Students at Boricua College benefit from exceptional affordability and access, with net prices that rank among the most accessible nationwide for low-income families.
Despite resource constraints, graduates achieve earnings beyond expectations, demonstrating the institution's ability to add meaningful educational value for underserved populations.
Boricua College is a small private nonprofit institution in New York that serves a highly specific student population with strong cultural ties and significant financial need. The college enrolls 85% Pell Grant recipients and 52% first-generation students, making it one of the most accessible institutions in the country for low-income families. With a 33% transfer-in rate, Boricua provides pathways for students who may have started their education elsewhere.
While graduates earn a median of $35,348 ten years after enrollment, which places the institution in the lower third nationally for earnings outcomes, the college demonstrates meaningful value-added performance. Students earn about $9,229 more than would be expected given their backgrounds and the institution's profile, suggesting the college provides genuine educational value despite resource constraints.
As a specialized institution focused on serving the Puerto Rican and Latino community in New York, Boricua College operates in the "Under-Resourced Institutions" mobility category. This reflects the challenge of combining extremely broad access with strong economic outcomes, though the college's commitment to serving underrepresented students remains central to its mission and identity.
Boricua College's academic focus centers on Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching, which represents both the institution's largest program and its primary area of strength. With 27 graduates earning a median of $35,060 ten years after completion, this program aligns closely with the college's mission of serving the educational and professional development needs of the Latino community in New York.
The concentration in education reflects the college's role as a community-focused institution that prepares graduates for careers in teaching, adult education, and community development. While earnings in these fields are more moderate than in business or technology, they offer stable employment with meaningful social impact. The program's success demonstrates the college's ability to prepare students for careers that serve their communities while providing sustainable livelihoods.
As a small, specialized institution, Boricua College's program portfolio is intentionally focused rather than comprehensive. This concentration allows the college to develop deep expertise in areas that matter most to its student population and community, even if it limits the range of high-earning career paths available to graduates.
Graduates of Boricua College earn a median of $35,348 ten years after enrollment, which places the institution in the lower third nationally for long-term earnings outcomes. However, the college demonstrates strong value-added performance, with graduates earning approximately $9,229 more than would be expected given their backgrounds and institutional characteristics. This earnings premium suggests that despite resource constraints, the college provides meaningful educational value that translates into better-than-expected financial outcomes for its students.
The college's program portfolio centers heavily on Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching, which represents the institution's largest and most successful program with 27 graduates earning a median of $35,060 ten years out. This field aligns with the college's mission of serving the educational and community development needs of the Latino population in New York. While earnings in education-focused fields tend to be more moderate than in business or technology, they offer stable career paths with meaningful community impact.
Only 12 graduates across all programs earn more than $75,000 annually, reflecting both the college's small size and its focus on fields that prioritize social impact over maximum earnings potential. The institution's strength lies not in producing high earners, but in providing educational access and meaningful career preparation for students who might otherwise lack opportunities for higher education.
Decomposes the earnings-above-expectation score into program mix, labor market alignment, and the remaining institutional residual.
Negative program contribution values reflect how the school's mix compares with the model, not that the school is weak in that field.
Boricua College offers strong affordability for the families it serves, with net prices that rank in the top 25% nationally for accessibility. Low-income students pay approximately $14,279 annually, while middle-income families see costs around $17,429 per year. These prices are particularly competitive given the college's New York City location, where educational costs typically run much higher than national averages.
The college's financial aid approach reflects its mission of serving low-income students, with 85% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants. Debt levels remain very manageable, with typical graduates leaving with just $6,733 in federal student loan debt. The institution reports a 0% federal loan default rate, indicating that despite modest post-graduation earnings, students are able to successfully manage their loan obligations. This combination of low borrowing and successful repayment suggests the college has structured its programs and pricing to align with realistic earnings expectations for its graduates.
Boricua College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
