View source for University of Puerto Rico

{{Short description|Main public university system of Puerto Rico}}
{{about|the University of the Puerto Rico System|the system's flagship constituent university|University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus}}

{{Infobox university
 | name                   = University of Puerto Rico
 | image_name             = University of Puerto Rico Logo.png
 | image_size             = 200px
 | caption                = Seal of the University of Puerto Rico
 | motto                  =
 | mottoeng               =
 | established            = {{start date and age|1903}}
 | type                   = [[Public]]
 | academic_affiliations  = [[National Sea Grant College Program|Sea-grant]], [[National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program|Space-grant]]
 | budget                 = $1.52 billion (2014){{efn|López (2014; in Spanish) "El presupuesto actual consolidado de la institución es de $1,522 millones."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.elnuevodia.com/severosrecortesenlaupr-1721013.html |title=Severos recortes en la UPR |newspaper=[[El Nuevo Día]] |first=Keila |last=López Alicea |date=February 27, 2014 |access-date=February 27, 2014 |archive-date=March 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309072232/http://www.elnuevodia.com/severosrecortesenlaupr-1721013.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
 | president              = [[Zayira Jordán Conde]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/notas/zayira-jordan-conde-es-la-nueva-presidenta-en-propiedad-de-la-upr/ |title=Zayira Jordán Conde es la nueva presidenta en propiedad de la UPR |newspaper=[[El Nuevo Día]] |first=Génesis Ibarra Vázquez |last=Iobarra Vázquez |date=June 21, 2025 |access-date=June 21, 2025 }}</ref>
 | vice-president         =
 | rector                 =
 | principal              =
 | dean                   =
 | director               =
 | head_label             =
 | head                   =
 | faculty                = 4,448<ref>{{Cite web|title=Datos Institucionales|url=https://www.upr.edu/datos-institucionales/datos-sistemicos/|access-date=2023-05-29|website=UPR|language=en-US}}</ref>
 | administrative_staff   = 11,178<ref>{{Cite web|title=Datos Institucionales|url=https://www.upr.edu/datos-institucionales/datos-sistemicos/|access-date=2023-05-29|website=UPR|language=en-US}}</ref>
 | students               = 44,233
 | undergrad              =
 | postgrad               =
 | doctoral               =
 | other                  =
 | city                   = [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]]
 | state                  = [[Puerto Rico]]
 | country                =
 | coor                   =
 | campus                 = 11 campuses
 | former_names           = Escuela Normal ([[Normal school]])
 | free_label             =
 | free                   =
 | sports                 =
 | colors                 =
 | colours                =
 | nickname               =
 | mascot                 =
 | athletics              =
 | affiliations           =
 | website                = {{url|http://www.upr.edu}}
 | logo                   = File:Upr logo 3.gif
 | logo_size              = 220px
}}
{{Location map+|Puerto Rico|places={{Location map~ | Puerto Rico
    | marksize = 8
    | label_size = 70
    | label = [[University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras|UPR Río Pedras]] & [[University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus|Medical Sciences]]
    | position = top
    | lat_deg = 18.4041
    | lon_deg = -66.0513 }}
{{Location map~ | Puerto Rico
    | marksize = 8
    | label_size = 70
    | label = [[University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez|UPR Mayagüez]]
    | position = left
    | lat_deg = 18.2109
    | lon_deg = -67.1409 }}
{{Location map~ | Puerto Rico
    | marksize = 8
    | label_size = 70
    | label = [[University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón|UPR Bayamón]]
    | position = left
    | lat_deg = 18.3718
    | lon_deg = -66.1429 }}
{{Location map~ | Puerto Rico
    | marksize = 8
    | label_size = 70
    | label = [[University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo|UPR Arecibo]]
    | position = top
    | lat_deg = 18.4680
    | lon_deg = -66.7405 }}
{{Location map~ | Puerto Rico
    | marksize = 8
    | label_size = 70
    | label = [[University of Puerto Rico at Humacao|UPR Humacao]]
    | position = right
    | lat_deg = 18.1470
    | lon_deg = -65.8375 }}
{{Location map~ | Puerto Rico
    | marksize = 8
    | label_size = 70
    | label = [[University of Puerto Rico at Cayey|UPR Cayey]]
    | position = bottom
    | lat_deg = 18.1180
    | lon_deg = -66.1617 }}
{{Location map~ | Puerto Rico
    | marksize = 8
    | label_size = 70
    | label = [[University of Puerto Rico at Carolina|UPR Carolina]]
    | position = right
    | lat_deg = 18.3925
    | lon_deg = -65.9902 }}
{{Location map~ | Puerto Rico
    | marksize = 8
    | label_size = 70
    | label = [[University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla|UPR Aguadilla]]
    | position = left
    | lat_deg = 18.4997
    | lon_deg = -67.1362 }}
{{Location map~ | Puerto Rico
    | marksize = 8
    | label_size = 70
    | label = [[University of Puerto Rico at Ponce|UPR Ponce]]
    | position = bottom
    | lat_deg = 17.9927
    | lon_deg = -66.6072 }}
{{Location map~ | Puerto Rico
    | marksize = 8
    | label_size = 70
    | label = [[University of Puerto Rico at Utuado|UPR Utuado]]
    | position = bottom
    | lat_deg = 18.2538
    | lon_deg = -66.7211 }}|float=right|caption=University of Puerto Rico system campus locations}}

