by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in the Outlying Areas Region, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights 24 programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated graduate schools on more than 20 objective measures 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 graduate school depends on your goals. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Ready to build your own comparison? We built a tool called College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
University Of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in the Outlying Areas Region. Based in San Juan, PR, University Of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,945. University Of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,949. Students borrow a median of $6,025 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez one of the top graduate schools in the Outlying Areas Region. Based in Mayaguez, PR, University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez is a public institution. University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez graduates 49% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,274. Median early-career earnings reach $32,922. Students borrow a median of $8,630 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 24 graduate schools in the Outlying Areas Region in this year's ranking, University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras landed the #3 spot. University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a public school based in San Juan, PR. About 50% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,324. Median early-career earnings reach $24,881. University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras students take on a median of $5,673 in debt.
National University College Bayamon came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in the Outlying Areas Region. Based in Bayamon, PR, National University College Bayamon is a private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 27%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,723, while out-of-state students pay about $13,886. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $21,933. National University College Bayamon students take on a median of $14,583 in debt.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Sacred Heart one of the top graduate schools in the Outlying Areas Region. University Of Sacred Heart is a private not-for-profit school based in Santurce, PR. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $24,742. Students borrow a median of $14,493 to complete a degree here.
Universidad Politecnica De Puerto Rico Hato Rey Campus landed the #6 spot in the Outlying Areas Region this year. Universidad Politecnica De Puerto Rico Hato Rey Campus is a private not-for-profit school based in Hato Rey, PR. The six-year graduation rate is 28%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,870. Early-career graduates earn a median of $29,146. The median student debt is $23,182.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro placed #7 among the best graduate schools in the Outlying Areas Region. Located in San Juan, PR, Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro is a private not-for-profit institution. Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro posts a six-year graduation rate of 36%. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,780. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $25,967. Students borrow a median of $13,190 to complete a degree here.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon landed the #8 spot in the Outlying Areas Region this year. Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon is a private not-for-profit school based in Bayamon, PR. The six-year graduation rate is 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. Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon students take on a median of $10,051 in debt.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Ponce placed #9 among the best graduate schools in the Outlying Areas Region. Set 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,780. Graduates go on to earn a median of $17,850 early in their careers. Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Ponce students take on a median of $7,869 in debt.
Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Juan ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in San Juan, PR, Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Juan is a private not-for-profit institution. About 44% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,050, while out-of-state students pay about $14,125. Median early-career earnings reach $24,435. Students borrow a median of $10,669 to complete a degree here.
Universidad Del Turabo came in at #11 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%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,750. Early-career graduates earn a median of $28,231. Students borrow a median of $14,155 to complete a degree here.
Universidad Central Del Caribe placed #12 among the best graduate schools in the Outlying Areas Region. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bayamon, PR. Universidad Central Del Caribe posts a six-year graduation rate of 33%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,304, while out-of-state students pay about $7,313. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $36,000.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo did well this year, earning the #13 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Arecibo, PR. Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo graduates 37% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,780. Median early-career earnings reach $27,188. Students borrow a median of $9,117 to complete a degree here.
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce landed the #14 spot in the Outlying Areas Region this year. Located in Ponce, PR, Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce is a private not-for-profit institution. Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce graduates 49% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,650. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $18,132. Graduates carry a median of $17,124 in student loans.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico San German came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in San German, PR, Inter American University Of Puerto Rico San German is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. In-state tuition and fees average $5,780. Early-career graduates earn a median of $17,234. Graduates carry a median of $11,821 in student loans.
Universidad Metropolitana came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in San Juan, PR. About 30% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,750. Universidad Metropolitana graduates report median early-career earnings of $26,716. Universidad Metropolitana students take on a median of $15,074 in debt.
Universidad Del Este placed #17 among the best graduate schools in the Outlying Areas Region. Universidad Del Este is a private not-for-profit school based in Carolina, PR. The six-year graduation rate is 32%. Students from in state pay about $7,750 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $20,724. Typical student debt is $15,167.
Universidad Adventista De Las Antillas landed the #18 spot in the Outlying Areas Region this year. Located in Mayaguez, PR, Universidad Adventista De Las Antillas is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $8,350. Early-career graduates earn a median of $38,825. Students borrow a median of $25,032 to complete a degree here.
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo placed #19 among the best graduate schools in the Outlying Areas Region. Located in Arecibo, PR, Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo is a private not-for-profit institution. Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo graduates 54% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $6,550 in tuition and fees. Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo graduates report median early-career earnings of $20,825. The median student debt is $15,561.
Bayamon Central University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Bayamon Central University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bayamón, PR. About 32% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $5,986 in tuition and fees. Bayamon Central University graduates report median early-career earnings of $14,326. The median student debt is $12,125.
Caribbean University Bayamon landed the #21 spot in the Outlying Areas Region this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bayamon, PR. Caribbean University Bayamon graduates 36% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,844. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $24,272. Students borrow a median of $12,628 to complete a degree here.
Atlantic College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Guaynabo, PR, Atlantic College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 39% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,280. Median early-career earnings reach $19,576. Students borrow a median of $5,286 to complete a degree here.
John Dewey College University Division did well this year, earning the #23 position. Set in Hato Rey, PR, John Dewey College University Division is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 20%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,180. Graduates go on to earn a median of $20,986 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $4,808 to complete a degree here.
Columbia Centro Universitario Caguas came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Based in Caguas, PR, Columbia Centro Universitario Caguas is a private for-profit institution. Columbia Centro Universitario Caguas graduates 53% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400. Early-career graduates earn a median of $22,168. Columbia Centro Universitario Caguas students take on a median of $5,887 in debt.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Graduate schools are scored on 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).
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
