Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology at University of Puerto Rico at Ponce

The striking contradiction here is that graduates earn just $12,349 one year out—ranking in the 5th percentile nationally—yet this program places in the 80th percentile among Puerto Rico psychology programs. That gap tells you more about Puerto Rico's economic reality than this specific program's quality, and it matters because these graduates likely face limited mainland opportunities given their earnings trajectory.

The positive spin: at $5,000 in debt, this is genuinely affordable, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40 is manageable even with these low absolute numbers. The 39% earnings growth to $17,159 by year four suggests some upward mobility, though that still leaves graduates well below what's needed for financial independence. With 81% of students on Pell grants, this program serves a population that might not have better local options—and the alternative psychology programs in Puerto Rico show even lower earnings.

However, the sample size under 30 means any single year's data could swing wildly. If your child plans to stay in Puerto Rico and work in psychology or social services, this could be a reasonable path at this price point. But anyone considering mainland opportunities should know they'll be starting at a severe earnings disadvantage compared to psychology graduates elsewhere—you're looking at roughly one-third the national median salary, which creates real barriers to relocation or graduate school.