Design and Applied Arts at EDP University of Puerto Rico-Manati

The $12,994 median earnings one year after graduation demands immediate attention—this figure places graduates far below the $7.25 federal minimum wage equivalent for full-time work, suggesting many aren't finding design-related employment or are working part-time. While this program ranks at the 60th percentile within Puerto Rico's design programs, that's only because the entire state's creative sector shows depressed wages compared to the mainland, where the national median is $27,846. The 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio sounds reasonable on paper, but it's misleading when the denominator is less than poverty-level income.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes this data particularly unreliable, but the pattern across multiple EDP University campuses showing identical earnings suggests systemic issues with either job placement or the local market for design graduates. Even the relatively modest $7,900 debt becomes a serious burden when annual earnings barely crack five figures. For context, this program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of similar programs nationwide produce better outcomes.

Unless your child has exceptional circumstances (family employment connections in creative fields, plans to immediately relocate to the mainland, or a clear path to additional credentials), this program presents financial risks that are difficult to justify. The combination of extremely low earnings and Puerto Rico's limited design job market creates a precarious foundation for launching a career.