Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo's liberal arts program sits squarely at the median for Puerto Rico, but dramatically underperforms compared to mainland options—graduates earn less than $20,000 their first year, placing this in the bottom 5% nationally. The debt load of $19,040 nearly equals that first year's salary, creating an immediate financial squeeze that even 18% earnings growth over four years doesn't fully resolve. With three-quarters of students qualifying for Pell grants, this community clearly faces economic headwinds, but the question is whether a $19,000 salary justifies taking on equivalent debt for a general studies degree.

The state context matters here: at the 60th percentile among Puerto Rico programs, this performs about average locally, and the debt burden is actually lower than PR's median for this field. The consistent $19,848 earnings figure across multiple Pontifical Catholic campuses suggests this reflects broader Puerto Rico wage realities rather than program-specific weaknesses. Still, families should recognize that mainland liberal arts programs typically deliver nearly double the starting salary.

For students committed to staying in Puerto Rico, this represents a typical outcome. But those with flexibility to attend mainland schools—even with higher tuition—may find the earnings premium worth exploring, particularly since the degree itself doesn't offer specialized career preparation that would lock graduates into the local market.