Biotechnology (Bachelor's Degree) at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$47,017

Est. from national median (18 programs)

Median Debt

$13,779

33% below national median

Analysis

With debt well below both the national median and what most biotechnology programs demand—$13,779 versus over $20,000 nationally—this program's financial profile looks relatively manageable, though earnings estimates based on national peer programs deserve scrutiny. While similar biotechnology bachelor's programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $47,000, Puerto Rico's distinct economic landscape and biotech sector may produce different outcomes. The school serves a predominantly Pell-eligible population (76%), which often correlates with students who need financial certainty most.

The 0.29 debt-to-earnings ratio appears favorable on paper, but that's contingent on whether national earning patterns actually hold in Arecibo. Puerto Rico's pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing sectors do employ biotechnology graduates, yet local salary scales can differ significantly from mainland averages. The low debt burden at least minimizes downside risk—even if earnings fall short of estimates, you're not facing the crushing debt loads common at many biotechnology programs.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether their student plans to stay in Puerto Rico or relocate after graduation. If mainland opportunities are the goal, the low debt could prove strategic. If staying local, you'll want to investigate actual placement rates and starting salaries for this specific campus's graduates, since national estimates may paint an overly optimistic picture of what awaits in Arecibo's job market.

Where Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all biotechnology bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Biotechnology bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-AreciboArecibo	$6,238	$47,017*	—	$13,779	—
Worcester State UniversityWorcester	$11,286	$70,124*	$71,966	$22,056	0.31
California State Polytechnic University-PomonaPomona	$7,439	$60,697*	$70,089	$18,500	0.30
University of California-DavisDavis	$15,247	$59,156*	$75,451	$11,985	0.20
Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick	$17,239	$56,509*	—	$26,686	0.47
Utah Valley UniversityOrem	$6,270	$52,118*	$61,720	$16,500	0.32
National Median	—	$47,016*	—	$20,618	0.44

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with biotechnology graduates

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water Resource Specialists

Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in biological sciences. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Biological Scientists, All Other

All biological scientists not listed separately.

Bioinformatics Scientists

Conduct research using bioinformatics theory and methods in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology, computational biology, proteomics, computer information science, biology and medical informatics. May design databases and develop algorithms for processing and analyzing genomic information, or other biological information.

Molecular and Cellular Biologists

Research and study cellular molecules and organelles to understand cell function and organization.

Geneticists

Research and study the inheritance of traits at the molecular, organism or population level. May evaluate or treat patients with genetic disorders.

Biologists

Research or study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and functions.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo, approximately 76% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 18 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.