Admit rate has ranged 33%–70% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is a private, Christian-rooted institution offering a practical, career-focused education in Puerto Rico's second-largest city. With acceptance rates fluctuating between 34-70% across reports, it attracts students with its specialized programs in protective services and biology, though graduation rates hover around 34-43%. The campus blends academic rigor with affordability, with 56% of students receiving financial aid and net prices around $8,385.
Admission requirements
Test-blind — scores not considered
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
2,404
In-state tuition
$5,780
Out-of-state tuition
$5,780
Location
Mercedita, PR
Acceptance Rate
34-70% (varies by source)
Graduation Rate
34-43%
Most Popular Majors
Protective Services, Biology, Psychology
Undergraduate Majors
65
Student-Faculty Ratio
21:1
Students Receiving Aid
56-91%
Median Earnings After Graduation
$16,025-$26,721
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$26,721
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.0×
Median debt at graduation
$6,375
Graduation rate
41%
First-year retention
69%
Pell (lower-income) share
89%
First-generation share
34%
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Human Resources Management and Services$23,649
Business Administration, Management and Operations$23,166
Psychology, General$21,964
Criminal Justice and Corrections$20,596
Biology, General$12,115
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
13
Summer high
88°F
Winter low
71°F
Annual rain
34.7"
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023).
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce?
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce's acceptance rate is approximately 34% (Mercedita, PR), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce cost?
At Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce, the average net price (after aid) is about $9,026 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce?
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce enrolls approximately 2,404 undergraduate students.
Where is Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce located?
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is located in Mercedita, PR.
Admissions
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce has a moderately selective admissions process, with reported Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. varying significantly by source—from 34% (U.S. News) to 70.3% (PrepScholar). Most sources cluster around 60-70%, suggesting the higher figures may reflect system-wide averages for Inter American's multi-campus network. Applicants need a minimum 2.0 high school GPA and must submit transcripts, with some programs likely having additional requirements. The inconsistency in reported rates may reflect differing methodologies or the university's flexible admissions thresholds across programs.
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services$5,938
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Academics
The university offers 65 majors with particularly strong specialization in protective services (76 degrees awarded annually) and biology (56 degrees). The student-to-faculty ratio is 21:1, suggesting moderately sized classes. Graduation rates are modest at 34-43%, though this aligns with regional norms across Puerto Rico. Curricula appear career-oriented, with criminal justice, psychology, and personal services among the most popular majors. The 2022-2023 catalog notes that graduation requirements and programs may change during a student's enrollment, though changes won't be applied retroactively.
Located in Ponce—Puerto Rico's second-largest city—the campus offers modern facilities including labs, libraries, and research centers. While specific details about housing aren't available in the provided sources, the urban location provides access to cultural and professional opportunities. Anecdotal reports from other Inter American campuses suggest the institution maintains strict policies on attendance and academic honesty, which may extend to the Ponce campus. The university's Christian roots likely influence campus culture, though the extent isn't detailed in available sources.
Post-graduation outcomes are modest, with median earnings one year after graduation reported at $16,025 (Niche) or $26,721 (College-Find)—the latter possibly reflecting longer-term outcomes. These figures likely reflect Puerto Rico's lower wage scales and the university's career-oriented programs in fields like protective services. Graduation rates between 34-43% suggest academic challenges for some students, though this is consistent with regional trends where six of Inter American's nine campuses have rates between 33-39%.
The university is relatively affordable, with a Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. of $8,385 after aid (BigFuture) or $9,000 (Kollegio AI). 56-91% of students receive financial aid, with average total aid packages around $10,457. Tuition alone is approximately $4,560, making it accessible compared to mainland U.S. institutions. The university provides a net price calculator to help families estimate costs after accounting for grants and scholarships.
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce distinguishes itself through:
Specialized career programs: Particularly in protective services (76 degrees awarded) and biology (56 degrees), aligning with regional workforce needs
Urban accessibility: Located in Ponce with its cultural amenities and professional opportunities
Affordability: Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. around $8,385-$9,000 with over half of students receiving aid
Moderate selectivity: More accessible than mainland U.S. universities while maintaining academic standards
Christian foundation: A values-oriented education within a private, non-profit framework
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce logo · sourcePonce - Interamerican University of Puerto Rico · sourceInteramerican University of Puerto Rico at Ponce - Wikipedia · sourceInteramerican University of Puerto Rico · source
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