
Santurce, PRprivate nonprofitwww.sagrado.edu/
Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in Santurce, Puerto Rico, blends accessibility with a tight-knit community vibe, offering a distinctly Puerto Rican college experience. With a 58% acceptance rate and a student body that's 65% female, Sagrado stands out for its urban campus life, strong retention rates, and programs in health sciences, business, and communication that cater to bilingual learners.
Sagrado Corazón is moderately selective, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovering between 53% and 60% across sources — a sweet spot for students seeking accessibility without open admissions. The school received 3,073 applications in 2024, admitting 1,783. Notably, SAT/ACT scores are neither required nor recommended, emphasizing a Holistic admissionsA review that weighs the whole applicant — grades, essays, activities, and context — rather than relying on test scores and GPA alone.. Rolling admissions mean flexibility, but the 79% first-year retention rate suggests students who enroll tend to stay.
With a 21:1 student-faculty ratio and 63% of classes under 20 students, Sagrado leans into small-scale learning. It offers 57 majors, including standout programs in health sciences, business, and communication, plus unique 27-credit 'concentration' options for deeper dives. Degrees range from associate to master’s, with a 41% graduation rate. The bilingual (Spanish/English) curriculum reflects Puerto Rico’s cultural context, and the study-abroad program actively recruits U.S. students for cultural exchange.
Urban Santurce provides a lively backdrop for Sagrado’s 65.5% female student body, where dorm life costs $9,200/year. The school fosters 'a sense of belonging' through clubs, cultural events, and initiatives like the SSA Study Abroad program, which immerses U.S. students in Puerto Rican life. With 4,494 undergraduates, the campus buzzes with activity but avoids feeling anonymous.
Sagrado’s 79% retention rate outpaces its graduation metrics (52% in 4 years, 63% in 6). Alumni median salaries sit at $31,754 a decade post-enrollment, with nursing graduates noting strong local demand. Debt outcomes vary: 11% take loans averaging $4,552, but institutional aid cushions the blow for many.
Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. averages $13,076 after aid, with 83% of students receiving federal grants ($6,534 avg) and 36% scoring institutional grants ($1,451 avg). The FAFSA-driven aid process is standard, but Puerto Rico’s territorial status means aid packages differ slightly from U.S. mainland colleges. For low-income students, net price drops to ~$13,000, while higher earners pay closer to $20,511.
Sagrado Corazón is unapologetically Puerto Rican — a bridge between U.S. higher ed and Caribbean culture, where Spanish-language fluency thrives alongside English instruction. Its urban energy, gender-skewed community, and focus on health sciences carve a niche. The no-test admissions policy and robust retention suggest it’s a place where students, once enrolled, find their footing.