What is the Average Retention Rate in Puerto Rico?
The retention rate is the percentage of first-time students who attend and continue their study in next year at colleges. The low retention rate means that more students transfer out to or stop/pause the program at a school. In general, high ranked colleges or special purpose colleges' retention rate is higher than others.
The average retention rate of Puerto Rico colleges is 73.61% for full-time students and 57.73% for part-time students. 17,270 out of 22,645 full-time first-year students continued their study in next year at Puerto Rico colleges. In public Puerto Rico colleges, the retention rate is 72% and private schools' rate is 77% By school levels, the retention rate at four-years colleges is 74% and community colleges' rate is 62% in Puerto Rico.
The next schools are the top 5 Puerto Rico colleges that have the highest retention rate. University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez has the highest retention rate of 87% among Puerto Rico colleges. Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce and Universidad del Sagrado Corazon also have higher rate of 83% and 79% respectively. For the ranking, we exclude community colleges and four-colleges with less than 1,000 first-time students.
- University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Retention Rate: 87% (full-time), 50% (part-time)
- Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce Retention Rate: 83% (full-time), 100% (part-time)
- Universidad del Sagrado Corazon Retention Rate: 79% (full-time), 58% (part-time)
- University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Retention Rate: 77% (full-time), 10% (part-time)
- Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus Retention Rate: 75% (full-time), 35% (part-time)
The following table summarizes the average retention rate in Puerto Rico by school type and level.
| Total | Public | Private (not-for-profit) | Private (for-profit) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 73.96% | 71.72% | 76.61% | 72.69% |
| 4 Years Colleges | 74.05% | 73.08% | 76.31% | 63.29% |
| Community Colleges | 62.27% | 68.20% | - | 59.30% |
| Trade Schools | 78.31% | - | 82.50% | 78.08% |
The following table summarizes the retention rate and number of students by attending status for Puerto Rico collegesNumbers in parentheses in each column indicate the number of students in the corresponding category.
| Retention Rate | First-time Students | Enrolled in Next Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time | 73.61% | 22,645 | 17,270 |
| Part-time | 57.73% | 667 | 307 |
The following table shows the Puerto Rico Colleges. You can see more schools and narrow down the results in search result page.
| School Name | Location | Tuition & Fees | Enrollment | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Institute of Beauty Careers Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Arecibo, PR | $10,640 | 93 | - | 14% |
| American Educational College Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Bayamon, PR | $8,306 | 168 | - | 47% |
| Antilles School of Technical Careers Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | San Juan, PR | $12,690 | 286 | - | 59% |
| Universidad Adventista de las Antillas Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Mayaguez, PR | $8,350 | 939 | 100.00% | 36% |
| Atlantic University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Guaynabo, PR | $8,280 | 1,540 | - | 39% |
| Universidad Central de Bayamon Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Bayam?n, PR | $5,986 | 698 | 65.94% | 34% |
| Columbia Central University-Caguas Private (for-profit), four-years | Caguas, PR | $8,400 | 2,676 | - | 56% |
| Albizu University-San Juan Private (not-for-profit), four-years | San Juan, PR | $9,120 | 2,504 | 100.00% | 67% |
| Caribbean University-Bayamon Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Bayamon, PR | $8,844 | 957 | - | 43% |
| Caribbean University-Carolina Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Carolina, PR | $8,844 | 127 | - | 44% |
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Arecibo, PR | $6,550 | 640 | 93.78% | 54% |
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Ponce, PR | $6,650 | 5,568 | 98.08% | 49% |
| CEM College-San Juan Private (for-profit), four-years | San Juan, PR | $12,900 | 119 | - | 86% |
| Universidad Teologica del Caribe Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Trujillo Alto, PR | $6,660 | 266 | - | 39% |
| Colegio Universitario de San Juan Public, four-years | San Juan, PR | $2,340 ($2,340) | 491 | 75.38% | 32% |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus Private (not-for-profit), four-years | San Juan, PR | $7,750 | 6,097 | - | 31% |
| Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music Public, four-years | San Juan, PR | $3,850 ($3,370) | 347 | 78.35% | 67% |
| Center for Advanced Studies On Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Private (not-for-profit), four-years | San Juan, PR | $1,800 | 358 | - | - |
| EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc-San Sebastian Private (not-for-profit), four-years | San Sebastian, PR | $14,125 | 1,065 | 95.74% | 29% |
| Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico Public, four-years | San Juan, PR | $8,502 ($4,902) | 466 | 100.00% | 45% |
| Instituto Tecnologico de Puerto Rico-Recinto de Manati Public, 2-4 years | Manati, PR | $1,900 ($1,900) | 323 | 93.37% | 34% |
| Huertas College Private (for-profit), four-years | Caguas, PR | $8,750 | 430 | - | 46% |
| Humacao Community College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Humacao, PR | $6,117 | 173 | - | 38% |
| ICPR Junior College-Arecibo Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Arecibo, PR | $8,664 | 339 | - | 60% |
| ICPR Junior College-Mayaguez Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Mayaguez, PR | $8,664 | 373 | - | 67% |
| Instituto Tecnologico de Puerto Rico-Recinto de Guayama Public, 2-4 years | Guayama, PR | $1,608 ($1,608) | 216 | 78.99% | 51% |
| Instituto Tecnologico de Puerto Rico-Recinto de San Juan Public, 2-4 years | San Juan, PR | $3,707 ($3,707) | 179 | 63.24% | 73% |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-San German Private (not-for-profit), four-years | San German, PR | $5,780 | 3,114 | 42.48% | 43% |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Aguadilla, PR | $5,742 | 3,161 | 41.76% | 43% |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Arecibo, PR | $5,780 | 2,624 | 38.20% | 39% |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Barranquitas Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Barranquitas, PR | $5,742 | 1,020 | 85.95% | 38% |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Metro Private (not-for-profit), four-years | San Juan, PR | $5,780 | 4,101 | 69.72% | 39% |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Mercedita, PR | $5,780 | 2,925 | 33.73% | 41% |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Fajardo Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Fajardo, PR | $5,780 | 1,197 | 26.54% | 38% |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Guayama Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Guayama, PR | $5,780 | 2,487 | 36.33% | 44% |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Bayamon, PR | $5,780 | 3,556 | 39.62% | 35% |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-School of Law Private (not-for-profit), four-years | San Juan, PR | $15,600 | 692 | - | - |
| Liceo de Arte y Tecnologia Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | San Juan, PR | $9,051 | 431 | - | 63% |
| Modern Hairstyling Institute-Bayamon Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Bayamon, PR | $9,800 | 156 | - | 80% |
| Modern Hairstyling Institute-Arecibo Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Arecibo, PR | $9,800 | 76 | 74.00% | 81% |
| NUC University Private (for-profit), four-years | Bayamon, PR | $13,886 | 30,794 | - | 54% |
| Ponce Health Sciences University Private (for-profit), four-years | Ponce, PR | $25,664 | 970 | - | - |
| University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla Public, four-years | Aguadilla, PR | $5,924 ($5,924) | 1,928 | 81.40% | 46% |
| University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo Public, four-years | Arecibo, PR | $5,324 ($5,324) | 2,704 | 59.18% | 52% |
| University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon Public, four-years | Bayamon, PR | $6,284 ($6,284) | 2,851 | 35.33% | 37% |
| University of Puerto Rico-Carolina Public, four-years | Carolina, PR | $7,986 ($7,986) | 2,576 | 54.54% | 37% |
| University of Puerto Rico at Cayey Public, four-years | Cayey, PR | $5,324 ($5,324) | 2,093 | 53.00% | 50% |
| University of Puerto Rico-Humacao Public, four-years | Humacao, PR | $5,324 ($5,324) | 2,577 | 54.80% | 47% |
| University of Puerto Rico-Utuado Public, four-years | Utuado, PR | $5,324 ($5,324) | 334 | 64.11% | 23% |
| University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Public, four-years | Mayaguez, PR | $5,274 ($5,274) | 10,618 | 56.52% | 49% |
| University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Public, four-years | San Juan, PR | $8,945 ($8,945) | 1,944 | - | - |
| University of Puerto Rico at Ponce Public, four-years | Ponce, PR | $5,324 ($5,324) | 2,373 | 52.45% | 46% |
| University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Public, four-years | San Juan, PR | $5,324 ($5,324) | 11,312 | 54.59% | 50% |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Carolina, PR | $7,750 | 5,185 | - | 34% |
| Universidad del Sagrado Corazon Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Santurce, PR | $6,410 | 5,037 | 58.02% | 52% |
| Seminario Evangelico de Puerto Rico Private (not-for-profit), four-years | San Juan, PR | $4,515 | 135 | - | - |
| Universidad Central Del Caribe Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Bayamon, PR | $7,313 | 604 | 60.00% | 40% |
| Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Hato Rey, PR | $9,870 | 4,223 | - | 28% |
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Mayaguez, PR | $6,550 | 679 | 99.17% | 40% |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Gurabo, PR | $7,750 | 9,909 | - | 31% |
| EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc-San Juan Private (not-for-profit), four-years | San Juan, PR | $14,125 | 1,513 | 60.67% | 24% |
| ICPR Junior College Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Hato Rey, PR | $8,664 | 439 | - | 51% |
| Caribbean University-Ponce Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Ponce, PR | $8,844 | 591 | - | 37% |
| Caribbean University-Vega Baja Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Vega Baja, PR | $8,844 | 192 | - | 50% |
| CEM College-Humacao Private (for-profit), four-years | Humacao, PR | $12,900 | 161 | - | 38% |
| Colegio Mayor de Tecnologia Inc Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Arroyo, PR | $7,825 | 56 | - | 79% |
| Institucion Chaviano de Mayaguez Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Mayaguez, PR | $11,100 | 210 | - | 54% |
| Liceo de Arte-Dise-O y Comercio Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Caguas, PR | $12,226 | 212 | - | 64% |
| Universal Technology College of Puerto Rico Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Aguadilla, PR | $15,070 | 149 | - | 64% |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-School of Optometry Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Bayamon, PR | $4,086 | 213 | - | - |
| Emma's Beauty Academy-Juana Diaz Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Juana Diaz, PR | $11,720 | 339 | - | 64% |
| Professional Technical Institution Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Bayamon, PR | $12,700 | 181 | - | 83% |
| Mech-Tech College Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Caguas, PR | $11,394 | 2,302 | - | 72% |
| D'Mart Institute Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Barranquitas, PR | $12,950 | 257 | - | 70% |
| Automeca Technical College-Aguadilla Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Aguadilla, PR | $9,095 | 246 | - | 80% |
| Automeca Technical College-Bayamon Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Bayamon, PR | $9,095 | 482 | - | 80% |
| Automeca Technical College-Caguas Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Caguas, PR | $9,095 | 186 | - | 85% |
| Automeca Technical College-Ponce Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Ponce, PR | $9,095 | 310 | - | 73% |
| Escuela de Peritos Electricistas de Isabela Inc Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Isabela, PR | $9,350 | 198 | - | 86% |
| Academia Serrant Inc Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Ponce, PR | $11,638 | 156 | - | 88% |
| Advantage Technical College Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Manati, PR | $14,700 | 584 | - | 60% |
| Nova College de Puerto Rico Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Bayamon, PR | $7,830 | 144 | - | 62% |
| San Juan Bautista School of Medicine Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Caguas, PR | $12,537 | 425 | 100.00% | 69% |
| Colegio de Cinematograf?a Artes y Television Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Bayamon, PR | $7,796 | 556 | - | 47% |
| Escuela Tecnica de Electricidad Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Ponce, PR | $12,324 | 183 | - | 95% |
| Dewey University-Carolina Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Carolina, PR | $7,630 | 292 | - | 62% |
| Century College Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | San Juan, PR | $9,100 | 678 | - | 90% |
| Modern Hairstyling Institute-Carolina Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Carolina, PR | $9,800 | 189 | 89.58% | 79% |
| IVAEM College Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Caguas, PR | $12,600 | 195 | - | 83% |
| Atenas College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Manati, PR | $8,954 | 622 | - | 42% |
| Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Rio Piedras, PR | $4,560 | 225 | - | 15% |
| Caribbean Forensic and Technical College Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | San Juan, PR | $8,700 | 381 | - | 65% |
| Colegio Educativo Tecnologico Industrial Inc Private (not-for-profit), less than 2-years | Arecibo, PR | $8,650 | 76 | - | 23% |
| Dewey University-Hato Rey Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Hato Rey, PR | $8,180 | 386 | - | 54% |
| Charlie's Guard-Detective Bureau and Academy Inc Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Aguadilla, PR | $8,820 | 57 | - | 100% |
| Bayamon Community College Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Bayamon, PR | $8,695 | 130 | - | 33% |
| Cambridge Technical Institute Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Caguas, PR | $12,050 | 51 | - | - |
| Escuela Hotelera de San Juan Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Hato Rey, PR | $15,462 | 397 | - | 85% |
| Industrial Technical College Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Humacao, PR | $8,400 | 109 | - | 68% |
| Leston College Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Bayamon, PR | $8,356 | 49 | - | 19% |
| Colegio Tecnico de Electricidad Galloza Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Aguada, PR | $9,100 | 7 | - | 96% |
| Rosslyn Training Academy of Cosmetology Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Aguada, PR | $7,277 | 21 | - | 100% |
