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

The most striking feature of this nursing program isn't where it starts, but where it goes. That first-year figure of $13,947 is alarmingly low—ranking in just the 5th percentile nationally—but by year four, earnings jump to $30,413. This 118% growth rate suggests graduates are either slowly gaining RN licensure or transitioning into better-paying positions over time, though even that four-year number trails the state median of $16,742 by a significant margin.

Within Puerto Rico's nursing market, this program ranks at the 25th percentile—meaning three-quarters of similar programs produce higher earnings. The debt load of $12,718 exceeds the island's median of $9,250, and the first-year debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.91 means graduates owe nearly their entire first year's salary. Compare this to top-performing programs on the island: Universidad del Sagrado Corazon graduates earn $36,836, more than double what Inter American-Guayama grads make even after four years.

For a family considering this program, the math is difficult. Even accounting for the dramatic earnings growth, graduates here earn substantially less than peers from other Puerto Rican nursing programs while carrying more debt. Unless geographic constraints or specific financial aid make this the only viable option, families should seriously explore the higher-performing alternatives available across Puerto Rico.