UnisHub University Compass

University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Rio Piedras : Overview, Courses, Scholarships & Rankings

0 · 0 reviews

About University of Puerto Rico

Set in the lively Río Piedras district of San Juan, this public campus feels like a small city with a conscience. It's known for strong humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and the creative arts, with bilingual learning woven into daily life. Students find serious academic support in libraries, labs, studios, advising and tutoring centers, plus wellness and career services that feel close at hand.

Plazas buzz with music, murals, and student groups that dive into culture, media, service, and debate. The atmosphere leans curious, civic minded, and proudly Puerto Rican, yet comfortable for students moving between Spanish and English. But the vibe stays welcoming and down to earth. Career prep grows through research opportunities and internships with government, nonprofits, arts organizations, and local businesses. And outside the gates, San Juan offers beaches, galleries, markets, and a community that rewards initiative. Traditions of festivals and public talks keep campus energy high year round.

Key Institutional Details

Contact & Profile

Location
39 Avenida Ponce de Leon, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00931, USA
Website
uprrp.edu
Unit ID
243221

Academic & Institutional

Control
Public institution (funded by state or local government)
Accreditation
MSCHE
Length of Study
Programs under 2 years (e.g. certificate or diploma)
Calendar System
Semester system (two main terms per year)
Award Levels
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
Doctorate (P)
Campus Setting
Located in a large city (population of 250,000 or more)
Carnegie Classification
Doctoral - R2 (High Research)
Tuition & Fees
In-State
$5,324
Tuition $5,024 + Fee $300
Out-of-State
$5,324
Tuition $5,024 + Fee $300
Student Profile
Total Students 11,493
Undergraduate 8,748
Graduate/Other 2,745
Male: 4,427 Female: 7,066
Applications
Total Applicants 4,665
Admitted 2,482
Enrolled 1,839
Acceptance: 53.2% Yield: 74.1%
Staff
Total Staff 2,253
Full-time 1,896
Part-time 357
Full-time: 84.2% Part-time: 15.8%

Academic Programs & Fields of Study

University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Rio Piedras offers 87 degree programs across 24 major academic fields, graduating approximately 1,865 students annually. The most popular fields by graduate volume are Business (13 programs, 329 graduates), Biological Sciences (1 programs, 181 graduates), Education (19 programs, 176 graduates), Psychology (4 programs, 164 graduates) and Law (2 programs, 131 graduates). Explore program details, award levels, and graduate demographics below.

