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Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce

Ponce , PR

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (PUCPR) is a prestigious private institution located in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Established in 1948, PUCPR is the only Catholic university in the territory and is affiliated with the Catholic Church. It is hailed as one of the leading institutions for higher education in Puerto Rico, offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines.

PUCPR prides itself on its commitment to academic excellence and its integration of Catholic values into the learning environment. The university's mission is to educate students to be competent professionals with a strong ethical and moral foundation, fostering their spiritual, intellectual, and personal growth. PUCPR believes in education that is centered on human dignity, social justice, and service to others.

With six different campuses spread across Puerto Rico, PUCPR provides students with a vibrant and diverse educational experience. The university offers over 50 undergraduate programs, including business administration, health sciences, education, and engineering, as well as several graduate programs in fields such as law, psychology, and social work. PUCPR is committed to providing its students with holistic development, encouraging them to engage in extracurricular activities, research opportunities, and community service projects.

Overall, Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico offers a comprehensive and rigorous education within a Catholic framework, nurturing students to become ethical and compassionate professionals. With its rich academic offerings, commitment to social justice, and emphasis on personal growth, PUCPR stands as a prominent institution in Puerto Rico's higher education landscape.

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is a private university located in Ponce, PR and set in an urban environment. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 98%. The freshman retention rate at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is 83% and the six-year graduation rate is 49%.

Here are some recent information on important things to consider about Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce.

Quick Facts

4,006

Total Number of Undergraduate Students

$5,880

Tuition

16:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

49%

Graduation Rate

Admissions

If you learn as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will greatly improve. Here are the most important data you need to know about admission policy and requirements at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce.

According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,763 in 2021. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.

Test Scores

The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.48. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce.

Average Test Scores

Retention Rate

The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.

The freshman retention rate for Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce was 83% in 2021, indicative of the exceptional educational experience and supportive environment at this school.

Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 49%.

Student Body

Deciding if a school is the right fit for you is not an easy task. Obtaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.

Main Student Body

The total number of students enrolled at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce in 2021 was 5,568.

There was a total of 4,006 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 8 international students. 68 students enrolled as transfer students.

Student Population Gender Ratio

The student body is coeducational, with 1,558 male and 2,914 female full-time students in 2021. This school had 362 full-time graduate male and 722 full-time graduate female students at this school.

Student Population Diversity

In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.

In 2021, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 1, and the number of Black American students was 0. There were also 5 students whose ethnicity is unknown.

Cost

Before sending an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into consideration. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce that the majority of students face.

Tuition and Fees

Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition fees for this university.

In 2021, tuition amounted to $5,880 for all full-time domestic students. As Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Full-time students in 2021 were required to pay additional fees in the amount of $890.

Books and Supplies

Another important expense to take into consideration is the estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university. The approximate cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,294.

Boarding

Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?

At Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce, the 2021 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $6,791. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school amounted to $2,500, according to the data from 2021.

Tuition $ 5,880
Room and Board $ 6,791
Book and Supplies $ 1,294
Total Expense $ 13,965

Financial Aid

Getting some financial aid in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be very important for finishing your studies. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce, here are some recent data you should consider.

The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 1,320 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $7,118 in financial help.

Need-based

If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet some eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.

6,097 students received some form of need-based financial aid. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 6,149. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $49,798,831, and state $767,106.

Non-Need Based

Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.

Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 1,407 students overall (including freshmen) at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce in 2021. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 388 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $409,693. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $16,689 USD.

Majors

Faculty

16:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio represents the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.

According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce was 16:1: that means 16 students per one teacher. This school has recently reported to have 313 faculty members. This number included 150 men and 163 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce.

Student Population Diversity Graph

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100
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Campus Life

Not everything at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some information about social life at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce.

Its campus spans 6,216 acres.

Student Organizations

Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.

According to the most recent information, there are 61 open-membership organizations at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 6 and female students 9. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is Circulo de Premedica, followed by Sociedad para la Gerencia de Recursos Humanos and American Medical Students. Other popular student organizations at this school are Capitulo Med Life PUCPR and Organizacion Programa de Honor Institucional.

If you are interested in music, you can join the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce band or chorus. If you're interested in acting, you have the option to join a drama club.

Student Services

At Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.

There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services and Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce.

All in all, campus life at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.

Career Services

Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce.

Career Counselling

There are job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students.

FAQ

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is located in Ponce, PR.

According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 5,880 USD per academic year for Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce.

This school uses standardized test scores for admission.

The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is 98%.

The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is 83%.

Contact Information

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce

2250 Las Americas Avenue, Suite 564

Ponce , PR

00717-0777

787 841-2000

School Website

Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.

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