Business Administration, Management and Operations at University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez

UPR-Mayagüez's business program shows an unusual split: it ranks near the bottom nationally but dominates Puerto Rico's market. While the $38,052 first-year salary falls well short of the $45,703 national median, it more than doubles the $18,731 typical for business graduates across Puerto Rico. Among the island's 39 business programs, this ranks 95th percentile—only Universidad Ana G. Mendez's Gurabo campus comes close. That context matters tremendously for students planning to work in Puerto Rico's economy.

The real strength here is affordability. At $8,250 in median debt—just six times lower than the national median—graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22, meaning they owe roughly three months' salary. That's manageable by any standard and reflects both UPR's public university pricing and the fact that 65% of students receive Pell grants. For comparison, most business programs saddle graduates with debt requiring a year or more of earnings to pay off.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) warrants caution—a few outlier outcomes could skew these figures. But if your child plans to stay in Puerto Rico, this program offers the strongest earning potential on the island at a fraction of mainland costs. If they're considering mainland opportunities, understand that $38,000 positions them below most U.S. business graduates, though the minimal debt provides flexibility to relocate or pursue additional credentials.