The '''University of Puerto Rico''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]]: ''Universidad de Puerto Rico;'' often shortened to '''UPR''') is the main [[List of state and territorial universities in the United States|public university]] system in the [[Commonwealth (U.S. insular area)|U.S. Commonwealth]] of [[Puerto Rico]]. It is a [[List of government-owned corporations of Puerto Rico|government-owned corporation]] with 11 campuses and approximately 44,200 students and approximately 4,450 faculty members.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Datos Sistémicos |url=https://www.upr.edu/datos-institucionales/datos-sistemicos/ |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=Datos Institucionales |language=en-US}}</ref> UPR has the largest and most diverse academic offerings in the commonwealth, with 472 [[academic program]]s of which 32 lead to a [[doctorate]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://acweb.upr.edu/vpit/about_folder/biomedical.pdf/ |title=Commitment to Knowledge |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=acweb.upr.edu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610121152/http://acweb.upr.edu/vpit/about_folder/biomedical.pdf/ |archive-date=June 10, 2010}}</ref>

== History ==
In 1900, at [[Fajardo]], the ''Escuela Normal Industrial'' ([[normal school]]) was established as the first higher education center in [[Puerto Rico]]. Its initial enrollment was 20 students and 5 professors.<ref>Historia de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. {{cite web |url=http://upi100.rrp.upr.edu/espanol/secciones/sobre_centenario/datos_historicos.htm |title=Datos Históricos de la Universidad de Puerto Rico |access-date=2009-03-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316164756/http://upi100.rrp.upr.edu/espanol/secciones/sobre_centenario/datos_historicos.htm |archive-date=2009-03-16 }}. 2008-04-30.</ref> The following year it was moved to [[Río Piedras]]. On March 12, 1903, the legislature authorized founding of the University of Puerto Rico, and that day the "Escuela Normal" was proclaimed as its first department.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Sojo Ramos|first=Norma|title=Centenario|url=http://centenario.uprm.edu/historia.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061212202521/http://centenario.uprm.edu/historia.html|archive-date=2006-12-12|access-date=2021-08-22|website=centenario.uprm.edu|language=es}}</ref>
[[File:LaUniversidad.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the [[University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras|Río Piedras Campus]]
]]

[[File:UPRM Portal s.jpg|right|thumb|[[Portico]] of the [[University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez|Mayagüez Campus]] (RUM)]]

[[File:Clock Tower University of Puerto Rico-San Marcos-Harvard.jpg|thumb|[[Roosevelt Tower]] at University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, based on the [[Giralda]] in Seville, includes the emblems both of [[Harvard University]]—the oldest in the United States—and [[University of San Marcos]]—the oldest in the Americas.]]

In 1908, the [[Morrill Land-Grant Acts|Morrill-Nelson Act]] was extended to Puerto Rico, making the university a "[[Land-grant university|Land Grant College]]," which authorizes the use of federal land to establish colleges of agriculture, science and engineering.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Historia|url=https://www.upr.edu/historia/|access-date=2021-08-22|website=Universidad de Puerto Rico|language=es}}</ref> Two years later, in 1910, the College of Liberal Arts was established and the year following that the College of Agriculture at Mayagüez came into being. In 1912, the name was changed to College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.<ref name=":0" />

1913 – The Departments of Pharmacy and Law were established.

1923 – The University Act of 1923– the university reorganized administratively it independent Insular Department of Education, provides the Board of Trustees as the governing board, and make the position of Rector as the principal officer. In 1924 the governor appointed the first Rector.

