Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce
Mercedita, PR 00715-1602
About Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is a private research university in Mercedita, Puerto Rico, enrolling about 2,404 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 33.73% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $26,721 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce charges about 0.2× the national private non-profit median tuition ($5,780).
- Versus the Puerto Rico median, sticker tuition is 32% below.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 41.44%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $26,721.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 640% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 52 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce | $5,780 | $9,026 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Puerto Rico (state median) | $8,562 | $8,830 | 104 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce really?
Key findings
- Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce charges about 0.2× the national private non-profit median tuition ($5,780).
- Versus the Puerto Rico median, sticker tuition is 32% below.
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $5,780
Finding Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce charges about 0.2× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $5,780. That is about 0.2× the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Puerto Rico median ($8,562), sticker tuition is 32% below. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 0.5×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is $9,026.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $9,026 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $196 above the Puerto Rico median net price.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$5,780
Avg. net price
$9,026
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $8,685 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $9,595 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $11,557 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $13,540 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $23,120. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is known for
Top program completions
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies49
- Psychology, General37
- Culinary Arts/Chef Training32
- Biomedical Sciences, General28
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse28
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Selective — about half of applicants (or fewer) are admitted.
- Yield: 43% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce.
Campus
Location
Mercedita, PR
City / state
- ZIP
- 00715-1602
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Outlying Areas
- Carnegie
- Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
Size
Enrollment
2,404
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 2,680
- Graduate
- 489
- Full-time share
- 82%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$6,375
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 80.36%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Inter American 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 Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $4,674 | $4,674 | $5,166 |
| 2014 | $4,866 | $4,866 | $5,063 |
| 2015 | $4,962 | $4,962 | $5,242 |
| 2016 | $5,084 | $5,084 | $6,309 |
| 2017 | $5,872 | $5,872 | $7,664 |
| 2018 | $5,914 | $5,914 | $8,026 |
| 2019 | $5,986 | $5,986 | $8,702 |
| 2020 | $5,986 | $5,986 | $7,867 |
| 2021 | $5,292 | $5,292 | $8,954 |
| 2022 | $5,580 | $5,580 | $8,552 |
| 2023 | $5,580 | $5,580 | $8,245 |
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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce reported total enrollment of about 2,404 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 37% male and 63% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (99.6%), White (0.2%), and American Indian or Alaska Native (0.2%). About 80.36% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 33.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
82.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce in 2024 is 2,404 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 2,680 students. Graduate enrollment is about 489 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
68.7%
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.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
8.82% 100% Completion Time
41.44% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 8.82% of students graduating from Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 41% male / 59% female
- Psychology, General: 19% male / 81% female
- Culinary Arts/Chef Training: 62% male / 38% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce graduates earn a median of $26,721 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $26,721. Median federal loan debt: $6,375. Average net price used in cost models: $9,026.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce graduates report median earnings of $26,721 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (52 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Puerto Rico median 13.0 pp above median (87.0%)
- Outlying Areas median 13.0 pp above median (87.0%)
- U.S. median 42.0 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $5,587
- Puerto Rico median 1.4× the median ($4,084)
- Outlying Areas median 1.4× the median ($4,084)
- U.S. median 0.73× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $3,759
- Puerto Rico median 1.1× the median ($3,469)
- Outlying Areas median 1.1× the median ($3,501)
- U.S. median 0.52× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce at a glance
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is a private non-profit institution in Mercedita, PR, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Criminal Justice/Safety StudiesPsychology, GeneralCulinary Arts/Chef Training
- Largest enrollment groups
- Hispanic or Latino99.6%White or Caucasian0.2%American Indian or Alaska Native0.2%
- Opportunity College (2025)
- Higher access & higher earnings · Browse OCU directory
Schools near Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce
Other campuses in Mercedita, PR when available, plus nearby institutions in Puerto Rico.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within Puerto Rico, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce located?
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is located in Mercedita, PR.
What is Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is 33.7% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 1,538 applicants and 1,081 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce's tuition?
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $5,780 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $9,026 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce cost?
Reported tuition is $5,780 and average net price is $9,026 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $8,498 annually.
What explains Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($9,026), completion (41.4% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($26,721). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce?
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce reports undergraduate enrollment of about 2,680 students, Hispanic or Latino (99.6%), White (0.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce?
About 33.8% of students at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce earn?
Median earnings are $22,276 six years after entry and $26,721 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce?
The 150%-time completion rate is 41.4% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $6,375.
Is Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce public or private?
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is a private nonprofit institution located in Mercedita, PR.
Is Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce an HBCU?
No. Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
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 Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.