7% graduation rates with just 262 students, demonstrating how focused programs can deliver strong outcomes. The University of Puerto Rico system dominates the market with multiple campuses, while private institutions like NUC University accommodate over 25,000 students across urban centers. These schools prepare graduates for Puerto Rico's evolving economy, where pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Amgen maintain major operations alongside growing tech and finance sectors in San Juan's metro area.
49
Schools
$7,629
Avg. Net Price
$27,161
Avg. Earnings
44.9%
Avg. Graduation Rate

Urban Colleges in Puerto Rico

College listings
# School Setting Enrollment Net Price Graduation Rate
1 City-Small 262 $3,510 86.7%
2 City-Small 9,564 $12,684 47.0%
3 City-Large 8,748 $6,507 52.5%
4 City-Small 2,246 $10,790 62.4%
5 City-Midsize 2,276 $7,455 50.6%
6 City-Midsize 25,881 $5,732 56.2%
7 City-Small 460 $9,104 58.1%
8 City-Midsize 65 $17,687 77.8%
9 City-Small 2,494 $4,181 53.9%
10 City-Large 190 $1,067 54.7%
11 City-Small 2,788 $11,759 50.7%
12 City-Large 758 $10,933 69.0%
13 City-Midsize 3,453 $8,783 33.0%
14 City-Midsize 90 $8,011 59.1%
15 City-Small 2,275 $8,036 35.4%
16 City-Large 4,042 $13,024 43.6%
17 City-Large 270 $4,704 52.2%
18 City-Small 1,661 $8,932 39.4%
19 City-Large 480 $5,196 50.8%
20 City-Large 3,791 $16,338 23.6%
21 City-Large 2,692 $8,964 31.6%
22 City-Midsize 419 $6,680 41.7%
23 City-Small 429 $5,426 44.6%
24 City-Midsize 623 $6,392 36.7%
25 City-Midsize 551 $2,249 35.0%
26 City-Small 1,517 $6,305 35.7%
27 City-Large 295 $5,244 57.1%
28 City-Large 4,579 $7,559 31.1%
29 City-Small 348 $4,863 38.1%
30 City-Large 1,258 $4,989 23.6%
31 City-Midsize 594 $4,285 37.9%
32 City-Midsize 3,827 $10,082 47.9%
33 City-Large 178 $14,817 25.8%
34 City-Large 138 $5,607 14.3%
35 City-Midsize 2,967 $9,657 31.4%
36 City-Large 497 $5,231 44.9%
37 City-Small 597 $8,264 42.1%
38 City-Large 542 $200 30.1%
39 City-Small 149 $6,326 54.9%
40 City-Small 0
41 City-Large 5
42 City-Large 224
43 City-Small 60 $7,589 33.3%
44 City-Large
45 City-Midsize
46 City-Large
47 City-Large
48 City-Midsize
49 City-Large

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Instituto Tecnológico de Puerto Rico-Guayama achieve such high graduation rates?

This small technical college maintains an 86.7% graduation rate with just 262 students, the highest among Puerto Rico's urban institutions. The focused technical curriculum and low student-to-faculty ratio allow for personalized attention. At $3,510 net cost, students complete programs without excessive debt, contributing to the strong completion rates that significantly exceed the national average.

How do University of Puerto Rico campuses compare across urban areas?

UPR-Mayagüez leads in graduate earnings at $48,992 with 9,564 students, while UPR-Rio Piedras in San Juan enrolls 8,748 students with $35,723 median earnings. UPR-Arecibo and UPR-Ponce serve smaller populations around 2,300 students each. All maintain selective admission rates between 51-60%, making them competitive options within the public system.

Is attending college in Puerto Rico significantly more affordable than mainland US?

Absolutely. Puerto Rico's urban colleges range from $1,067 to $17,687 annually, with most falling below $12,000. Even the University of Puerto Rico campuses, which offer full programs, cost between $6,507-$12,684. This represents substantial savings compared to mainland public universities, while students remain eligible for federal financial aid as US citizens.

What career outcomes can graduates expect from Puerto Rico's urban colleges?

Graduate earnings span $18,694 to $48,992 annually, with technical and engineering programs leading compensation. UPR-Mayagüez graduates earn the highest at $48,992, reflecting demand for engineers in Puerto Rico's pharmaceutical and manufacturing sectors. Health sciences graduates from programs like Ponce Health Sciences also command strong salaries in the island's growing medical tourism industry.

Does NUC University's size of 25,881 students affect education quality?

NUC University manages its large enrollment across multiple urban campuses while maintaining a 56.2% graduation rate and $24,785 median earnings. The distributed model allows local access in cities like Bayamón while offering career-focused programs. At $5,732 net cost, it provides affordable education pathways, though graduation rates trail smaller, more selective institutions.

Where do the most selective urban colleges in Puerto Rico operate?

Inter American University campuses in Bayamón and Arecibo maintain the most competitive admission standards, accepting just 33.3% and 33.8% of applicants respectively. However, these selective programs struggle with lower graduation rates around 33-35%. Meanwhile, Ponce Health Sciences University accepts 44.6% of applicants but achieves a strong 77.8% graduation rate among its specialized health programs.

Related

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See our methodology for details on rankings and data sources.