Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo

The salary numbers here look alarming at first glance—$15,731 one year out is well below poverty level—but the context is critical. Puerto Rico's nursing market operates on a completely different wage scale than the mainland U.S., where new RNs typically earn $75,000+. Among the 40 nursing programs in Puerto Rico, this falls right in the middle (40th percentile), and the relatively low $10,000 debt burden is actually better than most alternatives on the island. The real story is the trajectory: earnings nearly double by year four to $30,214, which is respectable growth even if it remains far below continental standards.

The challenge is that even top nursing programs in Puerto Rico max out around $37,000 in earnings, meaning this is fundamentally about geographic market constraints rather than program quality. If your child plans to practice nursing in Puerto Rico long-term, this program offers reasonable preparation at manageable debt. But if they're considering mainland opportunities after graduation—where their credentials would allow them to earn 2-3x more—they should understand that many Puerto Rican nursing graduates do eventually relocate for higher wages. The 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio looks fine by mainland standards but reflects PR's compressed salary reality.

For families committed to staying in Puerto Rico, this represents a middle-of-the-road option that won't burden graduates with crushing debt while they establish their careers.