1924 – The administrative structure and identity of the University of Puerto Rico becomes independent from the Department of Public Instruction.

1926 – The School of Commerce (later School of Business Administration) and the School of Tropical Medicine were established.

1927 – Opening of the first graduate program: the Master of Arts in Hispanic Studies.

1928 – The [[1928 Okeechobee hurricane|San Felipe Segundo hurricane]] struck the island of Puerto Rico and caused serious damage in the Río Piedras campus. Staff and faculty began a reconstruction effort.

1935 – The U.S. Congress extended to Puerto Rico the benefits of [[Bankhead–Jones Act of 1935|Bankhead-Jones Act]], which provided funding for research and the construction of more buildings.

1936–1939 – Major structures in Spanish [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance style]] are built in the quadrangle in Río Piedras, including buildings such as the Tower Theatre.

1938 – Augusto Rodríguez composed the music and lyrics [[Francisco Arriví|Arriví Francisco's]] Alma Mater, the university anthem.

1942 – Act No. 135 of May 7, 1942, amendment to the university, created the Higher Education Council as the governing board of the institution and regulator of the higher education system in Puerto Rico.

1946 – The university received accreditation from the [[Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools]].

1966 – Act No. 1 of 1966, restructuring the university. The system change to three campuses-Río Piedras, Mayagüez and Medical Sciences.

1967 – Creation of the regional colleges: Arecibo, Cayey and Humacao. Five more were created in the following years: Ponce (1969), Bayamón (1971), Aguadilla (1972), Carolina (1973), and Utuado (1978).

1979 – WRTU-FM began broadcasting from the Río Piedras campus.

1998 – Act No. 186 of August 7, 1998, provides for the gradual autonomy of regional schools as provided by the Board of Trustees, to lead to eleven autonomous units.<ref name=":1" />

[[2010–2011 University of Puerto Rico strikes]] where a series of strikes which occurred as a result of administrative budget cuts and an attempt to impose an $800 quota for students.

July 2010, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education placed the accreditation of the university on probation citing concerns about shortfalls in the governance of the institution.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/07/06/qt/middle_states_places_u_of_puerto_rico_and_2_other_colleges_on_probation|title=News Archive|access-date=29 May 2015}}</ref> By the end of 2011, all 11 campuses had regained full accreditation after demonstrating significant progress in this area.

2017 – The UPR's staff organized a [[University of Puerto Rico strikes, 2017|strike]] in opposition to budget cuts proposed by the [[Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=VOCERO|first=Por Perla Rodríguez, Especial para EL|title=Es una realidad huelga en UPR|trans-title=It's a reality strike in UPR|url=https://www.elvocero.com/es-una-realidad-huelga-en-upr/article_39d0eaaf-0bd0-56c1-be75-4666532d97de.html|access-date=2021-05-30|website=[[El Vocero]]|date=5 April 2017 |language=es}}</ref>

After the impact of [[Hurricane Maria]] the university suffered damages totaling over $175 million. The university system was still in the process of acquiring [[Federal Emergency Management Agency|FEMA]] funding to repair damages and as a result still suffered from structural damage months after the hurricane.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Más de dos años sin que atiendan el deterioro de la UPR por María|trans-title=More than two years without attending to the deterioration of the UPR after María|url=https://periodismoinvestigativo.com/2019/12/mas-de-dos-anos-sin-que-atiendan-el-deterioro-de-la-upr-por-el-huracan-maria/|access-date=2020-08-22|website=Centro de Periodismo Investigativo|date=17 December 2019|language=es-ES}}</ref> The hurricane also affected the process of accreditation since eight campuses where in non compliance according to of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-03-19|title=MSCHE Continues Show Cause Status for 11 UPR Institutions|url=https://www.msche.org/2019/03/19/msche-continues-show-cause-status-for-11-upr-institutions/|access-date=2020-08-22|website=Middle States Commission on Higher Education|language=en-US}}</ref> The eleven campuses opened within two months of Hurricane Maria, offering a sense of structure and normalcy for professors and students.<ref name="CHE2017">{{cite web | title=How to Help the University of Puerto Rico – and How Not To | website=The Chronicle of Higher Education | date=2017-11-27 | url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/how-to-help-the-university-of-puerto-rico-and-how-not-to/ | access-date=2021-05-14}}</ref>

