{"id":167242,"date":"2025-06-05T19:31:01","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T17:31:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/efecomunica.efe.com\/?p=167242"},"modified":"2025-06-05T20:03:41","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T18:03:41","slug":"puerto-rico-international-education-us-degrees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/efecomunica.efe.com\/en\/puerto-rico-international-education-us-degrees\/","title":{"rendered":"Educational advantages in Puerto Rico, low-cost degrees recognized in U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"

San Juan, June 5 (EFE).-<\/strong> Universities in <\/a>Puerto Rico offer degrees recognized in the United States at a lower cost<\/strong>. Added to this are a bilingual system<\/strong> and excellent laboratories and clinics<\/strong>, which serve as incentives for attracting international students<\/strong>, especially Hispanic students<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Photo of the University of Puerto Rico in R\u00edo Piedras. EFE\/ Thais Llorca<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

World-class institutions and a strategic location<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\u201cWe have countless world-class educational, clinical, and research institutions, many of them recognized by US authorities,\u201d Carlos R\u00edos<\/strong>, deputy secretary at Puerto Rico\u2019s Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC)<\/strong>, told EFE.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

These include the University of Puerto Rico<\/strong>, Ana G. Mendez<\/strong>, Interamericana<\/strong>, Pontificia Cat\u00f3lica in Ponce<\/strong>, and the Molecular Science Research Center<\/strong>, which has characterization laboratories that industries use for their research.<\/p>\n

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\u201cApart from Puerto Rico’s educational and clinical ecosystem, we are located in a geographical position that gives us an advantage. It is a bridge between Central America, South America, and North America,\u201d said R\u00edos, who recently participated in the forum \u201cEducational Tourism: Puerto Rico as an Academic Destination,\u201d<\/strong> organized by GFR Media<\/strong><\/a> and Agencia EFE<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Photo of Carlos R\u00edos, deputy director of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce, during the forum Educational Tourism: Puerto Rico as an Academic Destination, in San Juan. EFE\/ Thais Llorca<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bilingual academic programs appeal to U.S. and Latin American students<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The DDEC deputy secretary indicated that the institutions offer \u201cbilingual programs. This is considered attractive to young American students who want to learn Spanish as a second language, or students from Central or South America who want to learn English.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Furthermore, referring to the Hispanic population, he assured that many things bring them together:<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe are united not only by language but also by culture, that Hispanic-Latin warmth that makes the assimilation process much easier. So, undoubtedly, it is one of the sectors we should target and try harder to attract.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Photo of former Puerto Rican Secretary of State David Bernier during the forum Educational Tourism: Puerto Rico as an Academic Destination, in San Juan. EFE\/ Thais Llorca<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Puerto Rico as an academic destination for Hispanics in the U.S.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

At the forum, government representatives, economists, and university officials<\/strong> agreed that the plan to attract international students should target Latin Americans and Spanish speakers living in the United States<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe are very attractive, particularly to Hispanics in the United States,\u201d David Bernier<\/strong>, former Puerto Rican Secretary of State, told EFE.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Bernier also emphasized that the island’s potential lies in its \u201crecognized, bilingual US-quality education.\u201d<\/strong> Another component is that it is \u201cvery cost-effective\u201d<\/strong> compared to US universities.<\/p>\n

Cost comparison highlights Puerto Rico’s affordability<\/strong><\/h2>\n

On average, the cost of tuition per academic year at the bachelor’s degree level on the island is <\/strong>approximately $5,700. In contrast, in<\/strong>\u00a0the U.S.,<\/span>\u00a0it is $11,600 at public institutions<\/strong> and $43,000 at private institutions<\/strong>, according to information presented at the forum.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo Hispanics<\/strong> in the United States and Latin American students<\/strong> may find Puerto Rico’s offerings attractive<\/strong>, but we have a major shortcoming, which is that they don’t know us,\u201d Bernier lamented.<\/p>\n

For this reason, he called for \u201cincluding the academic component in the destination promotion project, so that potential students know what Puerto Rico has to offer.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u201cWithout a doubt, Puerto Rico has the potential<\/em><\/strong> to become a regional benchmark<\/strong> for international education,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Puerto Rico promotes its cultural and linguistic bridge<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Puerto Rico<\/strong>, a Commonwealth of the United States<\/strong>, is promoting itself as being in the middle of the two Americas<\/strong>, bilingual<\/strong>, and a crossroads for two cultures<\/strong>: Latin American and American<\/strong>. EFE<\/p>\n