Private Colleges in Puerto Rico: A Complete List

Puerto Rico boasts the highest concentration of colleges and universities in the Caribbean, including standout private institutions that offer their own unique and vibrant learning experiences.

Whether you’re a Puerto Rican resident or a student interested in an academic experience outside the contiguous United States, Puerto Rico likely has a school for you.

We’ve compiled a complete list of private colleges in Puerto Rico and their respective enrollment data. Read on to discover the rich diversity of Puerto Rican private colleges, each with its distinct programs, faculty, and campus culture.

While Puerto Rico isn’t very big, the U.S. territory is home to multiple standout private colleges. Here are five popular private colleges in Puerto Rico to know more about. We chose these based on a variety of factors, including reputation, academic rigor, and number of applicants.

The following data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Below is a list of all private colleges in Puerto Rico, along with each school’s total enrollment, average annual net price, acceptance rate, and number of applicants. All data comes from NCES. Please note that universities with less than 500 students enrolled were not included.

Determining how much college costs is often a vital factor when finding the right school. While the cost of college in Puerto Rico varies depending on the institution, schools here tend to charge less tuition than schools in the rest of the U.S.

In Puerto Rico, the average net price of private four-year colleges was about $8,300 in 2022-2023. Private schools in the U.S. have an average annual tuition of over $37,000.

The following table shows the cost of public and private colleges in Puerto Rico.

Because Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens from birth, they have the same privileges and rights as other U.S. citizens, including eligibility for the FAFSA. The FAFSA is your ticket to federal loans, grants, scholarships, and work-study programs.

Here are a few scholarships for Puerto Rico students you can apply for today.

This annual scholarship awards $2,500 to qualified candidates. You must submit an application with a short personal essay that outlines your academic and professional goals, your financial need, and your plans for future community service.

The National Puerto Rican Day Parade offers a generous $2,000 scholarship to 100 qualified students annually. You can apply online and must include a personal essay, a short biography, academic transcripts, and two letters of recommendation. You must be of Puerto Rican descent to qualify.

Open to both current and future University of Puerto Rico students, the Association of University of Puerto Rico Alumni and Friends Abroad offers multiple scholarships. Among these awards is funding for women in STEM and students studying fields like sustainability and information technology.

There are just over 20 four-year nonprofit private colleges and universities in Puerto Rico. Among these are academic institutions that boast relatively inexpensive tuition rates. Because of this broad list of schools, you have a wide array of colleges to choose from that align with your academic and career goals.

The Ana G. Méndez University, Gurabo Campus (AGMU), is the largest private institution in Puerto Rico, with more than 11,000 students. In addition to this school’s multiple Puerto Rico campuses, AGMU has satellite campuses in Florida and Texas.

The Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Metro, is the most competitive private college in Puerto Rico, with a 33% acceptance rate.

Because of its selectivity, you should plan to apply to a safety school to ensure you have options. There are also several things you can do before you apply to help raise your college admission chances.