2019– During [[Jorge Haddock Acevedo|Jorge Haddock]] tenure the university newspaper, Diálogo, after 32 years in print, was moved online and employees were laid off until only the editor and an assistant remained. They were reassigned, while the newspaper was moved from the central administration to the Arecibo campus.<ref>{{Cite news|last=López-Alicea|first=Keila|date=2019-04-15|title=Incierto el futuro del periódico digital Diálogo|language=es|work=El Nuevo Día|url=https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/nota/inciertoelfuturodelperiodicodigitaldialogo-2488265/|url-status=live|access-date=2020-04-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416114137/https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/nota/inciertoelfuturodelperiodicodigitaldialogo-2488265/|archive-date=2019-04-16}}</ref>

2021 – In June the Financial Oversight and Management Board cut $94 million from the UPR budget which would have drastically affected the institutions ability to operate.<ref>{{Cite web|last=VOCERO|first=Christian G. Ramos Segarra, EL|title=La Junta Fiscal ordena recorte de $94 millones y aumentos a la matrícula de la UPR|url=https://www.elvocero.com/economia/la-junta-fiscal-ordena-recorte-de-94-millones-y-aumentos-a-la-matr-cula-de/article_d1fc7ab2-bf52-11eb-bb72-4b0ff8294c3c.html|access-date=2021-08-22|website=El Vocero de Puerto Rico|date=28 May 2021 |language=es}}</ref> The local government intervened and assigned the money necessary before the August semester commenced.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Caraballo|first=Harry Rodríguez|title=UPR agradece asignación de $94 millones para atenuar recortes por cientos de millones de dólares|url=https://www.metro.pr/pr/noticias/2021/06/08/upr-agradece-asignacion-de-94-millones-para-atenuar-recortes-por-cientos-de-millones-de-dolares.html|access-date=2021-08-22|website=Metro|date=8 June 2021 |language=es}}</ref>

==Organization==
===Board of trustees===
The [[board of trustees]] is the governing body of the University of Puerto Rico.

On April 30, 2013, governor [[Alejandro García Padilla]] signed into law [http://oslpr.org/2013-2016/leyes/pdf/ley-13-30-Abr-2013.pdf Act 13 of 2014] enacted by the [[17th Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico|17th Legislative Assembly]]. The act effectively replaced the incumbent board with an entirely new board. In 2017, the board was changed once again by governor [[Ricardo Rosselló]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Estudiantil|first=Pulso|title=Ricardo Rosselló hace designaciones a la Junta de Gobierno UPR|url=https://pulsoestudiantil.com/ricardo-rossello-hace-designaciones-a-la-junta-de-gobierno-upr/|access-date=2021-07-12|website=Pulso Estudiantil|language=es}}</ref>

===Campuses===
{{main|List of University of Puerto Rico campuses}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: auto"
|-
! style="text-align: left" | Campus
! style="text-align: left" | Municipality
! style="text-align: right" | Enrollment<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.pr.gov/presupuestos/PresupuestoRecomendado2014-2015/PresupuestosAgencias/176.htm |title=Agencia: Universidad de Puerto Rico – Documento: Tomo II (Recomendado) – Año: 2015 |website=www2.pr.gov |access-date=6 June 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140430204527/http://www2.pr.gov/presupuestos/PresupuestoRecomendado2014-2015/PresupuestosAgencias/176.htm |archive-date=30 April 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Datos de Matricula |url=https://www.upr.edu/datos-institucionales/datos-de-matricula/ |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=Datos Institucionales |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| [[University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus]]
| [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]]
| style="text-align: right" | 2,657
|-
| [[University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla]]
| [[Aguadilla]]
| style="text-align: right" | 2,018<ref>{{Cite web |title=Datos de Matricula |url=https://www.upr.edu/datos-institucionales/datos-de-matricula/ |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=Datos Institucionales |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| [[University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo]]
| [[Arecibo]]
| style="text-align: right" | 2,868
|-
| [[University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón]]
| [[Bayamón]]
| style="text-align: right" | 3,025
|-
| [[University of Puerto Rico at Carolina]]
| [[Carolina, Puerto Rico|Carolina]]
| style="text-align: right" | 2,533
|-
| [[University of Puerto Rico at Cayey]]
| [[Cayey]]
| style="text-align: right" | 2,291
|-
| [[University of Puerto Rico at Humacao]]
| [[Humacao]]
| style="text-align: right" | 2,634
|-
| [[University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez]]
| [[Mayagüez]]
| style="text-align: right" | 10,071
|-
| [[University of Puerto Rico at Ponce]]
| [[Ponce, Puerto Rico|Ponce]]
| style="text-align: right" | 2,206
|-
| [[University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus|University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras]]
| [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]]
| style="text-align: right" | 13,599
|-
| [[University of Puerto Rico at Utuado]]
| [[Utuado]]
| style="text-align: right" | 331<ref>{{Cite web |last=Menéndez Sanabria |first=Pedro |date=2022-09-01 |title=En caída libre la matrícula de los recintos de la Universidad de Puerto Rico |url=https://www.elvocero.com/educacion/universidades/en-ca-da-libre-la-matr-cula-de-los-recintos-de-la-universidad-de-puerto/article_9f83afa6-2996-11ed-9793-ab0f9223d6e4.html |access-date=2022-09-01 |website=El Vocero de Puerto Rico |language=es}}</ref>
|}