Business (13 programs, 329 graduates)
Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Accounting 95
Bachelor's
52.0301
Marketing Management 63
Bachelor's
52.1401
Finance, General 43
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
52.0801
Business Administration 41
Bachelor's
Master's
52.0101
Human Resources Management 23
Bachelor's
52.1001
Operations Management and Supervision 20
Bachelor's
52.0205
Management Information Systems 13
Bachelor's
52.1201
Office Management and Supervision 11
Bachelor's
52.0204
Labor and Industrial Relations 11
Bachelor's
52.1002
Business Economics 6
Bachelor's
52.0601
Small Business Management 1
Bachelor's
52.0703
International Business and Trade 1
Doctorate (R)
52.1101
Business Statistics 1
Bachelor's
52.1302
Biological Sciences (1 programs, 181 graduates)
Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Biomedical Research
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Biology and Biological Sciences 181
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
26.0101
Education (19 programs, 176 graduates)
Educational Sciences, Teaching Methods and Pedagogy
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Elementary Education 33
Bachelor's
13.1202
Curriculum and Instruction 24
Master's
Doctorate (R)
13.0301
English as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching 22
Bachelor's
Master's
13.1401
Educational Leadership and Administration 17
Master's
Doctorate (R)
13.0401
Early Childhood Education 14
Bachelor's
Master's
13.1210
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 10
Bachelor's
13.1314
Drama and Dance Education 8
Bachelor's
13.1324
Art Education 7
Bachelor's
13.1302
Spanish Language Teacher Education 7
Bachelor's
13.1330
Education, General 7
Bachelor's
13.9999
School Counseling and Guidance 5
Master's
Doctorate (R)
13.1101
Social Studies Teacher Education 5
Bachelor's
13.1318
Mathematics Teacher Education 4
Bachelor's
13.1311
Educational Evaluation and Research 3
Master's
13.0601
Special Education Teaching 3
Master's
13.1001
History Teacher Education 3
Bachelor's
13.1328
Music Teacher Education 2
Bachelor's
13.1312
Biology Teacher Education 1
Bachelor's
13.1322
Chemistry Teacher Education 1
Bachelor's
13.1323
Psychology (4 programs, 164 graduates)
Psychological Sciences, Mental Health and Behavioral Studies
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
General Psychology 150
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
42.0101
Industrial-Organizational Psychology 5
Master's
42.2804
Psychology 5
Master's
42.9999
Community Psychology 4
Master's
42.2802
Law (2 programs, 131 graduates)
Legal Studies, Jurisprudence and Professional Law Practice
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Law 125
Doctorate (P)
22.0101
Advanced Legal Research and Studies 6
Master's
22.0201
Social Sciences (7 programs, 124 graduates)
Sociology, Anthropology and Political Science Studies
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Political Science and Government 39
Bachelor's
45.1001
Anthropology 28
Bachelor's
45.0201
Social Sciences 14
Bachelor's
45.0101
Economics 14
Bachelor's
Master's
45.0601
Sociology 14
Bachelor's
Master's
45.1101
Geography 12
Bachelor's
45.0701
Social Sciences 3
Master's
45.9999
Languages (5 programs, 118 graduates)
Foreign Languages, Literature and Linguistic Studies
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Foreign Languages and Literatures 43
Bachelor's
16.0101
Comparative Literature 39
Bachelor's
Master's
16.0104
Spanish Language and Literature 15
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
16.0905
Language Interpretation and Translation 12
Master's
16.0103
Linguistics 9
Master's
16.0102
Public Services (2 programs, 98 graduates)
Public Administration, Social Work and Community Services
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Social Work 70
Bachelor's
Master's
44.0701
Public Administration 28
Master's
44.0401
Architecture (3 programs, 94 graduates)
Architectural Design and Construction Planning Services
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Environmental Design and Architecture 43
Bachelor's
04.0401
Architecture 28
Master's
04.0201
Urban and Regional Planning 23
Master's
04.0301
Communication (4 programs, 94 graduates)
Media Communications, Journalism and Public Relations
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Public Relations and Image Management 33
Bachelor's
09.0902
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication 28
Bachelor's
09.0799
Journalism 27
Bachelor's
Master's
09.0499
Journalism 6
Master's
09.0401

Admission Requirements & Test Scores

Comprehensive overview of admission criteria, standardized test score ranges, and application requirements for prospective students at University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Rio Piedras.

Application Requirements

Secondary School GPA
Required
Secondary School Rank
Neither required nor recommended
Secondary School Record
Required
College Preparatory Program
Neither required nor recommended
Recommendations
Neither required nor recommended
Formal Demonstration of Competencies
Required
Admission Test Scores (SAT/ACT)
Neither required nor recommended
English Proficiency Test (TOEFL)
Neither required nor recommended
Personal Statement or Essay
Neither required nor recommended

Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Test score ranges represent the middle 50% of admitted students (25th-75th percentile). Requirements may vary by program.

Tuition, Fees & Estimated Costs

Overview of tuition rates, housing, and other annual education expenses for undergraduate and graduate students

Estimated Total Cost
(In-state)
$9,492
Estimated Total Cost
(Out-state)
$9,492
In-state Tuition (incl. fees)
$5,324
Tuition and fees for students residing in-state
Out-of-state Tuition (incl. fees)
$5,324
Tuition and fees for non-resident students
Room & Board
$11,385 (off-campus)
Housing and meal plan expenses
Books & Supplies
$4,168
Average yearly cost of books and study materials
Other Expenses
$3,090 (off-campus)
Miscellaneous personal and institutional expenses
Other Expenses (with family)
$3,090
Estimated cost for students living with family
Graduate In-state Tuition (incl. fees)
$4,470
Graduate tuition rates for in-state students
Graduate Out-of-state Tuition (incl. fees)
$4,470
Graduate tuition rates for non-resident students

Financial Aid & Student Support

Summary of scholarships, grants, student loans, and financial aid statistics for undergraduate students

19%
FTFT Aid Recipients
Avg. Grant
$6,449
Avg. Loan
$3,831
Avg. Federal Loan
$3,831
Additional
Students with Any Grant
1,401
Students who received any type of grant aid
Students with Any Loan
39
Students who received any type of loan-based aid
Students with Federal Grant
1,242
Students who received a federal grant
Avg. Institutional Grant
$1,573
Average amount of institutional grant awarded

Student Success Metrics

Graduation rates and post-graduation earnings to help assess student outcomes and long-term value of education.

