Caribbean University-Ponce — ROI, Cost & Payback
Caribbean University-Ponce charges a net price of $4,964/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $19,856. Median earnings ten years after entry are $22,842, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Caribbean University-Ponce does not clear its cost — it ranks #48 of 71 Puerto Rico colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $4,964/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $19,856 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $22,842 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$25,518/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $10,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$530,216 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Caribbean University-Ponce's own numbers. Net price $4,964 × 4 years = $19,856 total. Median earnings $22,842 fall $25,518 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $19,856 bill in about 2.0 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Caribbean University-Ponce students graduate with?
A median $10,500 in federal loans among completers, or 46% of the $22,842 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Caribbean University-Ponce students graduate?
37% finish their degree — 63% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $19,856 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $53,665 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Caribbean University-Ponce expensive compared with other Puerto Rico colleges?
Its $4,964 net price runs $2,801 below the $7,765 median across the 71 Puerto Rico colleges we profile, and $11,204 less across the full degree.