Head-to-head comparison
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras vs Albizu University-San Juan: 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 San Juan, PR
Albizu University-San Juan
- Net price / year
- $9,732
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,544
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Albizu University-San Juan comes closer — median earnings $41,544 against a $38,928 total, vs $35,723 at University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras | Albizu University-San Juan |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,175 | $9,732 |
| Total net cost | $36,700 | $38,928 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,723 | $41,544 |
| Median debt | $5,500 | $5,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$289,440 | -$175,248 |
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 Albizu University-San Juan?
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, at $9,175 a year after aid versus $9,732 — a gap of $557 a year, or $2,228 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 Albizu University-San Juan graduates earn more?
Albizu University-San Juan graduates report a median $41,544 ten years after entry, $5,821 more than the $35,723 at University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras. 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-Rio Piedras or Albizu University-San Juan?
Completers at both borrow a median $5,500, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at Albizu University-San Juan, 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.