Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology at University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo

The striking earnings gap here demands attention: graduates earn just $6,023 in their first year—substantially below even Puerto Rico's already-low median of $9,186 for psychology bachelor's programs. While earnings do jump dramatically to nearly $20,000 by year four, that's still only about half the national median and ranks in the bottom 10% statewide. The modest $4,500 debt load is the program's clearest advantage, though it barely offsets the earnings deficit.

The real challenge is understanding what these numbers actually represent. With fewer than 30 graduates tracked and 86% of students receiving Pell grants, it's unclear whether the low initial earnings reflect delayed entry into the workforce, part-time employment common among psychology undergrads, or structural limitations in Puerto Rico's job market. Even among island programs, UPR-Arecibo's outcomes trail behind—UPR-Ponce's psychology grads, for instance, earn double what this program's graduates make initially.

For parents, the core question is whether your child plans to pursue graduate education (typical for this field) or expects this bachelor's degree to be terminal. If it's a stepping stone to a master's or doctorate, the low debt makes this tolerable. But if your child expects career-level earnings after four years, these numbers suggest significant financial struggle ahead, even accounting for Puerto Rico's lower cost of living.