Biology at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce

This biology program lands in the middle tier for Puerto Rico but faces serious challenges by national standards. With first-year earnings of $17,632, graduates rank in just the 5th percentile nationally—yet at the 60th percentile within Puerto Rico, where the median biology graduate earns $16,945. The problem isn't this university specifically; it's the severe gap between Puerto Rico's economic opportunities and mainland earnings for biology degree holders.

The 38% earnings growth to $24,269 by year four offers some encouragement, though graduates still earn $8,000 less than the national median even at that point. The debt picture compounds the challenge: at $18,500, borrowers carry nearly twice the state median debt while earning roughly state-median wages. For a program serving primarily low-income students (81% receive Pell grants), this creates genuine financial strain despite the relatively modest absolute debt level.

If your child plans to remain in Puerto Rico, this program performs competitively with most island options except the University of Puerto Rico campuses, which deliver similar earnings with half the debt. For students considering mainland opportunities post-graduation, understand that this degree positions them well below market rates for biology majors, making loan repayment particularly difficult without additional credentials or relocation.