Acceptance Rate
53%
Avg. SAT
1073
75th percentile
“Mountain hideaway in Puerto Rico's public university system, specializing in biology and teacher education amid misty peaks.”
Cayey, PR
Location
Large Suburb
Campus Setting
The University of Puerto Rico at Cayey traces its roots to 1967, when it opened as a junior college within the expansive UPR system to bring higher education to the island's central mountains. Nestled in Cayey, a town known for its cooler climate and folklore, the campus serves as a hub for local students pursuing practical degrees. You'll find a personality rooted in accessibility and community focus, with most classes taught in Spanish to match the island's linguistic reality.
Students who thrive here often come from Puerto Rican families, value close professor relationships, and embrace a commuter lifestyle intertwined with home life. The surrounding area offers fresh mountain air and proximity to rainforests, but tradeoffs include a rural setting with limited public transport and fewer urban amenities compared to San Juan campuses. Those seeking big-city energy or English-dominant instruction might find it less ideal.
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
UPR-Cayey shines in biology, where students dive into tropical ecology through hands-on fieldwork, and in education and nursing programs that prepare graduates for island needs. Classrooms feel intimate thanks to the small enrollment, allowing professors to know you by name and guide undergraduate research projects on local biodiversity. You'll encounter a mix of lecture halls for intro courses and seminars for upper-level work, fostering a practical, teaching-oriented vibe.
While research opportunities abound in environmental sciences, popular majors like biology fill quickly, so early declaration helps. Tradeoffs involve occasional large foundational classes and a focus on regional issues over global ones, suiting students aimed at Puerto Rican careers more than international paths.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
2,093 undergrad • 0 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
Hispanic / Latino
100%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Cayey, PR
Varsity Athletics
Campus life pulses with Puerto Rican pride through bomba y plena music events, sports rivalries, and student-led festivals celebrating island heritage. A typical week mixes morning classes, afternoon club meetings, and weekend family gatherings, since most students commute from nearby towns. Traditions like the annual fair bring alumni back for food and dances under string lights.
Housing options cover only a fraction of students, so expect a commuter culture where you build bonds in classes and orgs rather than dorms. The mountainous weather brings refreshing breezes but frequent rains, and Cayey's quiet streets mean social scenes stay campus-centered with moderate partying. Cost of living remains low, though travel to beaches requires planning.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Athletics
Athletic Association
NAIA
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
No
Air Force
No
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
76%
4 Years Graduation Rate
10%
6 Years Graduation Rate
53%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$30,958
76% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at University of Puerto Rico-Cayey and return in the fall. 10% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 53% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
10%
4-5 years
43%
6-8 years
3%
Non-grad
44%
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Key Statistics
Type
Public
Tuition
$5,024
Acceptance
53%
Undergrads
2,093
4-Year Grad Rate
10%
Endowment
$5K
Cayey, PR 00737-2230