Head-to-head comparison
University of Puerto Rico at Ponce vs Atenas University: which has better ROI?
Option A Ponce, PR
University of Puerto Rico at Ponce
- Net price / year
- $10,990
- Earnings, 10 years
- $31,394
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Manati, PR
Atenas University
- Net price / year
- $5,818
- Earnings, 10 years
- $20,231
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Puerto Rico at Ponce comes closer — median earnings $31,394 against a $43,960 total, vs $20,231 at Atenas University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Puerto Rico at Ponce | Atenas University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,990 | $5,818 |
| Total net cost | $43,960 | $11,636 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $31,394 | $20,231 |
| Median debt | $5,500 | $6,525 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$383,280 | -$574,216 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Puerto Rico at Ponce or Atenas University?
Atenas University, at $5,818 a year after aid versus $10,990 — a gap of $5,172 a year, or $32,324 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do University of Puerto Rico at Ponce or Atenas University graduates earn more?
University of Puerto Rico at Ponce graduates report a median $31,394 ten years after entry, $11,163 more than the $20,231 at Atenas University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, University of Puerto Rico at Ponce or Atenas University?
University of Puerto Rico at Ponce: its completers carry a median $5,500 in federal loans versus $6,525 at Atenas University, a difference of $1,025. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
46% of students finish at University of Puerto Rico at Ponce, against 42% at Atenas University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.