Carolina, Puerto Rico Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Carolina, Puerto Rico shows: median public in-state tuition $8,415 (+52.7% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $27,477 (-49.4% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 80.7% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $9,500 (-29.3% vs U.S.) 7,643 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 7 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 7,643 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $8,415 (+52.7% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $27,477 (-49.4% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 80.7% (-7.2 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $6,776 (-32.0% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $9,500 (-29.3% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $9,500
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 40.9%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 73.3%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Carolina, Puerto Rico—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Puerto Rico and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Carolina vs Puerto Rico & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina, Puerto Rico | $8,415 | $6,776 | $9,500 | 40.9% | 7,643 |
| Puerto Rico (state median) | $5,314 | $8,830 | $9,500 | 44.4% | 144,549 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Carolina, Puerto Rico vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina, Puerto Rico | $27,477 | 80.7% | 73.3% | 11.0% | — | 65.3% | 0.39 |
| Puerto Rico (state median) | $26,510 | 78.0% | 76.4% | 9.6% | — | 62.8% | 0.27 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Puerto Rico (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina, Puerto Rico | $8,415 | $6,776 | $9,500 | 40.9% | 7,643 | $27,477 | 80.7% |
| Bayamon | $8,500 | $6,126 | $8,250 | 40.0% | 37,949 | $32,172 | 81.6% |
| San Juan | $7,400 | $7,453 | $8,875 | 44.8% | 21,919 | $28,666 | 78.3% |
| Mayaguez | $8,507 | $9,919 | $9,500 | 39.9% | 11,507 | $28,465 | 77.4% |
| Ponce | $9,095 | $9,200 | $9,500 | 47.4% | 7,636 | $24,908 | 76.9% |
| Caguas | $8,922 | $5,077 | $7,500 | 56.4% | 6,479 | N/A | N/A |
| Arecibo | $7,607 | $9,357 | $9,500 | 52.0% | 5,746 | $24,908 | 76.9% |
| Aguadilla | $7,524 | $5,740 | $5,875 | 46.3% | 5,504 | $26,386 | 78.1% |
| Hato Rey | $8,664 | $12,075 | $5,185 | 40.9% | 4,681 | $33,650 | 76.1% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Carolina, Puerto Rico by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 37.3%, University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 34.3%, Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
Top 10 colleges in Carolina, Puerto Rico by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 83.6%, University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 77.8%, Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
Top 10 most selective colleges in Carolina, Puerto Rico (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 54.5%, University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
Top 10 colleges in Carolina, Puerto Rico by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $31,210, Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
Top 10 colleges in Carolina, Puerto Rico by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $45,299, Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $36,742, University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
Top 10 colleges in Carolina, Puerto Rico by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $22,317, University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $21,125, Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
Top 10 colleges in Carolina, Puerto Rico by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $27,204, University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $23,001, Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
Top 10 colleges in Carolina, Puerto Rico by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $30,626, University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $24,328, Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
Top 10 colleges in Carolina, Puerto Rico by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $76,336, Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $63,462, University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Carolina, Puerto Rico (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $7,761, Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
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Rank 2, Net Price, $12,945, University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
Top 10 colleges in Carolina, Puerto Rico by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 75.0%, Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 71.5%, University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
In-state tuition: Carolina, Puerto Rico vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Carolina, Puerto Rico median in-state tuition is $8,415, +52.7% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Carolina, Puerto Rico vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Carolina, Puerto Rico is $9,500 (-29.3% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $9,500.
Median earnings (10 years out): Carolina, Puerto Rico vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Carolina, Puerto Rico center around $27,477 (-49.4% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Carolina, Puerto Rico vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 80.7% at the median Carolina, Puerto Rico campus (-7.2 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Carolina, Puerto Rico median public in-state tuition is $8,415, about +52.7% vs the national median. Versus the Outlying Areas region, tuition is +58.0%.
Median graduate debt is $9,500 (-29.3% below the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Carolina, Puerto Rico are $27,477, about -49.4% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 80.7% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-7.2 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 73.3% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 11.0% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 65.3% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of Puerto Rico-Carolina (83.6%), Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus (77.8%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Carolina, Puerto Rico is 40.9% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Carolina?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 7 campuses in Carolina, Puerto Rico with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Carolina?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Carolina is $8,415 and median net price is $6,776. For Puerto Rico overall, medians are $5,314 and $8,830; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Carolina?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Carolina is $27,477 vs $26,510 for Puerto Rico and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Carolina colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Carolina is $9,500 vs $9,500 for Puerto Rico and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Carolina?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include University of Puerto Rico-Carolina (graduation) and University of Puerto Rico-Carolina (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Carolina?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 7 campuses in Carolina, Puerto Rico, 6 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Caribbean University-Carolina, University of Puerto Rico-Carolina, and Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus.
Sources & related
- Puerto Rico college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON