University Of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras

University of Puerto Rico–Río Piedras offers one of the most affordable pathways to a four-year degree in the Azimuth coverage set. The published cost of attendance is $15,118, but need-based aid substantially reshapes that figure across income levels.

Low-income families pay approximately $8,018; middle-income families pay around $11,002; and higher-income families pay approximately $13,018. Azimuth ranks University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras #29 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions.

The university's pricing structure reflects Puerto Rico's public higher-education mission and federal aid eligibility. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

The relatively narrow spread between income bands underscores UPR–Río Piedras' commitment to broad access: even higher-income families face manageable net costs compared with mainland public research universities. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $5,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $12,500; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $36,313, median federal debt of $5,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $62 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $36,313, placing University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras in the 0.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,389 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras in the 47.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.

That figure compares with a median of $56,249 at comparable institutions, and reflects a labor market anchored in PR where the earnings baseline for working adults without a degree stands at $15,317. Azimuth ranks University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras #1434 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

The program mix at University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras is anchored by Business, which accounts for 25% of degrees, followed by Education at 10% and Social Sciences at 8%. Biology, General stands out with 216 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $40,152—Azimuth ranks the program #283 among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Psychology, General follows with 137 graduates earning $30,052, ranked #347 among nonprofit four-year institutions. The Accounting program graduates 122 students with median earnings of $57,201—Azimuth ranks it #50 among nonprofit four-year institutions.

University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras's program mix is anchored in Business, with additional depth in the social sciences, natural sciences, and education — a portfolio shaped by the university's identity as the flagship public research campus in Puerto Rico. Biology, General is the largest program by graduate volume, followed by Psychology, General, Accounting, Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, and Digital Marketing.

Across 41 programs serving roughly 1,778 students annually, the institution's strongest financial outcomes cluster in business, accounting, and applied professional fields. Among the highest-earning programs, Accounting graduates earn median earnings of $57,201 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks the program #50 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Digital Marketing follows with median earnings of $46,038, ranked #175 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Chemistry and Biology, General also deliver competitive early-career median pay, with graduates earning $43,731 and $40,152 respectively four years after enrollment.

The program mix reflects a balance between high-mobility, direct-to-workforce pathways — particularly in business, accounting, and finance — and fields such as biology and psychology where a meaningful share of graduates continue to graduate or professional school, making four-year earnings a partial picture of long-term trajectory. Across 28 ranked programs, University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras offers a range of pathways suited to students seeking stable professional careers in the local and regional economy.