by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in the Outlying Areas Region, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **43** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 43 colleges across over 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Your ideal college depends on your goals. Drill down by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Want to compare schools head to head? We built a tool called College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Explore the leading colleges below:
Leading the list is University Of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences, our #1 college in the Outlying Areas Region. This public school is set in San Juan, PR. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,945. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,949 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $6,025 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon earned it the #2 place in the Outlying Areas Region. Set in Bayamon, PR, University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon is a public institution. University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon posts a six-year graduation rate of 27%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,284. University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon graduates report median early-career earnings of $15,180. Typical student debt is $5,450.
You'll be in good company at University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez, which ranked #3 this year. Located in Mayaguez, PR, University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez is a public institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,274. Early-career graduates earn a median of $32,922. University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez students take on a median of $8,630 in debt.
Out of the 43 colleges in the Outlying Areas Region in this year's ranking, University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras landed the #4 spot. Set in San Juan, PR, University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,324. Median early-career earnings reach $24,881. The median student debt is $5,673.
The strong outcomes at University Of Guam earned it the #5 place in the Outlying Areas Region. Located in Mangilao, GU, University Of Guam is a public institution. University Of Guam posts a six-year graduation rate of 37%. Students from in state pay about $6,110 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,414. Early-career graduates earn a median of $26,880. Students borrow a median of $15,650 to complete a degree here.
University Of Puerto Rico Humacao landed the #6 spot in the Outlying Areas Region this year. This public school is set in Humacao, PR. University Of Puerto Rico Humacao graduates 46% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,324. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $15,255. The median student debt is $5,500.
University Of Puerto Rico Cayey came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Cayey, PR. University Of Puerto Rico Cayey graduates 50% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,324. University Of Puerto Rico Cayey graduates report median early-career earnings of $13,910. Typical student debt is $5,262.
University Of The Virgin Islands did well this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Charlotte Amalie, VI, University Of The Virgin Islands is a public institution. Roughly 28% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $5,957 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,557 for out-of-state students. University Of The Virgin Islands graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,734. Graduates carry a median of $20,300 in student loans.
National University College Bayamon did well this year, earning the #9 position. Set in Bayamon, PR, National University College Bayamon is a private for-profit institution. National University College Bayamon graduates 27% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,723, with out-of-state students paying around $13,886. Graduates go on to earn a median of $21,933 early in their careers. The median student debt is $14,583.
University Of Sacred Heart ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Santurce, PR, University Of Sacred Heart is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410. Median early-career earnings reach $24,742. University Of Sacred Heart students take on a median of $14,493 in debt.
Huertas Junior College did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Caguas, PR, Huertas Junior College is a private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $8,750 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $18,154. Huertas Junior College students take on a median of $5,960 in debt.
University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo did well this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Arecibo, PR, University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo is a public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,324. University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo graduates report median early-career earnings of $11,829. Typical student debt is $5,092.
Universidad Politecnica De Puerto Rico Hato Rey Campus did well this year, earning the #13 position. Located in Hato Rey, PR, Universidad Politecnica De Puerto Rico Hato Rey Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 28% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,870. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $29,146. Universidad Politecnica De Puerto Rico Hato Rey Campus students take on a median of $23,182 in debt.
Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Sebastian came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Sebastian is a private not-for-profit school based in San Sebastian, PR. Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Sebastian graduates 47% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,050, compared with $14,125 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $23,876 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,669 to complete a degree here.
University Of Puerto Rico Aguadilla did well this year, earning the #15 position. This public school is set in Aguadilla, PR. About 46% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,924. University Of Puerto Rico Aguadilla graduates report median early-career earnings of $11,978. Students borrow a median of $6,250 to complete a degree here.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro did well this year, earning the #16 position. Set in San Juan, PR, Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,780. Graduates go on to earn a median of $25,967 early in their careers. Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro students take on a median of $13,190 in debt.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon did well this year, earning the #17 position. Set in Bayamon, PR, Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon is a private not-for-profit institution. Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon posts a six-year graduation rate of 29%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,780. Graduates go on to earn a median of $22,810 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,051 to complete a degree here.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Ponce placed #18 among the best colleges in the Outlying Areas Region. Based in Mercedita, PR, Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Ponce is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $5,780. Graduates go on to earn a median of $17,850 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $7,869 in student loans.
Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Juan came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Juan is a private not-for-profit school based in San Juan, PR. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,050, while out-of-state students pay about $14,125. Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Juan graduates report median early-career earnings of $24,435. Typical student debt is $10,669.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Aguadilla came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Based in Aguadilla, PR, Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Aguadilla is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 31%. In-state tuition and fees average $5,742. Median early-career earnings reach $18,974. Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Aguadilla students take on a median of $7,269 in debt.
Universidad Del Turabo came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Universidad Del Turabo is a private not-for-profit school based in Gurabo, PR. Universidad Del Turabo posts a six-year graduation rate of 31%. Students from in state pay about $7,750 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $28,231 early in their careers. The median student debt is $14,155.
Universidad Central Del Caribe did well this year, earning the #22 position. Located in Bayamon, PR, Universidad Central Del Caribe is a private not-for-profit institution. Universidad Central Del Caribe graduates 33% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,304, compared with $7,313 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $36,000.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo placed #23 among the best colleges in the Outlying Areas Region. Located in Arecibo, PR, Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo is a private not-for-profit institution. Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo graduates 37% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,780. Graduates go on to earn a median of $27,188 early in their careers. The median student debt is $9,117.
University Of Puerto Rico Ponce landed the #24 spot in the Outlying Areas Region this year. Set in Ponce, PR, University Of Puerto Rico Ponce is a public institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $5,324 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $9,747. Graduates carry a median of $5,333 in student loans.
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce came in at #25 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Ponce, PR. About 49% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $6,650 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $18,132. Students borrow a median of $17,124 to complete a degree here.
Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
