Business Administration, Management and Operations at Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus

This program occupies an unusual position: it's near the bottom nationally but performs remarkably well within Puerto Rico. At $33,654 in first-year earnings, graduates earn nearly 80% more than the typical business graduate from a PR institution ($18,731 median). Among the island's 39 programs, this ranks in the 95th percentile—only Universidad Ana G. Mendez's Carolina Campus and a handful of others post comparable numbers. The debt burden of $22,579 is higher than the state median but manageable relative to initial earnings, with a 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio.

The challenge is what happens next. Earnings slip to $30,522 by year four—a 9% decline that suggests either limited advancement opportunities or graduates moving into roles that don't leverage their degrees. This pattern isn't uncommon in Puerto Rico's job market, but it means the initial salary advantage doesn't compound over time. For context, the top program at UPR-Mayaguez maintains stronger earnings ($38,052), though this school serves a predominantly Pell-eligible population (83%) and still delivers better outcomes than most alternatives on the island.

For families choosing among Puerto Rico institutions, this program offers substantially better starting earnings than the typical local business degree. The earnings decline merits attention, but given the limited options and the program's strong initial placement, it represents one of the more solid choices for business students planning to work in Puerto Rico.