Admit rate has ranged 49%–80% 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.
The University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez (UPRM) is the island’s premier public engineering and agricultural sciences powerhouse, blending rigorous academics with a vibrant Caribbean campus culture. With a 52-57% acceptance rate and a strong focus on STEM, it’s a launchpad for Puerto Rico’s next generation of scientists and engineers—though its 47% graduation rate hints at systemic challenges. Affordable in-state tuition and a lively student scene in Mayagüez make it a pragmatic choice for locals, but post-grad earnings lag behind U.S. averages.
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
9,539
In-state tuition
$5,274
Out-of-state tuition
$5,274
Campus Size
315 acres
Popular Majors
Engineering, Biology, Agriculture
Acceptance Rate
52-57%
Student-Faculty Ratio
19:1
6-Year Graduation Rate
47%
Avg. Financial Aid Award
$6,972
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$48,992
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.7×
Median debt at graduation
$8,250
Graduation rate
49%
First-year retention
87%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
67%
Pell (lower-income) share
98%
First-generation share
17%
Endowment / student
$18
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer Engineering$71,734
Computer Science$68,320
Mechanical Engineering$63,302
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$62,579
Chemical Engineering$54,463
Civil Engineering$46,673
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
28
Summer high
89°F
Winter low
69°F
Annual rain
51.7"
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 University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez?
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez's acceptance rate is approximately 57% (Mayaguez, PR), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez cost?
At University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, the average net price (after aid) is about $17,936 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez?
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez enrolls approximately 9,539 undergraduate students.
Where is University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez located?
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez is located in Mayaguez, PR.
Admissions
UPRM is moderately selective, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovering between 52.2% (per PrepScholar) and 57% (US News). The university received 4,446 undergraduate applications in 2024, a 1.46% annual increase. While SAT/ACT scores aren't mandatory, admitted students typically score 22-30 on the ACT or 1,110-1,360 on the SAT (College Raptor). GPA matters: 69.9% of enrollees had a 3.75+ GPA, and another 19.6% fell in the 3.50–3.74 range (BigFuture). Notably, UPRM doesn’t have a strict regular application deadline, offering flexibility for Puerto Rican students.
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.
Industrial Engineering
$43,575
Business Administration, Management and Operations$39,648
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.
UPRM’s 19:1 student-faculty ratio supports its reputation as Puerto Rico’s top STEM hub, particularly in engineering. The College of Engineering is the island’s largest, producing more graduates in the field than any other local institution. Popular majors include:
Mechanical Engineering (175 degrees awarded)
Biology (124)
Chemical Engineering (93)
Industrial Engineering (93)
Its chemistry program is accredited, and agricultural sciences (like Animal Husbandry, with 98 degrees) leverage Puerto Rico’s tropical climate for research. However, the 47% graduation rate (BigFuture) signals challenges in student retention—though this still outpaces other UPR campuses like Utuado and Bayamón.
With 9,855 undergraduates on a 315-acre campus, UPRM balances academic intensity with Caribbean flair. Mayagüez’s urban setting offers cafés like Friend’s Café for study groups and small concerts, while on-campus housing hosts 11,776 students (BigFuture). New student-life projects are expanding communal spaces, including outdoor areas. Though Greek life isn’t prominent, the university’s 117 student organizations (US News) and engineering-focused clubs dominate. Nights often blend campus events with low-key hangs in the city, where chinchorros (local eateries) serve as de facto student lounges.
UPRM’s 47% graduation rate (Research.com) trails U.S. averages, but it outperforms peers in social mobility (ranked #7 nationally by US News). Early-career earnings are modest: graduates average $39,000 annually, roughly $14,000 below expectations for similar institutions (College Factual). The six-year graduation rate reflects systemic hurdles, including underfunding and Hurricane María’s aftermath. Still, as Puerto Rico’s top engineering producer, it feeds talent into local industries and mainland U.S. graduate programs.
UPRM is a bargain for in-state students, with a net price of $10,657 after aid (BigFuture). The average financial aid package is $6,972 (Niche), heavily subsidized by Puerto Rican government grants. Tuition is among the lowest for a research university in U.S. territories, though the Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator (via the DOE) helps families anticipate costs like books and fees. For context, the aid covers about 65% of total attendance costs—critical for an island where median household income lags behind the mainland.
UPRM is Puerto Rico’s MIT: a public, Spanish-language powerhouse where palm trees shade engineering labs. Its affordability and local prestige make it the default choice for top Puerto Rican STEM students, even as funding cuts strain resources. The campus vibe is jíbaro-meets-nerd—think late-night lechón feasts after robotics competitions. While graduation rates and post-grad salaries lag, its alumni network dominates the island’s tech and agriculture sectors. For students rooted in Puerto Rico, it’s the ultimate brain gain engine.
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez logo · sourceUniversity of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez - Wikipedia · sourceUniversity of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez – ISEP Study Abroad · sourceUniversity of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez - Mayaguez, PR | Appily · source
