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Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo

Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 65/100

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Arecibo, Puerto Rico

About Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. It enrolls 273 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: pucpr.edu

Acceptance: 93.8%
Graduation: 42.5%
Net Price: $11,117
Median Earnings (10yr): $24,908
Enrollment: 273
Student : Faculty: 12:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good

65/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 59

Value 30

Affordability 92

Selectivity 12

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 93.8%, Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

93.8%

Open

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Getting more selective ↓ 13.4 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $11,117 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$11,117

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

69%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

28%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees: $6,550
Room & Board (off-campus): $8,285
Books & Supplies: $3,624
Other Expenses (off-campus): $6,432
Total Cost of Attendance: $18,678

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$10,939
$30,001 – $48,000

$10,883
$48,001 – $75,000

$15,333

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$2,142

10% percentile

$3,900

25% percentile

$15,500

Median percentile

$17,700

75% percentile

$27,500

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $11,203 ↓ $4,297

No Pell $11,914 ↓ $3,586

Dependent students $11,000 ↓ $4,500

Independent students $15,500 —

Female students $11,500 ↓ $4,000

Male students $11,000 ↓ $4,500

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,000, less than completers ($15,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

42% of full-time students who enrolled at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo graduate within six years, and 84% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

42%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

84%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo earn a median of $24,908 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$24,908

Earning > $25K

42%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$19,800

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$23,700

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$20,600

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$23,200

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$24,700

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 13.2 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Moderate. Only 51% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo is home to 273 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 31% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

273

Part-Time

16%

First-Generation

31%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

Hispanic 100.0% 273

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Small Suburb Arecibo, Puerto Rico

Housing

Commuter campus No on-campus housing

Adult Learners

34% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NAIA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

Designation

Religiously affiliated

Designation

Branch campus

What You Can Study

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo offers a varied set of programs: 18 distinct programs across 7 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

2 Programs

Health

Mental Health Services $52K ($38K–$69K)
Optometry & Vision

2 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Biotechnology $67K ($47K–$89K)

5 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)

1 Program

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo is 12:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

12:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Avg Faculty Salary

$38,157

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

23 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	4	17%	$47,493
Associate Professors	4	17%	$40,784
Assistant Professors	7	30%	$32,203
No Rank	8	35%	$31,986

Pros & Cons of Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid

CONS

Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Below-average post-graduation earnings

Best for: Based on the data, Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo.

Is Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo hard to get into?

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 93.8%.

What is the acceptance rate at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo?

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo has an acceptance rate of 93.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo cost?

The average net price after aid at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo is $11,117 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo worth it?

Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $24,908 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,117 per year. That's roughly 2.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo known for?

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo is best known for its programs in Mental Health Services, Counseling Psychology, Biology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo are $24,908, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo accredited?

Yes. Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

How many students attend Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo?

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo enrolls 273 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo?

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo graduates 42% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo a public or private college?

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo located?

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo is located in Arecibo, Puerto Rico.

What programs does Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo offer?

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo offers 18 distinct programs. The most popular include Mental Health Services, Counseling Psychology, Biology.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.