Universities in Puerto Rico

Universities in Puerto Rico are part of the United States higher-education system, but most teaching is in Spanish. A degree earned on the island is a US degree, accredited by US agencies, which makes Puerto Rico an option for Latin American students who want a US qualification without a language barrier, and for English speakers who want to study in a bilingual setting.

The sector has two parts. The public Universidad de Puerto Rico (UPR), created by law in 1903, has eleven campuses across the island. Alongside it are private, mostly non-profit universities, among them Catholic, ecumenical and technical institutions. The UPR alone has around 385 international students, from countries such as Peru, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.

Degrees and accreditation

Degrees follow the US model and are counted in credits:

• Associate degree (grado asociado), often in technical fields
• Bachelor's degree (bachillerato), the standard first degree
• Master's degree (maestría) and doctorate
• Professional certificates, at undergraduate and graduate level

Universities need a licence from the Junta de Instituciones Postsecundarias (JIP), the Puerto Rico licensing agency. Institutional accreditation comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), an accreditor recognised by the US Secretary of Education; the UPR, the Universidad Interamericana and the Universidad Politécnica, for example, are accredited by it. Many programmes also have professional accreditation, such as ABET for engineering. According to the UPR, it has 179 accredited programmes, more than any other institution in Puerto Rico.

Admission for international students

Students apply directly to each university, and requirements differ. At the UPR, applicants from abroad can choose a traditional route, based 60% on the secondary school grade average and 40% on the entrance exam, or a non-traditional route with a minimum grade average of 2.00 and evidence such as essays, interviews and letters of recommendation. International applicants must:

• Submit their diplomas with an official certificate that the school is recognised by the government of their country
• Obtain the equivalence of their secondary diploma from the Puerto Rico Department of Education
• Show funds for at least the first year of study

Graduate applicants apply to the campus that offers the programme, and each campus sets its own criteria. Private universities have their own rules: the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico (PUCPR) asks applicants under 21 without university studies for College Board (PAA) or SAT results, an evaluation of foreign university credits by a NACES member agency where relevant, and an English and Spanish placement test for students whose first language is neither.

International students need a US F-1 student visa. After admission, the university's designated school official issues Form I-20 through SEVIS; the student then applies at the US embassy or consulate, may enter no more than 30 days before the programme starts, and must study full-time each term.

Costs and funding

Fees are charged per credit and depend on the university, the level and the student's residence. At UPR Río Piedras, the rates in effect since the 2022-23 academic year are $248 per credit for international bachelor's students, $570 for master's and $600 for doctoral studies, compared with $145, $190 and $200 for residents. Private universities set their own fees. Health insurance matters too: PUCPR, for example, enrols international students in its institutional medical insurance if they cannot show their own cover with international coverage.

How to choose a university in Puerto Rico

• Public or private: the UPR system or a private university with its own fees and scholarships
• Field of study: some universities specialise, for example in engineering, architecture or aviation
• Language: mostly Spanish, with some courses in English
• Accreditation of the programme, especially for regulated professions
• Location: the San Juan metropolitan area or a city such as Ponce

Our directory lists five universities in Puerto Rico. In San Juan, the Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Río Piedras, describes itself as the oldest and largest higher-learning institution in the Caribbean, and the Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico, founded in 1966 in Hato Rey, focuses on architecture, engineering, land surveying, computer science and business administration. In Bayamón, the Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico – Recinto de Bayamón, whose origins go back to 1956, has more than 5,000 students and emphasises technology, engineering and aviation, while Caribbean University, a non-profit, non-sectarian university founded in 1969, has further centres in Carolina, Vega Baja and Ponce. In Ponce, the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico, founded in 1948, offers more than 160 academic programmes and has a campus in Arecibo.

Frequently asked questions

Is a degree from a Puerto Rican university a US degree?

Yes. Puerto Rico's universities are part of the US system and are accredited by US agencies such as the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Are classes in Spanish or English?

Mostly in Spanish. The University of Puerto Rico says the opportunity to study in both English and Spanish is a key benefit of studying there.

What visa do I need?

A US F-1 student visa. The university issues Form I-20 after admission, and you apply at a US embassy or consulate.

How much does a credit cost at the University of Puerto Rico?

At the Río Piedras campus, international students pay $248 per credit for a bachelor's degree and $570 for a master's, at the rates in effect since 2022-23.