Criminology at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce

The headline here isn't that graduates start at $16,000—it's that earnings jump 38% by year four, reaching $22,266. That growth trajectory, while still modest by mainland standards, places this program squarely in the middle of Puerto Rico's criminology options. The state percentile of 60th means half of similar programs on the island deliver even less earning power.

Context matters enormously: what looks dire nationally (5th percentile) reflects Puerto Rico's distinct economic reality rather than program quality. The $12,250 debt load is actually higher than average for island criminology programs, though the 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable since graduates can theoretically pay it off in nine months of gross earnings after four years. Most students here receive Pell grants, so federal aid likely covers much of the cost.

The real question is opportunity cost. If your child plans to stay in Puerto Rico and pursue criminal justice work locally, this delivers comparable outcomes to other island options. But if they're considering relocating to the mainland after graduation, that $16,000 starting salary—less than half the national criminology median—creates a challenging financial foundation for such a move. The program works for students committed to building careers within Puerto Rico's job market, but it's not a launching pad for opportunities elsewhere.