Head-to-head comparison
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras vs Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus: 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
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus
- Net price / year
- $7,646
- Earnings, 10 years
- $24,490
- 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 $24,490 at Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,175 | $7,646 |
| Total net cost | $36,700 | $30,584 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,723 | $24,490 |
| Median debt | $5,500 | $14,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$289,440 | -$507,984 |
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 Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus?
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus, at $7,646 a year after aid versus $9,175 — a gap of $1,529 a year, or $6,116 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 Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus graduates earn more?
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras graduates report a median $35,723 ten years after entry, $11,233 more than the $24,490 at Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus. 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 Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus?
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras: its completers carry a median $5,500 in federal loans versus $14,250 at Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus, a difference of $8,750. 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?
50% of students finish at University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, against 31% at Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus. 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.