Head-to-head comparison
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras vs Advantage Technical College: which has better ROI?
Option A San Juan, PR
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
- Net price / year
- $9,175
- Earnings, 10 years
- $35,723
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Manati, PR
Advantage Technical College
- Net price / year
- $5,460
- Earnings, 10 years
- $26,905
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras comes closer — median earnings $35,723 against a $36,700 total, vs $26,905 at Advantage Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras | Advantage Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,175 | $5,460 |
| Total net cost | $36,700 | $21,840 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,723 | $26,905 |
| Median debt | $5,500 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$289,440 | -$450,940 |
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-Rio Piedras or Advantage Technical College?
Advantage Technical College, at $5,460 a year after aid versus $9,175 — a gap of $3,715 a year, or $14,860 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-Rio Piedras or Advantage Technical College graduates earn more?
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras graduates report a median $35,723 ten years after entry, $8,818 more than the $26,905 at Advantage Technical College. 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 graduates more of its students?
60% of students finish at Advantage Technical College, against 50% at University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras. 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.