===Presidents===
{{col-list|colwidth=30em|
* 1966–1970: [[Jaime Benítez]]
* 1970–1973: [[Amador Cobas]]
* 1973–1976: [[Arturo Morales Carrión]]
* 1977–1984: [[Ismael Almodovar]]
* 1985–1990: [[Fernando Agrait]]
* 1990–1993: [[José M. Saldaña]]
* 1993–2001: [[Norman Maldonado]]
* 2001–2009: [[Antonio García Padilla]]
* 2010–2011: [[Jose Ramon de la Torre|José Ramón de la Torre]]
* 2011–2013: Miguel A. Muñoz
* 2014–2016: [[Uroyoán Walker]]
* 2019–2021: [[Jorge Haddock Acevedo]]
* 2022-2025: [[Luis A. Ferrao]]
* 2025-now: [[Zayira Jordán Conde]]
}}

===Campus radio===
The [[campus radio]] station is called "[[WRTU]] Radio Universidad de Puerto Rico", and it was established in 1980. This is a public radio station with diverse musical and news programming.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrtu.pr|title=Radio Universidad de Puerto Rico|access-date=29 May 2015}}</ref> Its broadcasts both in [[FM broadcasting|FM]] and online.

==Admissions==
UPR has the highest selectivity index of all colleges and universities in Puerto Rico,{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} it has also maintained a systemwide admission rate of 67% since 1997.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} Its enrollment rate has surpassed 90% during the past five academic years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Investors Resources |url=http://www.gdb-pur.com/investors_resources/presentations/UPR.pdf |website=www.gdb-pur.com}}</ref>{{full citation needed|date=September 2021}} In terms of tuition, the cost per credit is $157 per undergraduate credit and $300 per graduate credit.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-05 |title=UPR aprueba aumentar a $124 el crédito subgraduado |trans-title=UPR approves increase to $124 for undergraduate credits |url=https://www.primerahora.com/noticias/gobierno-politica/notas/upr-aprueba-aumentar-a-124-el-credito-subgraduado/ |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=[Primera Hora (Puerto Rico)] |language=es}}</ref> For perspective, in 2017 the undergraduate credit cost was $53 and the graduate credit cost was $172.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-03-28 |title=Cuál es el costo del crédito en las universidades de Puerto Rico |url=https://www.metro.pr/pr/noticias/2017/03/28/costo-creditos-universidades-puerto-rico.html |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=Metro Puerto Rico |language=es}}</ref> The cost of undergraduate credit is expected to rise until it reaches $177 in 2027.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Salamán |first=Adriana De Jesús |title=Aumento de matrícula a la vista en nuevo plan fiscal de la UPR |url=https://www.noticel.com/upr/educacion/ahora/top-stories/20210329/aumento-de-matricula-a-la-vista-en-nuevo-plan-fiscal-de-la-upr/ |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=Noticel |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-24 |title=Junta de Gobierno de la UPR da visto bueno a nuevo Plan Fiscal |url=https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/notas/junta-de-gobierno-de-la-upr-da-visto-bueno-a-nuevo-plan-fiscal/ |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=El Nuevo Día |language=es}}</ref>

In recent years, the University of Puerto Rico has experienced a decrease in student enrollment numbers. According to the university's reports, during the academic year 2009-2010, a total of 52,791 students were enrolled across all campuses. However, by the academic year 2014-2015, this number had decreased to 47,314 students, and in the academic year 2022-2023, the university had an enrollment of 44,233 students across its 11 campuses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Power BI |url=https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiZDFhMzgzMjktNDU1YS00M2U1LTg4MWEtYWEwNDIxOWVkNThmIiwidCI6IjBkZmE1ZGMwLTAzNmYtNDYxNS05OWU0LTk0YWY4MjJmMmI4NCIsImMiOjF9 |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=app.powerbi.com}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

