Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Columbia Central University-Caguas

The earnings figures here are striking: graduates earn roughly half the national median for teaching certificates, with income actually declining 25% by year four. While this program ranks in the 60th percentile among Puerto Rico's teaching programs, that's because it's the only undergraduate teaching certificate tracked in the territory—there's no meaningful state comparison to make.

The debt load of $5,760 is manageable in absolute terms, but the debt-to-earnings ratio tells a harder story. Earning around $14,000 annually makes even modest debt challenging to service, particularly when earnings drop below $11,000 by year four. These figures likely reflect Puerto Rico's lower cost of living and wage scales, but they're still concerning when 81% of students receive Pell grants, indicating families with limited financial resources to fall back on.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift dramatically with more data, but the downward earnings trajectory is particularly troubling for a teaching credential. If your child is considering this program, understand they're looking at earnings well below mainland levels, even accounting for Puerto Rico's economic context. Unless they have strong ties to the island's education system or specific career plans that justify these wages, this certificate doesn't position them competitively—even within Puerto Rico's market.