Puerto Rico · Registered Nursing

Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Puerto Rico

Ranked by graduate earnings

Universidad del Sagrado Corazon, Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus and NUC University are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Puerto Rico by graduate earnings. Universidad del Sagrado Corazon leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,836, College Scorecard. NUC University, Professional University Dr. Carlos J. Borrero Rios and Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Puerto Rico: 1,405, 247 and 240 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 47 Puerto Rico colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 5,261 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…

Institutions
47
offering CIP 51.38
States & territories
57
with a program page
Degrees / yr
5,261
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$31,869
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
34
College Scorecard
Median net price
$8,838
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
47%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Registered Nurses
$46,190
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Universidad del Sagrado Corazon
Santurce Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$36,83622452%$15,525$23,000
2Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus
Gurabo Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$28,12224031%$9,370$12,375
3NUC University
Bayamon Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$22,8981,40554%$9,377$17,168
4Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Metro
San Juan Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$21,9755639%$10,446$16,040
5Atenas University
Manati Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$21,3838742%$8,957$6,652
6Dewey University - Hato Rey
Hato Rey Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$21,23711754%$5,184$5,530
7Universal Technology College of Puerto Rico
Aguadilla Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$19,9474464%$7,083—
8Universidad Adventista de las Antillas
Mayaguez Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$19,7256136%$9,579$19,065
9CEM College - San Juan
San Juan Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$16,7428986%$12,761$7,891
10University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences
San Juan Public · Bachelor's degree
$16,68685——$6,025

Top 2 certificate and associate programs

Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc-San Juan
San Juan Private not-for-profit · Associate degree
$31,86945424%$5,708$16,000
2Dewey University - Carolina
Carolina Private not-for-profit · Associate degree Small program
$13,9121762%$4,585$6,120

Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Puerto Rico

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1NUC University
Bayamon Private for-profit
1,405$22,898
2Professional University Dr. Carlos J. Borrero Rios
Hato Rey Private for-profit
247Not reported
3Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus
Gurabo Private not-for-profit
240$28,122
4Universidad del Sagrado Corazon
Santurce Private not-for-profit
224$36,836
5Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus
San Juan Private not-for-profit
163$15,515
6EDP University of Puerto Rico-Caguas
Caguas Private not-for-profit
118Not reported
7Dewey University - Hato Rey
Hato Rey Private not-for-profit
117$21,237
8University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo
Arecibo Public
113$12,947
9CEM College - San Juan
San Juan Private for-profit
89$16,742
10Atenas University
Manati Private not-for-profit
87$21,383
Show the other 37 Puerto Rico colleges offering Registered Nursing
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc-San JuanSan JuanPrivate not-for-profit454
EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc-San SebastianSan SebastianPrivate not-for-profit339
EDP University of Puerto Rico-ManatiManatiPrivate not-for-profit236
EDP University of Puerto Rico-VillalbaVillalbaPrivate not-for-profit196
EDP University of Puerto Rico-HumacaoHumacaoPrivate not-for-profit104
Colegio Universitario de San JuanSan JuanPublic85
University of Puerto Rico-Medical SciencesSan JuanPublic85
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-GuayamaGuayamaPrivate not-for-profit82
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-AreciboAreciboPrivate not-for-profit77
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina CampusCarolinaPrivate not-for-profit72
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-PoncePoncePrivate not-for-profit69
Universidad Adventista de las AntillasMayaguezPrivate not-for-profit61
CEM College - HumacaoHumacaoPrivate for-profit58
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-MetroSan JuanPrivate not-for-profit56
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-AguadillaAguadillaPrivate not-for-profit46
Universal Technology College of Puerto RicoAguadillaPrivate not-for-profit44
University of Puerto Rico-HumacaoHumacaoPublic42
University of Puerto Rico-MayaguezMayaguezPublic40
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-San GermanSan GermanPrivate not-for-profit39
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-BarranquitasBarranquitasPrivate not-for-profit36
Dewey University - ManatiManatiPrivate not-for-profit33
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-BayamonBayamonPrivate not-for-profit26
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-PonceMerceditaPrivate not-for-profit23
Dewey University - Juana DíazJuana DiazPrivate not-for-profit21
Dewey University - CarolinaCarolinaPrivate not-for-profit17
Ponce Health Sciences University - EastPoncePrivate for-profit17
Universidad Central de BayamonBayamónPrivate not-for-profit15
San Juan Bautista School of MedicineCaguasPrivate not-for-profit15
ICPR Junior College - MayaguezMayaguezPrivate for-profit11
Instituto Tecnologico de Puerto Rico-Recinto de ManatiManatiPublic10
Instituto Tecnologico de Puerto Rico-Recinto de San JuanSan JuanPublic10
Huertas CollegeCaguasPrivate for-profit9
Instituto Tecnologico de Puerto Rico-Recinto de GuayamaGuayamaPublic9
ICPR Junior CollegeManatiPrivate for-profit9
Caribbean University - BayamonBayamonPrivate not-for-profit6
Humacao Community CollegeHumacaoPrivate not-for-profit4
ICPR Junior CollegeHato ReyPrivate for-profit2

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.9%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~189,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$93,600
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Critical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionMonitoringWriting

What Registered Nurses earn in Puerto Rico

Jobs in Puerto Rico
21,270
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$46,190
median $39,880
Best-paying metro
$47,790
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR

Related careers

Registered Nurses
$46,190 avg · 21,270 jobs
Medical and Health Services Managers
$104,270 avg · 1,180 jobs
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
$66,660 avg · 380 jobs
Nurse Practitioners
—
Nurse Anesthetists
—
Nurse Midwives
—

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Puerto Rico.

Which Puerto Rico colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+

NUC University (1,405 graduates a year), Professional University Dr. Carlos J. Borrero Rios (247 graduates a year) and Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus (240 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Puerto Rico, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 47 Puerto Rico colleges offer Registered Nursing.

What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Puerto Rico?+

By graduate earnings, Universidad del Sagrado Corazon leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Puerto Rico, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,836, College Scorecard. Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus and NUC University follow. By degrees awarded, NUC University is the largest, with 1,405 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Registered Nursing program in Puerto Rico has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Universidad del Sagrado Corazon tops the list at $36,836. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Registered Nurses earn in Puerto Rico?+

The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Puerto Rico is $46,190 (median $39,880), across about 21,270 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+

The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+

The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

Explore every U.S. college in one conversation

Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.

Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card