Earning a degree online can also prepare you for a higher-skill job in one of Puerto Rico's diverse industries, including fields like biotechnology, renewable energy, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and IT, as well as more traditional fields like education and health care.

There are numerous online colleges in Puerto Rico. Let's take a closer look at them.

  • Of the 20 online colleges in Puerto Rico, associate degrees can be earned at 11 institutions, bachelor's degrees can be earned at 10, and master's degrees can be earned at 12.
  • Almost all online colleges in Puerto Rico are private institutions; 16 are not-for-profit schools and 3 are for-profit schools.
  • Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce, Humacao Community College, and National University College offer the most online degree programs in Puerto Rico.

Keep reading to learn about our rankings of the top 10 colleges in Puerto Rico. You can also find out about financial aid resources that can make your online degree more affordable.

What Makes a Good Online College in Puerto Rico?

Our rankings of the best online colleges in Puerto Rico can help students to learn about the higher-education options available to them. All of the schools on this page are accredited by recognized accreditation agencies such as:

  • Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Science (NACCAS)
  • Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
  • Comisión Acreditadora de Instituciones Educativas (CADIE)

To find out why accreditation is important, see our article "What is College Accreditation?" For details regarding accreditation in Puerto Rico, visit the Consejo de Educación de Puerto Rico website.

We built these rankings on criteria carefully chosen to reflect the online college experience, such as the number of online programs offered, the ratio of students participating in distance education at that school, and the average amount of financial aid awarded to students of that school. For more information about the criteria we picked and why they are important, visit our "What Makes a Good Online College?" section of our "About Us" page.

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Online Colleges in Puerto Rico for 2019-20

Students considering online learning in Puerto Rico would be wise to research programs and offerings in advance, in order to help them make an informed decision on where to enroll. To help with that, we've created this list of the best online colleges in Puerto Rico, using data pulled from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS.) A brief description of a school's online programs and offerings as well as other helpful facts are included. The methodology used to compile this list is detailed at the bottom of the web page.

1

Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla

Tuition & Fees
$5,902
Distance Education Participation
72%
Number of Programs Offered
10
School Type
4-year
2

Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce

Tuition & Fees
$5,914
Distance Education Participation
77%
Number of Programs Offered
21
School Type
4-year
3

Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Barranquitas

Tuition & Fees
$5,902
Distance Education Participation
43%
Number of Programs Offered
3
School Type
4-year
4

Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo

Tuition & Fees
$5,872
Distance Education Participation
74%
Number of Programs Offered
7
School Type
4-year
5

Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Guayama

Tuition & Fees
$5,902
Distance Education Participation
70%
Number of Programs Offered
2
School Type
4-year
6

Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Fajardo

Tuition & Fees
$5,940
Distance Education Participation
66%
Number of Programs Offered
3
School Type
4-year
7

National University College

Tuition & Fees
$6,675
Distance Education Participation
50%
Number of Programs Offered
17
School Type
4-year
8

Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon

Tuition & Fees
$5,940
Distance Education Participation
65%
Number of Programs Offered
1
School Type
4-year
9

Inter American University of Puerto Rico-San German

Tuition & Fees
$5,940
Distance Education Participation
58%
Number of Programs Offered
2
School Type
4-year
10

EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc-San Juan

Tuition & Fees
$6,200
Distance Education Participation
62%
Number of Programs Offered
6
School Type
4-year
 
Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2018-19, National Center for Education Statistics, http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

Affordable Online Colleges in Puerto Rico for 2019-20

If you're curious about the most affordable online colleges in Puerto Rico, you've come to the right place. Here are the most affordable two-year and four-year online colleges in Puerto Rico, organized by cost of tuition and fees.

Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2018-19, National Center for Education Statistics, http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

Puerto Rico Loans

Puerto Rico does not offer any student loans at this time. Students are encouraged to seek out all available scholarships and grants since those are considered "gift aid," meaning they do not have to be repaid. Once you've exhausted all of those options, you may find that you are still in need of financial assistance. If that is the case, you can apply for federal or private loans to meet your college expenses. Keep in mind that you will need to fill out the FAFSA and supply information about your family's financial situation in order to apply for federal aid.

Learn more about student loans in the Ultimate Guide to Student Loans.

Additional Resources for Financial Aid in Puerto Rico

  • Becas y Asistencia Económica details the federal financial assistance available to students at each institution in Puerto Rico's Ana G. Méndez University System.