Admit rate has ranged 49%–53% over the last 5 years. 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-Rio Piedras (UPRRP) is the flagship campus of Puerto Rico's public university system, blending rigorous academics with a vibrant Caribbean campus culture. With a selective 55% acceptance rate and a student body of over 11,000, it offers intimate 8:1 faculty ratios and strong programs in biology, psychology, and business—all at a fraction of mainland U.S. tuition costs. Its urban San Juan location pulses with student activism, salsa rhythms, and a 50% six-year graduation rate that defies Puerto Rico's economic challenges.
Admission requirements
Test-blind — scores not considered
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Demonstrated competencies
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
8,572
In-state tuition
$5,354
Out-of-state tuition
$5,354
Urban Setting
San Juan, PR
Popular Majors
Biology, Psychology, Business
Acceptance Rate
55%
Student-Faculty Ratio
8:1
6-Year Graduation Rate
50%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$35,723
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.9×
Median debt at graduation
$5,500
Graduation rate
50%
First-year retention
77%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
60%
Pell (lower-income) share
99%
First-generation share
16%
Endowment / student
$32
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Marketing$23,340
Finance and Financial Management Services$22,087
Special Education and Teaching$20,140
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$18,498
Psychology, General$18,498
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$17,624
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
15
Summer high
91°F
Winter low
69°F
Annual rain
38.2"
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-Rio Piedras?
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras's acceptance rate is approximately 55% (San Juan, PR), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras cost?
At University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, the average net price (after aid) is about $9,175 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras?
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras enrolls approximately 8,572 undergraduate students.
Where is University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras located?
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras is located in San Juan, PR.
Admissions
UPRRP is moderately selective, with a 55% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. according to US News and Niche. The middle 50% of admitted students typically have SAT scores between 1030-1300 or ACT scores of 20-28, with an average high school GPA of 3.6. Unlike many U.S. institutions, it maintains a rolling admissions deadline (January 22 for regular decision) and doesn't require SAT/ACT scores for all applicants. The university prioritizes academic factors like GPA and test scores, though its admissions process remains more accessible than mainland flagship universities.
As Puerto Rico's most prestigious university, UPRRP offers 93 majors with particular strength in STEM and social sciences. Its 8:1 student-faculty ratio—exceptionally low for a public institution—supports close mentorship. Key programs include:
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.
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$16,957
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language$15,922
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.
Biology: The largest major, benefiting from Puerto Rico's unique tropical ecosystems
Psychology: Consistently top-ranked among Caribbean universities
Business Administration: Accredited programs with local corporate partnerships
Despite economic challenges, the campus maintains accreditation and a 50% six-year graduation rate. The humanities thrive through Puerto Rican studies and creative writing programs deeply connected to the island's literary tradition.
Urban and unapologetically Boricua, the Rio Piedras campus thrums with Caribbean energy. Over 11,600 undergraduates pack into a compact campus where:
Housing costs $11,161/year but most upperclassmen live off-campus in Santurce or Old San Juan
Cultural events dominate the calendar, from bomba dance workshops to student-led protests about university funding
Nightlife spills into nearby La Placita de Santurce, where salsa clubs stay open until dawn
The university's urban setting means students navigate both vibrant street life and San Juan's socioeconomic contrasts. Greek life exists but takes a backseat to department-based student organizations and political activism.
UPRRP's outcomes reflect Puerto Rico's complex economic reality:
50% six-year graduation rate (identical for Pell and non-Pell recipients)
20% four-year completion rate, below U.S. averages but improving since 2013
Strong local employment pipelines, especially in education, healthcare, and government
While salary data is limited, the university's $5,024 in-state tuition delivers exceptional ROI for students planning careers on the island. Alumni networks dominate Puerto Rico's professional class, from legislators to Grammy-winning musicians.
UPRRP is a bargain by U.S. standards but remains financially strained:
$5,024 undergraduate tuition (2024)
$9,119 average net price after aid
67% of students receive financial aid, with $6,773 average packages
Notably, the Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. gap narrows for different income brackets—students from families earning under $30K pay about $7,500 annually, while those over $110K pay $15,246. The university offers Puerto Rico-specific aid programs like the Beca de Excelencia Académica for top performers.
UPRRP is the intellectual heart of Puerto Rico—a place where classroom debates about colonial status spill into plaza protests, where Afro-Caribbean literature courses sync with San Juan's live music scene. Its strengths are inextricable from its context:
Cultural anchor: The main stage for preserving and challenging Puerto Rican identity
Academic bargain: Ivy-level faculty ratios at community college prices
Resilience: Maintains accreditation and research output despite hurricane recovery and budget cuts
This isn't just Puerto Rico's top university—it's the engine of its intelligentsia, producing everyone from Nobel chemists to reggaeton stars.
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras logo · sourceUniversity of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus - Wikipedia · sourceUniversity of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras - San Juan, PR | Appily · sourceUniversity of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, P. R. - Digital Commonwealth · source