| MyrAngel Beauty Institute Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | San Lorenzo, PR | $10,895 | 193 | - | 61% |
| Dewey University-Juana D?az Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Juana Diaz, PR | $7,630 | 265 | - | 73% |
| Instituto Educativo Premier Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Ponce, PR | $10,279 | 290 | - | 78% |
| Escuela De Troqueleria Y Herramentaje Public, 2-4 years | Bayamon, PR | $3,850 ($3,850) | 69 | 100.00% | 59% |
| ICPR Junior College Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Manati, PR | $8,664 | 424 | - | 61% |
| American Technical Institute Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Bayamon, PR | $13,603 | 11 | - | 91% |
| Dewey University-Manati Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Manati, PR | $7,630 | 221 | - | 59% |
| PPG Technical College Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Caguas, PR | $8,700 | 235 | - | 64% |
| Caribbean Aviation Training Institute Inc Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Carolina, PR | $15,480 | 191 | - | 97% |
| Neo-Esthetique European Institute Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | San Juan, PR | $13,059 | 109 | - | 70% |
| EDP University of Puerto Rico-Villalba Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Villalba, PR | $14,125 | 379 | 75.65% | 25% |
| Ponce Health Sciences University-Centro Universitario de San Juan Private (for-profit), four-years | Santurce, PR | $23,242 | 240 | - | - |
| Advantage Technical College Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | San Juan, PR | $14,700 | 381 | - | 59% |
| Professional University Dr. Carlos J. Borrero Rios Private (for-profit), four-years | Hato Rey, PR | $6,900 | 192 | 100.00% | - |
| EDP University of Puerto Rico-Humacao Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Humacao, PR | $14,125 | 325 | 59.52% | - |
| EDP University of Puerto Rico-Manati Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Manati, PR | $14,125 | 468 | 68.18% | - |
| Ponce Health Sciences University-East Private (for-profit), four-years | Ponce, PR | $19,304 | 764 | 79.82% | 50% |
| Advantage Technical College-Aguadilla Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Aguadilla, PR | $14,700 | 263 | - | 91% |
| Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Department of Education-PRAMI Public, 2-4 years | Fajardo, PR | $4,100 ($4,100) | 79 | - | 43% |
| Puerto Rico Advance Institute Private (not-for-profit), less than 2-years | Bayamon, PR | $9,395 | 29 | - | 100% |
| EDP University of Puerto Rico-Caguas Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Caguas, PR | $14,125 | 414 | 72.50% | - |
| NUC University - Arecibo Private (for-profit), four-years | Arecibo, PR | $11,120 | - | - | - |
| NUC University - Rio Grande Private (for-profit), four-years | Rio Grande, PR | $11,120 | - | - | - |
| NUC University - Ponce Private (for-profit), four-years | Ponce, PR | $11,120 | - | - | - |
| NUC University - Caguas Private (for-profit), four-years | Caguas, PR | $12,305 | - | - | - |
| NUC University - Mayaguez Private (for-profit), four-years | Mayaguez, PR | $11,120 | - | - | - |
| NUC University - IBC Technical Division - Ponce Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Ponce, PR | $11,120 | - | - | - |
| NUC University - IBC Technical Division - Mayaguez Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Mayaguez, PR | $11,120 | - | - | - |
| NUC University - IBC Technical Division - Guayama Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Guayama, PR | $11,120 | - | - | - |
| NUC University - IBC Technical Division - Fajardo Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Fajardo, PR | $11,120 | - | - | - |
| NUC University - IBC Technical Division - Manati Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Manati, PR | $11,120 | - | - | - |
| NUC University - IBC Technical Division - Los Colobos Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Carolina, PR | $11,120 | - | - | - |
| NUC University - IBC Technical Division - Moca Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Moca, PR | $11,120 | - | - | - |
| NUC University - IBC Technical Division - Aguadilla Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Aguadilla, PR | $11,120 | - | - | - |
| NUC University - IBC Technical Division - Caguas Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Caguas, PR | $11,120 | - | - | - |
| NUC University - IBC Technical Division - Arecibo Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Arecibo, PR | $11,120 | - | - | - |
| NUC University - IBC Technical Division - Escorial Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | San Juan, PR | $11,120 | - | - | - |
| NUC University - IBC Technical Division - Bayamon Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Bayamon, PR | $11,120 | - | - | - |
| NUC University - IBC Technical Division - Yauco Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Yauco, PR | $11,120 | - | - | - |
| Leston College - Isabela Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Isabela, PR | $9,285 | - | - | - |