Psychology at University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez

The extremely low first-year earnings of $8,194 require immediate context: this appears to reflect Puerto Rico's unique economic situation and possibly students pursuing graduate education rather than entering the workforce directly. With a small sample size under 30 graduates, these numbers may not tell the full story. However, even compared to other Puerto Rico psychology programs—where this ranks in just the 10th percentile—the outcome is concerning. The island's median for psychology graduates is $19,063, more than double this program's first-year figure.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $5,500, it's half the Puerto Rico average and dramatically lower than the $25,500 national median. This makes the program affordable in absolute terms, even if the debt-to-earnings ratio looks inflated due to that unusually low first-year number. The 191% earnings jump to $23,844 by year four suggests many graduates do eventually find better opportunities, though even that four-year figure trails the state median.

For families weighing this program, the critical question is whether their student will follow the trajectory suggested by year-four earnings or get stuck at that first-year level. The low debt provides a safety net, but parents should understand their child would likely be earning well below what psychology graduates make elsewhere in Puerto Rico—and far below mainland opportunities. If graduate school is the plan, this could work as an affordable stepping stone; as a terminal degree for immediate employment, it's a risky bet even by Puerto Rico standards.