Study and find schools in Puerto Rico

Studying in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island where students can earn a United States degree while studying in a largely Spanish-speaking environment. Its universities are accredited in the US system, the US dollar is the only official currency, and international students come on the same F-1 student visa as for the mainland United States. For students from Latin America, it offers a US qualification without a language barrier; for English speakers, a chance to study in a bilingual setting.

Higher education combines a large public system, the Universidad de Puerto Rico (UPR) with eleven campuses, and several private universities, among them a Catholic pontifical university and a polytechnic university. Our directory lists five universities, in San Juan, Bayamón and Ponce.

The education system in Puerto Rico

Higher education follows the US model. The main qualifications are:

• Associate degrees (grado asociado), often in technical and professional fields
• Bachelor's degrees (bachillerato), the standard first degree
• Master's degrees (maestría) and doctorates
• Professional degrees and certificates, such as the Juris Doctor in law

Studies are counted in credits, and fees are charged per credit. Universities are licensed by the Junta de Instituciones Postsecundarias de Puerto Rico, and institutions such as the UPR, the Universidad Interamericana and PUCPR are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), an accreditor recognised by the US Secretary of Education. The UPR, for example, states that it is accredited by the MSCHE and that its law school is the only one in Puerto Rico accredited by the American Bar Association. Teaching is mainly in Spanish, but the opportunity to study in both English and Spanish is, according to UPR Río Piedras, one of the benefits of studying there.

Admission and recognition

Students apply directly to each university. At the UPR, international undergraduate applicants apply online and may use the non-traditional admission route, which looks at a minimum grade average of 2.00 and evidence such as essays, interviews and letters of recommendation. They must:

• Submit their secondary school diploma with proof that the school is officially recognised in its country
• Obtain the equivalence of their diploma from the Puerto Rico Department of Education
• Ask their school to send an official explanation of its grading system and course content

Graduate applicants apply to the campus that offers their programme. Private universities have similar rules: the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico (PUCPR) asks for apostilled transcripts and certificates, an evaluation of foreign university credits by an agency that is a member of NACES where applicable, and a placement test in English and Spanish for students whose first language is neither.

Student visa

Because Puerto Rico is part of the US immigration system, international students need an F-1 student visa. The steps, as described by the universities (checked October 2026), are:

• After admission, the university's designated school official creates a record in SEVIS and issues Form I-20, the Certificate of Eligibility
• To receive the I-20, the student proves funds to cover at least the first year; UPR Río Piedras asks for its certificate of admission, a valid passport and proof of financial solvency
• With the I-20, the student pays the SEVIS fee and applies for the visa at the US embassy or consulate in their country
• F-1 students may enter no more than 30 days before their programme starts and must take a full course of study each term

The US government expects students to show they can pay tuition and living costs without relying on a job in the US. Depending on the visa, the UPR says that work on or off campus may be authorised under federal and state regulations.

Costs and funding

Fees depend on the university and on the student's residence status. At UPR Río Piedras, the rates in effect since the 2022-23 academic year for foreign or international students are $248 per credit for bachelor's studies, $570 for master's and $600 for doctoral studies, and $750 per credit in law; students from Puerto Rico and the mainland US pay less. Private universities set their own fees. International students at the UPR can apply for work-study, merit scholarships, loans, teaching assistantships and research positions. At PUCPR, students must show medical insurance with international coverage; if they do not, the university arranges institutional insurance.

Where to study

• San Juan: the Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Río Piedras, founded in 1903, which describes itself as the oldest and largest higher-learning institution in the Caribbean and offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees; and the Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico, founded in 1966 near the Hato Rey financial district, which focuses on architecture, engineering, land surveying, computer science and business
• Bayamón: the Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico – Recinto de Bayamón, with more than 5,000 students and an emphasis on technology, engineering, aviation and sciences; and Caribbean University, founded in 1969 as Caribbean Junior College, with centres in Carolina, Vega Baja and Ponce
• Ponce: the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico, founded in 1948, with campuses in Arecibo and Mayagüez and more than 150 academic programmes

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to study in Puerto Rico?

International students need a US F-1 student visa, the same as for the mainland United States. The university issues Form I-20 after admission, and the student then applies at a US embassy or consulate.

Are classes in Spanish or English?

Mostly in Spanish, but students can take courses in both languages. PUCPR gives a placement test in English and Spanish to students whose first language is neither.

Is a degree from Puerto Rico a US degree?

Yes. Puerto Rico's universities are part of the US higher-education system, and institutions such as the UPR are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

How much does it cost to study at the University of Puerto Rico?

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