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University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras — ROI, Cost & Payback

Public · San Juan, PR · 8,572 students

The verdict

University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras charges a net price of $9,175/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $36,700. Median earnings ten years after entry are $35,723, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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On institution-wide earnings, University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras does not clear its cost — it ranks #4 of 71 Puerto Rico colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.

$9,175
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$35,723
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
Payback
Our math, 2026
55%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$9,175/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$36,700our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$35,723Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$-12,637/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$5,500Scorecard, 2026
Paybackdoes not clearour math
20-year net return$-289,440our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 4 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.

University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras: frequently asked questions

Is University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras worth the cost?
On institution-wide earnings, the degree does not clear its cost: graduates earn a median $35,723, at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline. The field you study matters far more here than the school average — a high-paying major can flip the math.
How long does a University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras degree take to pay off?
On institution-wide earnings it does not pay back, because median earnings sit at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline. A specific high-ROI program can still pay off.
How much does University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $9,175/yr — about $36,700 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras compare to other Puerto Rico colleges?
It ranks #4 of 71 Puerto Rico colleges we track by payback. Its $35,723 median earnings trail the national median of $43,552, and its $9,175 net price is below the national median of $16,906.