Security Science and Technology at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla

The $11,973 first-year earnings from this security science program are sobering—about 70% below the national median—but there's critical context here. Within Puerto Rico's market, this actually performs near the middle of the pack (40th percentile), and the low debt load of $7,750 means graduates avoid the crushing burden facing their mainland counterparts who typically carry $25,000. The earnings trajectory tells a more optimistic story than the initial number suggests: by year four, median earnings jump to $28,128, more than doubling from the starting point.

The catch is that even this improved earnings figure barely surpasses Puerto Rico's median for the program ($12,517), and the sample size is small enough that outcomes could vary significantly for individual students. The school serves a predominantly low-income population (84% Pell recipients), and for families in this situation, the relatively manageable debt might matter more than the earnings gap compared to stateside programs. However, Inter American's Ponce campus shows graduates can earn nearly double what Aguadilla grads make in the same field and same territory.

For families who can access the Ponce campus or explore alternatives, that's worth investigating. If Aguadilla is the only realistic option, the low debt provides some cushion, but understand you're accepting significantly below-average earnings even within Puerto Rico's security sector.