Home
Colleges
Puerto Rico
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce

Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 62/100

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce

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

Compare This College

Ponce, Puerto Rico

About Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It enrolls 3,874 students (a mid-sized 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: 98.1%
Graduation: 42.5%
Net Price: $13,192
Median Earnings (10yr): $24,908
Enrollment: 3,874
Student : Faculty: 22:1

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

62/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 48

Value 16

Affordability 90

Selectivity 42

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 98.1%, Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

98.1%

Open

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1195 – 1360

Reading + Math combined

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-Ponce is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable ↓ 2.5 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce 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 $13,192 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$13,192

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

81%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

30%

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: $6,650
Room & Board (on-campus): $6,791
Room & Board (off-campus): $8,295
Books & Supplies: $3,624
Other Expenses (on-campus): $6,487
Other Expenses (off-campus): $6,875
Total Cost of Attendance: $20,508

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

$12,384
$30,001 – $48,000

$13,341
$48,001 – $75,000

$15,812
$75,001 – $110,000

$18,329
Over $110,000

$20,122

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-Ponce graduate within six years, and 81% 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

81%

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-Ponce 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-Ponce is home to 3,874 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 31% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

3,874

Part-Time

12%

First-Generation

31%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

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

GroupShareStudents

Hispanic 99.6% 3,857

International 0.3% 11

White 0.0% 1

Asian 0.0% 1

Student Life & Campus Culture

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

Setting

Midsize City Ponce, Puerto Rico

Housing

Limited on-campus housing 206 beds

Adult Learners

10% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

Designation

Religiously affiliated

What You Can Study

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce offers an extensive catalog of programs: 72 distinct programs across 20 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.

4 Programs

Biology

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

9 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Allied Health Diagnostic $71K ($51K–$96K)
Mental Health Services $52K ($38K–$69K)

3 Programs

Legal Studies

Law $143K ($74K–$297K)
Legal Research $63K ($47K–$84K)
Non-Professional Legal Studies $62K ($43K–$83K)

17 Programs

Business

Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)
Specialized Sales $60K ($42K–$78K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)

1 Program

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

2 Programs

Public Administration

Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)
Public Administration $65K ($47K–$87K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is 22:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty

22:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$154M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$40,554

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

195 instructional faculty across 5 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	46	24%	$51,495
Associate Professors	62	32%	$42,690
Assistant Professors	66	34%	$33,203
Instructors	8	4%	$28,041
No Rank	13	7%	$30,470

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

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce 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
Wide reach of need-based federal aid

CONS

Larger class sizes than typical
Below-average completion rate
Below-average post-graduation earnings

Best for: Based on the data, Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.

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

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-Ponce.

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

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 98.1%.

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

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce has an acceptance rate of 98.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce scored between 1195 and 1360 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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

The average net price after aid at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is $13,192 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-Ponce worth it?

Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $24,908 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,192 per year. That's roughly 1.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

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

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is best known for its programs in Biology, Nursing, Law. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

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

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

Is Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce accredited?

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

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

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce enrolls 3,874 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce offers 72 distinct programs. The most popular include Biology, Nursing, Law.

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

The student-to-faculty ratio at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is 22:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.