Design and Applied Arts at EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc-San Sebastian

The most striking thing about this program isn't the $12,994 first-year earnings—it's that this represents above-average performance for Puerto Rico's design programs, landing at the 60th percentile statewide. While that salary would place graduates in the bottom 5% nationally, it reflects broader economic realities in Puerto Rico rather than program-specific weakness. The manageable $7,900 debt load keeps this program viable where a higher debt burden would make it financially untenable.

Here's the practical calculation: graduates earn enough to cover their debt in under eight months of work, assuming the entire salary goes to repayment. That's a reasonable starting point. However, the extremely low absolute earnings mean graduates will face real financial constraints—this is barely minimum wage income. The high Pell grant percentage (63%) suggests many students here come from families who already face economic challenges, and these post-graduation earnings may not provide the financial mobility they're seeking.

For parents, the key question is whether this credential opens doors to better opportunities over time or simply documents existing skills. With a 96% admission rate and similar outcomes across all EDP campuses, this appears to be accessible training rather than a competitive program. The small sample size adds uncertainty, but if your family can absorb the modest debt and your child has strong interest in this field, it's not a financial catastrophe—just a very modest start.