Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Universidad Adventista de las Antillas

Universidad Adventista's nursing program ranks in the 60th percentile among Puerto Rico nursing programs—above the territorial median but with a significant caveat. First-year earnings of $19,725 create an immediate challenge, even though debt at $19,065 is relatively modest. The debt-to-earnings ratio of nearly 1:1 means graduates will be dedicating substantial portions of their early income to loan repayment during a critical financial establishment period.

The compelling part of this story is the earnings trajectory: four years out, graduates reach $35,758, nearly doubling their initial salary. This still trails top PR programs like Universidad del Sagrado Corazón ($36,836) and Ana G. Méndez-Gurabo ($28,122), but it significantly outpaces the territorial median. The 80% Pell Grant population suggests many students here come from families where any nursing credential represents meaningful economic mobility, even if the path forward is steep compared to mainland programs.

For families considering this program, understand that the first few years will be financially tight—earnings that would struggle anywhere become even more challenging given PR's cost of living. However, the strong growth pattern and above-median territorial performance indicate the degree does create opportunity. If your child can secure family housing support during those early years or finds employment at facilities offering better starting compensation, this becomes more viable. But if they're comparing to mainland nursing programs with $50,000+ starting salaries, they need to weigh whether staying in Puerto Rico is worth potentially leaving significant earnings on the table.