52%
Graduation Rate
Percentage of students who successfully graduate from the institution
80%
First-Year Retention Rate
Percentage of first-year students who continue for a second year
Median Earnings Over Time
$20,985 – $57,886
Salary Range (25th–75th Percentile, 10 Years)
$20,985 (25th %) $57,886 (75th %)
*Median Salary After 10 Years: $35,723
Median Salary After 6 Years
$22,417
Average annual earnings of former students six years after starting college.
Median Salary After 10 Years
$35,723
Average annual earnings of former students ten years after starting college.

Loan Burden & Repayment Outcomes

Breakdown of loan repayment rates and student debt levels by income and dependency status.

3-Year Loan Repayment Rate
60.1%
Share of borrowers who repaid loans within 3 years
Repayment Rate (Graduates Only)
63.8%
Repayment rate among students who completed their program
Median Student Loan Debt
$5,500
Median federal loan debt of undergraduate completers at time of graduation.
Repayment by Income
Low 56.4%
Middle 66.5%
High 70.2%
Repayment by Dependency
Dependent 64.3%
Independent 46.5%

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Rio Piedras

How much does it cost to attend University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Rio Piedras?

The annual tuition at University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Rio Piedras is $5,324 for in-state students. When including room and board, books, and other expenses, the total estimated cost is approximately $9,492 for in-state students. Additional costs include room and board $11,385 (off-campus) and books and supplies $4,168.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2022-2023 academic year. Tuition and cost estimates are approximate and may not include all fees, personal expenses, or transportation costs.

What academic programs and degree levels does University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras offer?

University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Rio Piedras offers 87 academic programs across 24 major fields of study, with available degree levels: Bachelor's, Postbac Cert., Master's, Post-Master's, Doctorate (Research), Doctorate (Professional).

Most popular program areas include:

  • Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship (13 programs)
  • Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Biomedical Research (1 programs)
  • Educational Sciences, Teaching Methods and Pedagogy (19 programs)
  • Psychological Sciences, Mental Health and Behavioral Studies (4 programs)
  • Legal Studies, Jurisprudence and Professional Law Practice (2 programs)

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated, not all offered programs.

What is the acceptance rate for University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras?

University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Rio Piedras has an 53.2% acceptance rate and a 74.1% yield rate, making it selective.

Admission statistics breakdown:

  • Total applicants: 4,665
  • Students admitted: 2,482
  • Students enrolled: 1,839

Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Admission statistics may vary by program and application cycle.

What financial aid and scholarships are available at University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras?

University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Rio Piedras provides financial aid to 19% of first-time, full-time students, with average grants of $6,449 and average loans of $3,831.

Average financial aid amounts by type:

  • Pell grants: $5,925
  • State/Local grants: $1,605
  • Institutional grants: $1,573
  • Federal loans: $3,831

The university supports 1,401 students with grants and 39 students with loans annually.

Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Financial aid amounts and percentages may vary by program, enrollment status, and individual circumstances.

What is the average salary for University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras graduates?

University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Rio Piedras graduates earn a median salary of $22,417 after 6 years and $35,723 after 10 years.

The salary range 10 years after graduation spans from $20,985 (25th percentile) to $57,886 (75th percentile).

Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Salary data reflects graduates who received federal financial aid (approximately 60% of all graduates). Actual earnings may vary significantly based on program, location, and individual circumstances.

Campus map for Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Carolina Campus
Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Carolina Campus
Carr. # 190 Esq. Calle 220 Bo. Sabana Abajo, Carolina, PR 00985-0985
View Profile
Campus map for Universidad del Sagrado Corazon
Universidad del Sagrado Corazon
Calle San Antonio Esq. Calle Rosales Pda 26 1/2, Santurce, PR 00907
View Profile
Campus map for Seminario Evangelico de Puerto Rico
Seminario Evangelico de Puerto Rico
776 Ponce de Leon Avenue, San Juan, PR 00925
View Profile
Campus map for Universidad Central Del Caribe
Universidad Central Del Caribe
Ramon Ruiz Arnau University Hospital Laurel Ave, Bayamon, PR 00960-6032
View Profile
Found this helpful? Share it!

Found something useful? Help others discover it too! Share with friends, on social media, or save for later - every share helps someone find the information they need.