Computer Science at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce

At first glance, $25,245 starting salaries look alarming for computer science—until you understand Puerto Rico's tech job market. This program actually performs solidly within the island, ranking in the 60th percentile among local CS programs and earning slightly above PR's median of $25,142. With debt under $10,000, graduates face monthly payments around $100, which remains manageable even with island wage scales. The 14% earnings bump to $28,778 by year four suggests graduates are finding their footing, though they'll likely need to relocate to the mainland to access typical tech industry compensation.

The tradeoff is stark: stay in Puerto Rico with modest but stable earnings, or pursue mainland opportunities where CS graduates typically earn $70,950. With 82% of students receiving Pell grants, most families here are weighing financial aid packages against relocation costs. The low debt load at least preserves flexibility—graduates aren't trapped by payments if they do decide to move.

Fair warning: we're working with a small sample size here, so individual outcomes will vary more than at larger programs. For students committed to staying in Puerto Rico or those needing an affordable entry point into tech, this works. For anyone expecting typical software developer salaries without leaving the island, recalibrate expectations now or plan the eventual move to where those jobs exist.