Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is a private research university in Ponce, Puerto Rico, serving roughly 3,874 students. Published tuition for full-time study is about $6,650 per year before aid—well below typical private-university sticker prices. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $24,908 among students who received federal aid.

Key Facts

  • 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $6,650
  • 2024 Average Net Price: $13,192 After Financial Aid
  • 2024 Acceptance Rate: 98.08% Moderate Selectivity
  • 2024 Enrolled Students: 3,874 87.6% Full-Time
  • 2024 Graduation Rate: 48.59%
  • Average SAT Score: 1300

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce: what the data shows

Common questions about Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.

Where is Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce?

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is located in Ponce, PR (ZIP 00717-9997).

NCES locale classification: Suburb.

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

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

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

Published tuition: $6,650.

Average net price after aid: $13,192.

Family income bandAvg. net price
Family income $0–$30,000$12,384
$30,001–$48,000$13,341
$48,001–$75,000$15,812
$75,001–$110,000$18,329
$110,001+$20,122

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $26,600.

How hard is it to get into Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce?

Admission rate: 98.08%.

Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1300.

Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.

How big is Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce?

Total enrollment: 3,874 students.

About 88% enroll full-time in our extract.

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

150%-time completion rate: 48.59%.

First-year retention: 83.1%.

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

Median earnings: $20,637 six years after entry; $24,908 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).

How much debt do students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers: $15,500.

80.65% of students receive Pell grants.

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

Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:

See ROI & Programs for more.

Is Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce a good school?

We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 98.08%; completion rate 48.59%; median earnings $24,908 at 10 years; net price $13,192. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.

Costs

Tuition Costs

$6,650
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce was $6,650.

Tuition comparison with similar institutions.

Average Net Price

$13,192
2024 Value

In 2024 Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $13,192.

Average net price comparison with similar institutions.

Total Cost of Attendance

$52,768 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost

$13,192 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)

$26,600 4-Year Tuition

Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.

4-year total cost breakdown for Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce.

Financial Aid by Income Level

80.65% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

30.23% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

Financial aid distribution by income level.

Student Loan Default Rate

0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)

The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce was 0.00%.

Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.

Tuition tracker

Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce in that year.

Reporting years in the table below: 20132023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).

Year In-state tuition & fees Out-of-state tuition & fees Average net price
2013$4,840$4,840$6,506
2014$5,000$5,000$5,076
2015$5,130$5,130$5,659
2016$5,250$5,250$7,465
2017$5,370$5,370$9,947
2018$5,490$5,490$9,594
2019$5,580$5,580$9,304
2020$5,510$5,510$10,167
2021$5,545$5,545$9,550
2022$5,920$5,920$10,283
2023$6,340$6,340$10,082

Sticker tuition and net price over time

Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.

College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).

Net price by family income

Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).

Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate

98.08% Acceptance Rate

This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.

Acceptance rate compared to national average.

Test Scores

SAT Average: 1300

Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.

Academic Requirements

Estimated GPA Range: 3.5 - 3.7

Estimated Median GPA: 3.60

Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.

Estimated GPA and test score ranges.

Enrollment

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

87.6% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce in 2024 is 3,874 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

83.1%
2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.

Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.

Graduates & Outcomes

Time to Complete

19.01% 100% Completion Time

48.59% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 19.01% of students graduating from Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce completed their program within 100% "normal time".

Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.

ROI & Programs

Financial value and program information for Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce.

Return on Investment

$15,500 Median Student Debt

$24,908 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)

62.23% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio

372.03% Return on Investment

6.2 years Estimated Payback Period

Financial value analysis for Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce.

Top Programs by Completions

10 Programs Reporting Data

Biology: 125 completions

Law (JD): 114 completions

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research: 75 completions

Liberal Arts & Sciences: 51 completions

General Psychology: 40 completions

CIP 04.0201: 31 completions

Social Work: 28 completions

CIP 42.2801: 27 completions

CIP 51.1005: 24 completions

Other/Unknown Programs: 956 completions

Most popular programs at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce.

Employment Outcomes

Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.

Earnings outcomes for Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce graduates.

About

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is a private non-profit institution located in Ponce, PR, offering 71 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 3,874 students. The admission rate is 98.08%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1300. The institution maintains a 48.59% graduation rate. Approximately 80.65% of students receive Pell Grants.

Institution Type

Private Non-profit

Location

Ponce, PR 00717-9997

Region: Outlying Areas

Insights and Analysis

Diverse Program Offerings: With over 71 distinct degree programs, Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.

FAQ

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

Reported in-state tuition is $6,650 and average net price is $13,192 in the latest College Scorecard data.

How hard is it to get into Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce?

The admission rate is 98.1% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.

What test scores do students need for Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce?

Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce reports midpoint SAT about 1300.

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

Median earnings are $20,637 six years after entry and $24,908 ten years after entry.

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

The 150%-time completion rate is 48.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

How much debt do Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers is $15,500.

How big is Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce?

Total enrollment is about 3,874 students in the latest reporting year.

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

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is a private nonprofit institution located in Ponce, PR.

Is Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce an HBCU?

No. Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.

Is Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce a tribal college?

No. Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.

Is Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?

By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce reports 99.6% Hispanic enrollment share.

Is Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce religiously affiliated?

Yes. IPEDS reports a religious affiliation for Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce: Roman Catholic.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.

Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.

Methodology

Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.

All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.