Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez

UPR-Mayaguez prepares teachers for Puerto Rico's unique economic reality, not the mainland U.S. market. While graduates here earn just $19,607 in their first year—placing them in the bottom 5% nationally—they significantly outperform the island's median of $14,715, ranking in the 80th percentile among Puerto Rico's 28 teacher prep programs. The context matters: this program serves a student body where 65% receive Pell grants and prepares them for teaching careers in an economy where educator salaries reflect local wage structures, not mainland scales.

The $11,200 in student debt is manageable relative to first-year earnings (0.57 ratio), especially compared to the national median debt of $26,221 for this field. Graduates see modest but steady earnings growth to $20,345 by year four. For families weighing this program, the key question isn't how it stacks up against teaching programs in Texas or California—it's whether it provides solid preparation for Puerto Rico's education sector at an affordable price point.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked) limits certainty, but the fundamental tradeoff is clear: this is professional training for a local market where teaching salaries are lower than the mainland but the debt burden is also substantially smaller. If your child plans to teach in Puerto Rico, this program delivers strong in-state value.