Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus

The numbers here tell two contradictory stories. Compared to teaching programs across the U.S., this program ranks at the bottom 5th percentile for earnings while carrying near-median debt—a troubling combination. Yet within Puerto Rico's teaching market, where the median starting salary is just $20,494, this program's $23,945 outcome ranks respectably at the 60th percentile. The real concern is that debt of $31,012 is three times higher than what other PR teaching programs typically saddle graduates with ($10,468 median).

The flat earnings trajectory—actually declining slightly from year one to year four—reflects Puerto Rico's constrained teacher salary scales rather than this specific program's failings. But that makes the elevated debt load even more problematic. Graduates are entering a market where their income won't grow meaningfully over time, yet they're carrying debt levels more typical of mainland programs with substantially higher earning potential. With 70% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are borrowing heavily for outcomes that, while decent by local standards, come at an outsized cost.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means individual circumstances could be skewing these numbers significantly. However, if your child is considering teaching in Puerto Rico, programs at the Ana G. Mendez campuses in Gurabo or Cupey offer similar or better earning outcomes with presumably lower debt burdens worth investigating.