Civil Engineering at Caribbean University-Bayamon

Something unusual happens between graduation and year four for Caribbean University-Bayamon's civil engineering program. While comparable bachelor's programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $69,574—which would make the estimated $27,000 debt load manageable—actual reported earnings by year four drop to $40,869. That's a decline, not the growth you'd expect, and it brings graduates closer to what other Puerto Rico civil engineering programs produce ($41,324 at UPR-Mayaguez). The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 looks reasonable on paper, but only if those first-year earnings materialize as predicted from national patterns.

The concern is that these estimates are drawn from programs across the U.S., where civil engineering markets differ dramatically from Puerto Rico's. The state's engineering salaries run about 40% below the national median, which raises questions about whether mainland-based predictions apply here. With 75% of students receiving Pell grants, most families can't afford to gamble on whether their graduate will hit that $69,574 mark or land closer to the $40,869 reality by year four. At current debt levels—roughly three times the PR state median—families need to understand they're potentially financing higher borrowing for outcomes that may align more with local than national standards. Before committing, get clarity on where this program's actual graduates work and what they earn in their first jobs, not four years out.