University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez

Learn about the University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez. Read about its admission info, financial aid and programs to make an informed education decision.

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About the University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez

In 1911, the University of Puerto Rico established a campus in the small, western city of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The branch was founded as a College of Agriculture, and for the next 50 years, it was known as the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. Today, the University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez (UPRM) is a 4-year, public, land-grant institution enrolling around 12,000 students annually. It holds accreditation from the Council of Higher Education of Puerto Rico and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Students at the university can participate in intercollegiate sports, including judo, swimming, softball, basketball, volleyball and table tennis. Student clubs are numerous and cover a range of interests, such as chess, dancing, fiction, farming and religion.

Academics

UPRM is home to four colleges and one division: the College of Agricultural Sciences, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business Administration, the College of Engineering and the Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies. The school offers five bachelor's degree programs, each of which features a variety of areas of study, including English, philosophy, agriculture, biology, nursing, finance, accounting and industrial engineering. Graduate students can choose from master's and doctoral degree programs in several specializations.

The most popular undergraduate fields of study at the university, based on program completions, include biology, mechanical engineering and civil engineering. While Spanish is the primary language used at UPRM, courses are also taught in English, and textbooks are usually available in English.

Admissions

Prospective freshmen must submit their applications to the admissions office before November 30 of the year before they wish to start classes. These students need to submit high school transcripts and college entrance exam scores. Approved entrance exams include the SAT and the University Evaluation and Admissions Test. Advanced Placement exams can be used for credit at UPRM.

In 2011, 94% of UPRM students attended full time, 48% were female, and 52% were male. Also in 2011, 100% of the students enrolled were Hispanic or Latino.

Tuition & Financial Aid

U.S. citizens who are residents of Puerto Rico pay a per-credit tuition rate of $55 for undergraduate programs in 2012-2013, while U.S. citizens who aren't residents of Puerto Rico can expect to pay an additional fee. In 2011, costs for books and supplies were estimated at $1,825 annually. In special cases, students can defer tuition payment for up to 30 days. Students can find several financial aid options, including part-time jobs, grants, loans and scholarships. Students with extreme financial need can apply for the Leveraging Educational Assistance Program, and the school also offers the Legislative Scholarship Program, which is for students who meet certain academic and financial requirements.

The cost of living for off-campus students in 2011 was about $8,280 for room and board with an additional $2,125 estimated for additional expenses. For those who chose to live with their families, the cost was $2,900.

UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO IN MAYAGUEZ QUICK FACTS
School Type	4-year, public**
Degrees Offered	Bachelor's, master's, doctoral degrees**
Religious Affiliation	None**
Academic Calendar	Semesters*
School Setting	Small city**
Student Body	12,474 students in 2011**
Student Housing	On-campus housing not available**
ACADEMICS
Schools and Programs	4 colleges and 1 division; 5 bachelor's degree programs in multiple fields*
Student-Faculty Ratio	16 to 1**
Most Popular Fields of Study by Degree Level (Number of Recipients)	In 2011: Bachelor's: Biology (152) Master's: Civil Engineering (21) PhD: Chemistry (7)**
Undergraduate Graduation Rates	For students who started in 2005 5% in 4 years 42% in 6 years**
ADMISSIONS
Admission Rate	66% in 2011**
Entering Class Size	1,773 full-time students in 2011***
First-Year Retention Rates	90% for full-time students in 2010-2011**
Mid-Range SAT Scores of Admitted Students	Critical reading: 538-645 Math: 555-692**
Application Due Date	First-time student applications due November 30 of year prior to enrollment*
Decision Notification Date	Decisions are made in August*
TUITION & FINANCIAL AID
Tuition	$55 per credit for undergraduate residents; $137 per credit for graduate students (2012-2013)*
Financial Aid Sources Available (Percentage of Students Receiving it)	In 2011, for beginning undergraduate students: Federal grants (68%), Pell grants (68%), state and local government grants/scholarships (36%), loans (6%)**
Percent of Students Receiving Some Form of Aid	78% of beginning undergraduate students**