Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce (PUCPR)
Private nonprofit four-year university in Ponce, PR that costs an average of $10,578 a year after financial aid, admits 98% of applicants and graduates 43% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$10,578
Acceptance rate
98%
Graduation rate
43%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$30,445
Private nonprofitMidsize city3,874 undergraduates
Cost of PUCPR
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $18,987 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $6,770 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $6,894 |
| Books and supplies | $3,714 |
| Average net price after aid | $10,578 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $10,281 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $10,338 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $10,194 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $14,265 |
| $110,001+ | $16,195 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Get your own estimate with PUCPR's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 98% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,300 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 595–680 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 600–680 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 43% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 83% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $23,033 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $30,445 |
| Rank in Puerto Rico (earnings) | 20th of 37 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $12,500 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $142 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 83% |
| Students with federal loans | 33% |
Majors and programs at PUCPR
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (51)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | 45 | $32,244 | $8,750 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 103 | $28,654 | $18,897 |
| Psychology | 84 | $22,648 | $11,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 49 | $20,267 | $19,250 |
| Social Work | 63 | $20,142 | $13,000 |
| Architecture | 51 | $19,967 | $31,000 |
| Criminology | 48 | $17,595 | $16,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 178 | $17,563 | $15,000 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 44 | $15,160 | $8,250 |
| Biology | 316 | $13,482 | $13,000 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 39 | $13,459 | — |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | 26 | $12,557 | $19,125 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | 17 | — | — |
| Biotechnology | 16 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 23 | — | $10,213 |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | 1 | — | — |
| Business/Commerce | 2 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 18 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | — | — | — |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 12 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 4 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | — | — | — |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | 14 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 12 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 7 | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 13 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 5 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 23 | — | — |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences | — | — | — |
| History | 6 | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | — | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 9 | — | — |
| International Business | 3 | — | — |
| Marketing | 16 | — | — |
| Mathematics | — | — | — |
| Music | 11 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 3 | — | — |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | 26 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 6 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 13 | — | — |
| Public Administration | — | — | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 12 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 15 | — | — |
| Sociology | 1 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 3 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 6 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 13 | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 4 | — | — |
| Visual and Performing Arts | — | — | — |
Certificate programs (3)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | — | — | — |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | — | — | — |
Associate's degree programs (12)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | — | — | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 21 | — | — |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | — | — | — |
| Business/Commerce | — | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | — | — | — |
| Computer Programming | — | — | — |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | 29 | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | — | — | — |
| Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions | — | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | — | — |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | 7 | — | — |
Master's degree programs (34)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Administration | 12 | $34,111 | — |
| Criminology | 5 | $31,207 | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 45 | $25,726 | $45,177 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 4 | — | — |
| Biotechnology | 22 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 3 | — | — |
| Business/Commerce | 1 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 3 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 14 | — | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | — | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | — | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 11 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 3 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 3 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 2 | — | — |
| History | — | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 5 | — | — |
| International Business | 3 | — | — |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | 27 | — | $103,683 |
| Library Science and Administration | — | — | — |
| Marketing | 1 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 1 | — | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 5 | — | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 4 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 9 | — | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 12 | — | — |
| Religious Education | — | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 3 | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 9 | — | — |
| Taxation | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 4 | — | — |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | 3 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (5)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 78 | $32,098 | $118,800 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 6 | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 5 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 5 | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 3 | — | — |
Professional degree programs (1)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | 196 | $30,323 | $116,756 |
Graduate certificate programs (3)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | 1 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1 | — | — |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 32 | — | — |
Similar colleges in Puerto Rico
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico | Hato Rey | $13,797 | — | $50,437 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon | Bayamon | $9,597 | 40% | $32,838 |
| Universidad del Sagrado Corazon | Santurce | $11,772 | 58% | $35,345 |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus | Carolina | $7,362 | — | $28,770 |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus | San Juan | $6,826 | — | $28,331 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla | Aguadilla | $9,252 | 42% | $28,062 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Metro | San Juan | $10,081 | 70% | $36,036 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-San German | San German | $11,050 | 42% | $29,577 |
About PUCPR
| Type | Private nonprofit four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Ponce, PR |
| Setting | Midsize city |
| Undergraduates | 3,874 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 16 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| Website | pucpr.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is PUCPR's acceptance rate?
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce admits 98% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,300 on the SAT.
How much does PUCPR cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $18,987 a year (tuition and fees: $6,770). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $10,578 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $10,281.
How much do PUCPR graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $30,445 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 20th of 37 similar colleges in Puerto Rico. The best-paid bachelor's program is accounting and related services ($32,244 a year after graduation).
What is PUCPR's graduation rate?
43% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 83% of first-year students return for a second year.