Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce

In the latest year of federal data, Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce graduated 28 social work students, placing it #227 of 587 BSW programs nationally. Cohorts of this size typically mean seminar-scale classes in the practice sequence rather than lecture halls.

45.2% of students complete their degree, below the 50.4% median across BSW-awarding colleges — worth asking the department about directly. Students who finish take a median of 5 years to do it. Unusually, part-time students complete at a higher rate here (61.4%) than full-time students (32.8%) — often a sign of a program built around people already working in the field. First-time entrants complete at 52.0% against 30.3% for transfers — worth checking how transfer credits map onto the practice sequence.

The average student pays $13,319 a year after grants and scholarships — $4,969 above the $8,350 median across the 17 BSW colleges in Puerto Rico. 90.0% of first-time students receive Pell Grants, a high share that usually reflects a student body with substantial financial need — and a financial aid office practiced at handling it. Net price is the number that matters when comparing programs, not sticker tuition — and because most social work roles are with government or nonprofit employers, graduates are typically eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.