Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo

The numbers here tell an unusual story—and one that demands closer scrutiny. While peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $35,279 for health sciences bachelor's graduates, this program reports actual fourth-year earnings of just $24,178. That's a significant drop rather than the growth you'd typically expect as graduates gain experience, raising questions about either career trajectory or workforce conditions in Puerto Rico's healthcare sector.

The estimated debt load of $27,000 appears manageable on paper against the national benchmark earnings, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.80. But when measured against the actual reported fourth-year salary, the burden becomes heavier—more than a full year's income. With three-quarters of students receiving Pell grants, many graduates here are coming from families with limited financial cushion, making this debt-income gap particularly concerning. The broad "Health Sciences" categorization also matters: this could prepare students for roles ranging from healthcare administration to community health work, with vastly different earning potentials.

Before committing, your family needs to understand exactly which healthcare careers this degree prepares students for and what those specific roles pay in Puerto Rico. The disconnect between estimated early earnings and actual mid-career figures suggests either a challenging local job market or career paths that don't follow typical trajectories. Talk directly with the program about graduate placement rates and typical employer partners—the general data doesn't give you enough to assess whether this investment makes sense for your child's specific career goals.