University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras (UPRRP) Academics and Unique Programs

Academics

Located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus (UPRRP). This first public university in the history of Puerto Rico is a state university, and the biggest of the University of Puerto Rico System’s campuses. When the Escuela Normal Industrial was founded in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, in the year 1900, it had only 20 students and 5 professors. After much growth, the public education system that exists today is stronger for having survived events such as the national students social upheaval of the 1960’s and 70’s, when students protesting for civil rights and the independence of Puerto Rico were receive with police force, resulting in student deaths. Today, the campus is famous for its distinctive clock tower, and its variety of academic programs.

With four “Deans,” or academic divisions, UPRRP is split into the Dean of Academic Affairs, the Dean of Student Affairs, the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research and the Dean of Administration. Schools under the Dean of Academic Affairs include the school of communication, the graduate school of planning, and the graduate school of informatics sciences and technologies.

The University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Campus is home to many fine academic and laboratory facilities such as the natural sciences library, the computing center, the center for educational services, the botanical garden, the El Yunque field house, a greenhouse and herbarium, an animal facility, the zoology museum, a sequencing and genotyping facility, a high performance computing facility, a glass blowing workshop, an electronics workshop, an instrumentation workshop, and a machining workshop.

Most Popular Fields of Study

Information Summary

Ranks 1st in Puerto Rico and 167th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	93.6
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$19,876
Admission Success rate	N/A
SAT 75%ile scores	1314
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	13 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	84% / 50%
Enrollment Total (all students)	14,932

Unique Programs

The students of UPRRP, as well as the local community are grateful to have the Río Piedras Campus Library System at their disposal. With various campus libraries, students and community members are able to achieve all their research needs at the University level, while fulfilling a social and cultural responsibility to provide higher education to the entire island. With 18 libraries, and online catalog, and special interest collections like the Caribbean and Latin American Studies Library, and the Puerto Rican Collection, this library goes above and beyond the regular circulation, reserves, photocopying, and interlibrary loan services available on the average campus, although these are available as well.

Another special feature of the UPRRP campus is the University museum. The Museum of Art, History and Anthropology, founded in 1951, is dedicated to preserving Puerto Rican and world heritage. With regularly updated exhibits, sponsored lectures, seminars, publications, and workshops, the general community receives as much educational benefit as the UPRRP students by way of the museum. The current building in which the Museum’s collections are housed was designed by architect Henry Klumb.

Gallery

Admissions

Successful applicants to UPRRP will begin by filling out an application for admission, and paying the application fee. The student must also take examinations from the College Entrance Examination Board in verbal and mathematical reasoning, specifically English, Spanish, and Mathematics. Students may also take the SAT in English, the SAT II in English Literature or Writing, the SAT in Mathematics Levels IC4 or IIC4, and Spanish Reading. For more information on testing students should contact the Educational Testing Service’s Puerto Rico Office. All students must also submit official transcripts from prior institutions of learning, and submit a certificate of graduation to the Admissions Office.

Special admission criteria will apply to transfer students.

Financial Aid

While the vast majority of students, well over 90%, receive some form of financial aid at UPRRP, keep in mind that not all forms of Federal Financial Aid are offered. Most students receive Federal Grants, and State and Local Grants, while a small percentage of students take out student loans. In order to qualify and apply for financial aid, all UPRRP students must fill out the FAFSA, which is free and may be done online or in the Financial Aid Office.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 6646th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Puerto Rico.

Students

Under the umbrella of the Deanship of Students, the diverse population of students at UPRRP has access to a wide range of student services and technological services. Students are provided with medical services, cultural activities, financial aid assistance, and orientation programming to encourage social, recreational, physical and emotional well being. The Office of Complementary Services exists to assist students as well, with services like internal mail and messengers, a reproduction center, a printing division, food services and telephone services.

Students and educators alike work together in an Academic Senate to create a productive and positive academic community. Here, members establish academic rules and regulations, and representation is provided by various deans, chancellors, students, and staff. With upwards of 60 to 70 members, the Senate works to provide diplomatic solutions for the UPRRP University community. Students may also elect to participate in the General Student Council. This elected student government is made up of about 50 students, and is an excellent way for students to build leadership skills while staying involved on campus.

Students at UPRRP participate in Greek life with a number of fraternities and sororities. Fraternities on campus include Phi Eta Mu, Phi Sigma Alpha, Nu Sigma Beta, Alpha Beta Chi, and Phi Delta Gamma. Sororities include Mu Alpha Phi, Eta Gamma Delta, and Zeta Phi Sigma. Other Greek service, professional and honor societies include the Phi Alpha Delta co-ed professional law fraternity, the Beta Beta Beta biological honor society, the Alpha Phi Omega co-ed service fraternity, and the Psi Chi honor society in Psychology.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

The following sports can be found here:

Men’s NCAA Division II Baseball
Men’s NCAA Division II, Women’s NCAA Division II, Men’s Intercollegiate, Women’s Intercollegiate, Men’s Intramural and Women’s Intramural Basketball
Men’s NCAA Division II, Women’s NCAA Division II, Men’s Intercollegiate, Women’s Intercollegiate, Men’s Intramural and Women’s Intramural Cross_country
Men’s NCAA Division II, Men’s Intercollegiate and Men’s Intramural Soccer
Women’s NCAA Division II, Men’s Intercollegiate, Women’s Intercollegiate, Men’s Intramural and Women’s Intramural Softball
Men’s Intercollegiate, Women’s Intercollegiate, Men’s Intramural and Women’s Intramural Table_tennis
Men’s Intercollegiate, Women’s Intercollegiate, Men’s Intramural and Women’s Intramural Track_and_field
Men’s NCAA Division II and Women’s NCAA Division II Track_outdoor
Men’s NCAA Division II, Women’s NCAA Division II, Men’s Intercollegiate, Women’s Intercollegiate, Men’s Intramural and Women’s Intramural Volleyball
Men’s NCAA Division II, Men’s Intercollegiate and Men’s Intramural Wrestling

The Gallitos/Gerezanas are a member of NAIA , NCAA.

University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras