University of Puerto Rico-Carolina vs Atenas University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Puerto Rico-Carolina comes closer — median earnings $30,626 against a $51,780 total, vs $20,231 at Atenas University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Puerto Rico-Carolina | Atenas University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,945 | $5,818 |
| Total net cost | $51,780 | $11,636 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $30,626 | $20,231 |
| Median debt | $5,500 | $6,525 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$406,460 | -$574,216 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Puerto Rico-Carolina or Atenas University?
Atenas University, at $5,818 a year after aid versus $12,945 — a gap of $7,127 a year, or $40,144 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of Puerto Rico-Carolina or Atenas University graduates earn more?
University of Puerto Rico-Carolina graduates report a median $30,626 ten years after entry, $10,395 more than the $20,231 at Atenas University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, University of Puerto Rico-Carolina or Atenas University?
University of Puerto Rico-Carolina: its completers carry a median $5,500 in federal loans versus $6,525 at Atenas University, a difference of $1,025. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
42% of students finish at Atenas University, against 37% at University of Puerto Rico-Carolina. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.