Practical Nursing at Caribbean University-Ponce

Ponce, PR · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
37 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
38
Optimistic
37
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $10,084/yr (-26% vs median)
AI Risk Low (18% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)
ROI 18.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #4 of 6 Practical Nursing programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Practical Nursing graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $443K $444K $438K
Earnings Multiple 18.6x 18.6x 18.4x
Probability of Field Employment 87% 85% 76%
DegreeOutlook Score 38 37 38

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$23,864
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$26,720
-12% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,250
18.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$29,029
188% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Caribbean University-Ponce's Practical Nursing graduates start at $10,084/yr, trailing the $13,597 national average by 26%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 18.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Practical Nursing programs nationally.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic ten-year scenarios is just 1% — this field's hands-on core resists automation.

Median debt of $15,250 against $10,084/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.5 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

This program is one of 6 schools offering Practical Nursing in our dataset — a specialized field with limited comparison points.

Five-year earnings of $29,029 show a 188% jump from the $10,084 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Caribbean University-Ponce

a compact campus enrolling 419 students in Ponce, PR. Pell Grant recipients make up 75% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Caribbean University-Ponce →

Top Career Paths

Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses $62,340/yr
Nursing assistants $39,530/yr
View all 2 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Caribbean University-Ponce

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Practical Nursing at Caribbean University-Ponce?
A score of 37/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Practical Nursing. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Practical Nursing at Caribbean University-Ponce worth the student debt?
Median debt of $15,250 against $10,084/yr starting salary means roughly 1.5 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
Can you still earn well with Practical Nursing from Caribbean University-Ponce?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →