Universidad Ana G.
Mendez-Carolina Campus provides genuinely affordable private education, with net costs remaining low across all family income levels and substantial financial aid reaching most students.
The institution prioritizes access and affordability over earnings outcomes, making private higher education accessible to Puerto Rican families at public university prices.
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus serves as an accessible private nonprofit institution in Puerto Rico, though it faces significant challenges in delivering strong long-term outcomes for graduates. The university enrolls a high proportion of students who need substantial financial support—nearly 70% receive Pell Grants and about 41% are first-generation college students—but struggles to convert that access into strong economic mobility.
Graduates earn a median of $24,328 ten years after enrollment, placing the institution in the bottom 3% nationally for long-term earnings. The university's outcomes fall well below what similar students achieve at other institutions, with graduates earning roughly $2,100 less than expected based on their backgrounds and characteristics. This performance places the institution in the "Under-Resourced Institutions" mobility category, indicating high access but limited success in helping students achieve strong financial outcomes.
Despite these outcome challenges, the university does provide genuine affordability for Puerto Rican families. Net prices remain low across all income levels, with low-income students paying about $6,465 annually and even high-income families seeing costs around $6,301 per year. For students who prioritize staying in Puerto Rico and accessing private higher education at public-university prices, this institution offers a pathway, though families should carefully weigh the trade-offs between affordability and long-term earning potential.
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus focuses primarily on social services, criminal justice, and health-related fields that serve Puerto Rico's local workforce needs. Corrections Administration represents the institution's largest economic impact program, graduating 142 students annually who earn about $20,444 ten years after graduation. Forensic Social Work enrolls the second-largest cohort at 101 graduates with median earnings of $16,898, reflecting the university's emphasis on criminal justice and social work pathways.
The highest-earning program, Clinical Research Coordinator, demonstrates the institution's potential when students enter specialized health fields, with 28 graduates earning $26,850—significantly above the institutional median. However, this represents a small fraction of total graduates. At the other end of the spectrum, Adult Health Nurse/Nursing shows concerning outcomes with 86 graduates earning just $9,545, well below typical nursing salaries and highlighting quality or accreditation challenges in some health programs.
The program portfolio reflects the institution's mission to serve local workforce needs in Puerto Rico, particularly in social services and criminal justice. However, the concentration in lower-paying fields, combined with modest outcomes even within those fields, contributes to the university's overall challenges in delivering strong long-term financial returns for graduates.
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus delivers modest long-term financial returns for graduates. Ten years after enrollment, students earn a median of $24,328, which places the institution in the bottom 3% nationally for earnings outcomes. More concerning, graduates earn roughly $2,100 less than similar students at other institutions, suggesting the university struggles to add meaningful value to student outcomes beyond what their backgrounds would predict.
The university's program mix reflects its focus on social services and criminal justice fields. Corrections Administration, the largest program by total economic impact, graduates 142 students annually who earn about $20,444 ten years out. Forensic Social Work enrolls 101 students with median earnings of $16,898, while Clinical Research Coordinator represents the highest-earning program at $26,850 but graduates only 28 students. Adult Health Nurse/Nursing shows the lowest earnings at $9,545, highlighting the wide variation in outcomes depending on field of study.
While some individual programs like Clinical Research Coordinator show stronger earning potential, the overall pattern suggests graduates enter fields with limited upward mobility and modest compensation levels. Students should carefully consider whether the specific career paths offered align with their long-term financial goals, particularly given the significant gap between this institution's outcomes and national averages for four-year degree holders.
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus stands out for its strong affordability across all income levels. Low-income students pay approximately $6,465 per year in net costs, while middle-income families see annual expenses around $12,484. Notably, high-income families actually pay slightly less at $6,301 annually, reflecting the institution's commitment to keeping private education accessible regardless of family financial circumstances.
Debt levels remain relatively manageable given the low net prices. Typical graduates leave with about $14,500 in federal student loan debt, and Parent PLUS borrowing averages $4,800—both modest amounts compared to many private institutions. The university reports a 0% federal loan default rate, though this metric should be interpreted alongside the institution's loan repayment patterns, which show that borrowers are making progress on their balances over time, albeit at rates that vary compared to national benchmarks.
The combination of low sticker prices, substantial financial aid, and moderate debt levels makes this institution genuinely affordable for Puerto Rican families seeking private higher education. However, the affordability advantage must be weighed against the institution's limited ability to generate strong long-term earnings for graduates, which affects the overall value proposition despite the attractive upfront costs.
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
