Business/Commerce at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez

This Business/Commerce degree operates in a data vacuum—both earnings and debt figures are national estimates, not outcomes from Pontifical Catholic's Mayaguez campus. That matters in Puerto Rico, where economic conditions differ substantially from the mainland. The estimated $47,506 first-year salary reflects what business graduates earn nationally, but Puerto Rico's median household income is roughly $22,000, suggesting actual starting salaries could be considerably lower for graduates staying on the island.

The estimated $27,000 debt load appears manageable against national earnings benchmarks (a 0.57 ratio is reasonable), but becomes more concerning if real salaries skew closer to Puerto Rico norms. With 83% of students receiving Pell grants, most families here are weighing this investment on tight budgets where even moderate debt can strain finances. The 97% admission rate signals broad access, but without actual outcome data, there's no way to know how this specific program performs compared to the nine other business programs across Puerto Rico.

For families evaluating this program, the core challenge is uncertainty. If your child plans to leave Puerto Rico for mainland opportunities, these national benchmarks might hold. If they're staying local, you're essentially betting on estimates that may not reflect the island's job market. Before committing, try connecting with recent alumni to understand actual placement outcomes and starting salaries—something the available data simply can't tell you.