Criminology at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez

Criminology graduates from this Mayagüez campus start at exceptionally low earnings—just $16,199 their first year out—yet the context matters enormously. This program sits at the 60th percentile among Puerto Rico's five criminology programs, meaning it actually outperforms most local competitors despite ranking in the bottom 5% nationally. The $12,250 in debt is manageable relative to those starting earnings, and the 38% earnings growth to $22,266 by year four suggests graduates find their footing in Puerto Rico's job market over time.

The gulf between Puerto Rico and mainland earnings is stark here. Where typical U.S. criminology graduates earn $37,476 initially, this program's outcomes reflect Puerto Rico's fundamentally different economic reality. For families planning to stay on the island, this program delivers middle-of-the-pack results locally at well-below-average debt. The 83% Pell Grant rate indicates the university serves primarily low-income students who may have limited alternatives.

The practical question: Can your family sustain those first-year earnings? If staying in Puerto Rico is the plan and other local options aren't significantly stronger, the low debt load makes this workable. But if mainland employment is the goal, understand that these credentials will start you far behind national peers in earning power.