Admit rate has ranged 78%–93% over the last 5 years — notably volatile, though the latest figure above (35%) falls outside that window. 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.
The University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón is a public, primarily commuter campus that serves as a critical engine of affordable higher education and workforce development for its region. With a focus on practical, career-oriented majors, it offers a gateway to professional opportunity at a remarkably low net cost, though it contends with graduation rates that reflect broader systemic challenges within Puerto Rico's public university system. Student life is deeply integrated with the surrounding community, characterized by a friendly, close-knit atmosphere rather than a traditional residential college experience.
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
2,851
In-state tuition
$6,284
Out-of-state tuition
$6,284
Graduation Rate
37%
Average Grant Aid
$7,347
Median Earnings (10yr)
$34,409
Students Receiving Grant Aid
96%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$34,409
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
4.1×
Median debt at graduation
$5,500
Graduation rate
37%
First-year retention
78%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
66%
Pell (lower-income) share
87%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
18%
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services$14,072
Business Administration, Management and Operations$13,702
Accounting and Related Services$13,702
Special Education and Teaching
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
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
35
Summer high
90°F
Winter low
69°F
Annual rain
45.4"
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 University of Puerto Rico?
University of Puerto Rico's acceptance rate is approximately 35% (Bayamon, PR), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does University of Puerto Rico cost?
At University of Puerto Rico, the average net price (after aid) is about $8,484 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend University of Puerto Rico?
University of Puerto Rico enrolls approximately 2,851 undergraduate students.
Where is University of Puerto Rico located?
University of Puerto Rico is located in Bayamon, PR.
Admissions
Admissions at the University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón are moderately selective, with an of 35% (the canonical figure that overrides other sources). This places it as more selective than some other UPR campuses, such as Cayey (96% acceptance rate) and Aguadilla (81%), but within the broader context of Puerto Rico, where the average college acceptance rate is 76.19%. The process appears to be primarily undergraduate-focused, as sources indicate the initiative is a collaborative effort for undergraduate data and typically does not include graduate schools. While specific SAT/ACT ranges for Bayamón are not provided in the sources, data from the flagship Río Piedras campus suggests competitive applicants often have strong academic profiles, with an average GPA of 3.6 and average SAT score of 1270. The university likely follows a , but the provided sources do not specify the importance of factors like demonstrated interest in its admissions process.
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.
$9,643
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 are career-focused and practical, designed to prepare students for direct entry into the workforce or further professional study. The university offers a range of bachelor's degrees, with popular majors across the UPR system providing a clue to student interests: these include Registered Nursing, Microbiology, Biology, Psychology, Accounting, and Marketing. The student-to-faculty ratio at the related Río Piedras campus is a notably low 8:1, suggesting the potential for personalized attention, though this specific metric for Bayamón is not detailed in the sources. The academic structure is organized into colleges, such as the College of Business Administration, which offers degrees in General Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, Finance, and Statistics. The pedagogical approach appears to be grounded in serving the local "in-state" population of Puerto Rico, emphasizing accessibility and relevance to the island's economic and social needs.
Student life is overwhelmingly commuter-based and deeply woven into the fabric of the local Bayamón community. At similar institutions in Puerto Rico, 99% of students live off-campus. The social and cultural scene is not defined by dormitories or Greek life but by student organizations, campus events, and the vibrant life of the surrounding area. Students report a lively and diverse social scene on and around campus, including numerous student organizations that contribute to university life in academic, cultural, religious, and recreational phases. The local Puerto Rican culture is famously centered on close communities and friendliness, with students known for their kindness, making everyone—including foreigners—feel welcome in the classroom and during off-campus activities. Typical student gatherings include study groups, small concerts, and food-focused meetups. The estimated monthly living cost for a student in Puerto Rico ranges from $1,200 to $1,500.
Post-graduation outcomes present a mixed picture, heavily influenced by the economic context of Puerto Rico. The median earnings for alumni ten years after entry is $34,409 (the canonical figure). Other data from the UPR system shows reported alumni salaries varying widely, with some figures as low as $12,250-$20,193 and one source citing a median of $15,537. The six-year graduation rate for the Bayamón campus is 37% (the canonical figure), which is below the rate for most other UPR campuses; a 2023 report noted that all UPR campuses except Utuado and Bayamón had graduation rates higher than 45%. However, this fits within a broader trend of improvement for higher education in Puerto Rico, where system-wide graduation rates increased from 23% to 39% between 2008 and 2019. First-year retention rates at similar UPR campuses can be relatively strong, with one report indicating 79% of undergraduates continue past their freshman year.
The defining characteristic of UPR Bayamón is its exceptional affordability. The average after aid is $8,484 (the canonical figure). Financial aid is widespread and crucial for the student body. Data from UPR Bayamón shows that 96% of full-time beginning undergraduates receive some form of grant or scholarship aid, with the average amount being $7,347. This aid package is composed of institutional grants ($729 on average), federal Pell grants ($5,682 on average), and state/local grants. The net price varies significantly by family income, as illustrated by data from the Río Piedras campus: students from households earning less than $30,000 pay an average net price of $5,691 per year, while those from households earning over $110,000 pay $12,782. The university emphasizes that students must demonstrate financial need to qualify for programs. There is no indication in the provided sources that UPR Bayamón has a "no-loan" policy where loans are eliminated from financial aid packages for qualifying students.
The University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón stands out as an institution of profound accessibility and social utility. It is not a highly-endowed research university with a national brand, but a vital public asset for the community it serves. Its singularity lies in its mission: providing a low-cost, high-value education that is deeply responsive to the professional needs of Puerto Rico. With an average under $8,500 and nearly universal grant aid for entering students, it removes the crushing financial barriers that define higher education elsewhere. The 8:1 student-faculty ratio (at the flagship campus) hints at a commitment to individual attention often absent at public commuter schools. While its graduation rates and post-graduate earnings reflect the economic challenges of the island, the university represents a critical point of entry and uplift. It's a place where education is treated as a public good, embedded in a culture of warmth and community, offering a pragmatic path to a degree without the burden of lifelong debt.
University of Puerto Rico seal · sourceUniversity of Puerto Rico Main Campus · sourceUniversity of Puerto Rico: Historical notes · sourceUniversity of Puerto Rico: Rio Piedras - Direct Enrollment & Exchange · source
