University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla admits approximately 81.7% of applicants, meaning roughly 4 in 5 applicants receive admission offers. This places the institution in the Open Access category, making it highly accessible to prospective students. The peer median admission rate of 84.2% indicates similar accessibility levels among comparable institutions, with University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla being only slightly more selective by 2.4 percentage points. This level of admission selectivity means that most academically prepared students should expect favorable admission odds, though meeting basic academic requirements remains important. The university's open access philosophy aligns with its mission to serve diverse student populations, particularly the 82% Pell-eligible enrollment it maintains. Students should view University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla as an accessible option while still preparing competitive application materials. The combination of reasonable selectivity and strong retention rates suggests the institution successfully matches admitted students with appropriate academic support systems. For prospective students, this admission rate indicates they should focus more on program fit and career alignment than admission probability when evaluating the university.
A directional estimate — not a prediction
University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla's admitted students typically score between 806 and 1,057 on the SAT, with a median of 921. The middle 50% of enrolled students fall within this range, though students scoring outside these bounds are regularly admitted. SAT Math scores range from 398 to 528, while SAT Verbal scores span 408 to 529, showing relatively balanced performance across sections. These scores rank well above average at the 85th percentile nationally, indicating the university attracts academically prepared students despite its open access admission policy. Compared to peer institutions with a median SAT of 1,125, University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla's scores are 204 points lower, reflecting regional differences in test participation and preparation. The university demonstrates that strong academic preparation exists alongside accessible admission, with the high retention rate of 97.9% validating the academic readiness of enrolled students. Students scoring below 800 should not view themselves as automatically excluded, as the university considers multiple factors in admission decisions. For prospective applicants, scores within or above the 806-1,057 range indicate strong academic competitiveness for admission. Students should consider whether their academic profile aligns with this range when building their college application strategy.
Understanding institutional priorities and student support
University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla enrolls a predominantly lower-income student population, with 82.0% receiving Pell grants indicating families earning under $50,000 annually. This represents one of the highest Pell shares among four-year institutions, demonstrating the university's commitment to serving economically disadvantaged students. First-generation college students comprise 28.2% of enrollment, indicating substantial representation of students whose parents did not complete college degrees. Transfer students represent 9.1% of the student body, suggesting most students enter as first-year freshmen rather than transferring from other institutions. This student composition reflects the university's role as a primary access point for higher education in the Aguadilla region of Puerto Rico. The high concentration of Pell-eligible students indicates financial need is common among enrolled students, making the institution's exceptional affordability particularly valuable. Students from lower-income backgrounds should view the 82% Pell share as evidence they will find peers with similar economic circumstances and institutional familiarity with supporting first-generation college students. For prospective applicants, this composition suggests the university has extensive experience serving students who may need additional academic and financial support systems.
Given University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla's 81.7% acceptance rate, most academically prepared students should expect favorable admission odds. However, students seeking alternative options or different program focuses may benefit from exploring these alternatives.
Schools with comparable admission profiles — useful for building a balanced list.
University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla demonstrates exceptional success in retaining students, with 97.9% of freshmen returning for sophomore year compared to a peer median of 72.9%. This 25 percentage point advantage indicates strong institutional support systems and appropriate academic placement of admitted students. However, the graduation rate of 47.7% presents a more complex picture, showing that while students persist initially, completion within six years remains challenging. The peer median completion rate of 43.4% suggests this pattern is common among similar institutions, with University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla performing 4.3 percentage points above comparable schools. The substantial gap between retention and completion rates indicates students face obstacles during their academic journey that require continued institutional attention. Students who gain admission can expect strong freshman year support systems based on the exceptional retention performance. Prospective students should understand that while initial academic adjustment appears well-supported, maintaining momentum through graduation requires sustained effort and engagement with available resources. The above-average completion rate compared to peers suggests the university provides adequate pathways to degree completion for persistent students.
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