Est. Earnings (1yr)
$47,506
Est. from national median (242 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$27,000
Est. from national median (93 programs)

Analysis

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57 suggests manageable borrowing for this business degree, though both the $47,506 salary estimate and $27,000 debt figure come from national peer programs rather than this campus's actual outcomes. For context, business bachelor's programs nationwide typically produce first-year earnings right around this $47,506 mark, so the estimate aligns with the field's norms. The debt level also tracks closely with the national median of $26,000 for business degrees.

What matters here is Puerto Rico's economic context. With 76% of students receiving Pell grants, most families at this campus face significant financial constraints, and local job markets typically offer lower salaries than mainland U.S. positions. If your child plans to work in Puerto Rico after graduation, actual earnings could fall below the national estimate, making even this seemingly reasonable debt burden feel heavier. Conversely, graduates willing to relocate to the mainland might find opportunities that exceed these projections.

The lack of reported outcomes from any Puerto Rico business program makes it impossible to assess how this specific campus performs. Before committing, push the school for placement data: where do their business graduates actually work, and what do they earn? Without that information, you're investing based on national averages that may not reflect Puerto Rican realities.

Where Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business/commerce bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Business/Commerce bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

Scroll to see more โ†’

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-AreciboArecibo$6,238$47,506*โ€”$27,000*โ€”
The University of Texas at AustinAustin$11,678$94,041*โ€”โ€”*โ€”
New York UniversityNew York$60,438$77,828*$115,546$19,500*0.25
Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem$64,758$76,722*$91,708$18,899*0.25
Baylor UniversityWaco$54,844$74,886*$90,608$15,000*0.20
Northeastern UniversityBoston$63,141$74,868*$91,376$24,000*0.32
National Medianโ€”$47,506*โ€”$26,000*0.55
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/commerce graduates

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Production Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Quality Control Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geothermal Production Managers

Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels Production Managers

Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biomass Power Plant Managers

Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Hydroelectric Production Managers

Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Construction Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

$106,980/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
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 242 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.