Career Training Path › Puerto Rico › Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce
Mercedita, Puerto Rico · Private non-profit university · Training programs available:
Address: 104 Turpeaux Industrial Park Rd1, Mercedita, PR 00715 · Phone: (787) 284-1912 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is a private non-profit trade/career school in Mercedita, PR offering culinary & pastry arts, medical assistant, and radiology programs, accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, median graduate debt at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is $6,375 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $26,721; completion rate versus the state average is not reported.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce; contact the school for current tuition. The school accepts federal financial aid (Title IV), and 80.4% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chefs and head cooks | $23,730 | $30,800 | $47,840 |
| Medical assistants | $22,380 | $46,120 | $59,990 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $24,460 | $35,280 | $47,740 |
| Pharmacy technicians | $23,030 | $29,520 | $43,130 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Puerto Rico (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 32 | $9,365 | not reported | $3,500 |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 16 | $9,365 | not reported | $3,500 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 15 | not reported | $9,333 | $5,750 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 10 | not reported | $9,333 | $5,750 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | $9,333 | $5,750 |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce is a private non-profit university campus located in Mercedita, PR, in a fringe rural setting. It participates in federal financial aid (Title IV), and its programs are accredited by bodies including the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Among its trade and career offerings, the campus awards the most credentials in culinary & pastry arts (48), medical assistant programs (22), and radiology & sonography programs (14), spanning six program families overall including pharmacy-tech training.
Federal data show 94 trade completers against an undergraduate enrollment of 2,404. The campus's completion rate compared with the Puerto Rico state average of 69.2% is not reported for this campus in federal data. Median debt among graduates is $6,375, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $26,721. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 80.4% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a large share of low-income enrollment.
This campus may suit students pursuing shorter, hands-on career-training programs in culinary arts, medical assisting, or radiology, though exact program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data, so career-changer fit cannot be confirmed beyond the program types listed. Prospective students should verify accreditation status directly with the listed accreditors and review official outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
The campus offers culinary & pastry schools, medical assistant programs, radiology & sonography programs, and pharmacy tech programs, among six program families total. Its top programs by completions are culinary & pastry arts (48), medical assistant (22), and radiology & sonography (14).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited. Accreditors include the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs. About 80.4% of its students receive Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The campus's own completion rate is not reported for this campus in federal data. The Puerto Rico state average completion rate is 69.2%, but a direct comparison is not reported.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt among graduates is $6,375, according to federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry are $26,721, according to federal data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school at (787) 284-1912 or visit https://www.ponce.inter.edu/ for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a private non-profit school, which typically means it is mission-driven rather than investor-owned, though tuition and outcomes still vary by program and should be verified individually.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school directly to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation status with the listed accreditors and review official federal outcome data at the College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?242662.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
This cannot be confirmed from the available data since program lengths and scheduling formats are not reported for this campus in federal data; prospective students should contact the school directly to ask about options for working adults.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing and certification requirements are not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school or check with the relevant program accreditor for specifics.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach the school by phone at (787) 284-1912 or visit its website at https://www.ponce.inter.edu/ for application details.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with other nearby schools is not reported for this campus in federal data. Use the College Scorecard link to compare outcomes across institutions: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?242662.
Nearby trade and career schools in Puerto Rico
- Colegio Mayor de Tecnologia IncArroyo, PR · 79% completion
- Inter American University of Puerto Rico-GuayamaGuayama, PR · university
- IVAEM CollegeCaguas, PR · 83% completion
- Huertas CollegeCaguas, PR · college
- Columbia Central University-CaguasCaguas, PR · university
- Inter American University of Puerto Rico-BarranquitasBarranquitas, PR · university
- Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo CampusGurabo, PR · college
- Academia Serrant IncPonce, PR · 88% completion
See all trade and career schools in Puerto Rico or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.