Natural Sciences at University of Puerto Rico at Cayey

The warning signs here are hard to ignore: graduates earning just $11,821 in their first year, ranking in the bottom 10th percentile both nationally and among Puerto Rico's natural sciences programs. While debt at $5,500 is manageable, these earnings fall dramatically short of even Puerto Rico's state median of $21,226—meaning other in-state options appear to deliver significantly better outcomes for similar students.

The 66% earnings growth to $19,570 by year four shows some recovery, but that's still below what graduates earn initially from top PR programs like Inter American's Metro campus ($30,631). With three-quarters of students on Pell grants, many families here are counting on this degree to provide economic mobility, but these numbers suggest it's not delivering. The nearly 96% admission rate and open-access mission are admirable, but that doesn't change what graduates actually earn.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked) adds uncertainty, and it's possible this data doesn't capture the full picture. However, the consistency of low rankings—bottom 10th percentile across both state and national comparisons—suggests a pattern. For families investing in a natural sciences degree, other University of Puerto Rico campuses or Inter American may offer better returns, even accounting for potential differences in cost or location.