==Research==
The university has a [[Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education|classification]] of "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".<ref>{{cite web |title=Carnegie Classifications Institution Lookup |url=https://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/lookup/view_institution.php?unit_id=243221 |publisher=Center for Postsecondary Education |website=carnegieclassifications.iu.edu |access-date=13 September 2020}}</ref>

On October 15, 2010, it was awarded over $25&nbsp;million from the [[National Science Foundation]] (NSF) to support research in [[nanotechnology]]. The organization within the University of Puerto Rico impacted is called Puerto Rico EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research). Since its creation 24 years ago, Puerto Rico EPSCoR has received over $180 million from NSF, NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of Defense.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elnuevodia.com/otorgan$27millonesparananotecnologia-798624.html |title=Home – El Nuevo Día |publisher=Elnuevodia.com |access-date=2013-02-11}}</ref>

On August 24, 2020, the university announced ten investigations for preventing and mitigating the spread of COVID-19 as part of $1.7 million the institution received from the local government.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UPR realiza 10 investigaciones para detener el Covid-19 {{!}} Educación {{!}} elvocero.com|url=https://www.elvocero.com/educacion/upr-realiza-10-investigaciones-para-detener-el-covid-19/article_0bedfbe8-e582-11ea-80d4-3763e8da4ac5.amp.html|access-date=2020-08-24|website=www.elvocero.com}}</ref>

==Rankings and notable facts==
{{Infobox university rankings
| QS_W = 801–1000 | QS_W_year = | QS_W_ref = <ref>{{cite web|title=QS World University Rankings 2020|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2020|website=Top Universities|access-date=13 August 2019}}</ref>
| THE_W = 801–1000 | THE_W_year = | THE_W_ref = <ref>{{cite web|title=THE World University Rankings 2020|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/university-puerto-rico|website=Times Higher Education University Rankings|access-date=14 September 2019}}</ref>
| QS_Latam = 40 | QS_Latam_year = | QS_Latam_ref = <ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-25|title=La UPR se coloca en la posición 40 de las mejores universidades de Latinoamérica|url=https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/notas/la-upr-se-coloca-en-la-posicion-40-de-las-mejores-universidades-de-latinoamerica/|access-date=2021-08-26|website=El Nuevo Día|language=es}}</ref>
}}

According to the QS world ranking 2022 published in 2021, the University of Puerto Rico ranks number 40 in Latin America having dropped from 37 in 2020, but still higher than previous rankings of 42 in 2018 and 62 in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-25|title=La UPR se coloca en la posición 40 de las mejores universidades de Latinoamérica|trans-title=The UPR ranked in the position 40 of the best universities of Latin America|url=https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/notas/la-upr-se-coloca-en-la-posicion-40-de-las-mejores-universidades-de-latinoamerica/|access-date=2021-08-26|website=[[El Nuevo Día]]|language=es}}</ref>

As a system, the University of Puerto Rico placed in the 800–1000 bracket in the 2018 edition of [[QS World University Rankings]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Universidad de Puerto Rico|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/universidad-de-puerto-rico|access-date=8 December 2017|website=Top Universities|publisher=Quacquarelli Symonds Limited}}</ref> Times Higher Education also ranks it in the 801–1000 bracket in the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=QS World University Rankings 2020|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2020|access-date=13 August 2019|website=Top Universities}}</ref> UPR was ranked among the best 20 universities in [[Latin America]] by SCImago ranking in 2010.<ref>[[College and university rankings#SCImago institutions rankings: 2009 world report]]</ref> The University of Puerto Rico ranked 18th and [[University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez]] ranked 78th by [[Webometrics Ranking of World Universities|Webometrics]] in Latin America.<ref name="webometrics2">{{cite web|title=Ranking Web of Universities, Latin America|url=https://www.webometrics.info/en/Latin_America|access-date=4 May 2021}}</ref> The UPR is the number one university in the Caribbean according to Webometrics.<ref name="webometricsCaribe2">{{cite web|title=Ranking Web of Universities, Caribbean|url=https://www.webometrics.info/en/Americas/Caribbean|access-date=4 May 2021}}</ref>

The system's only school of engineering at the Mayagüez campus is accredited by [[ABET]] and graduates more than 600 engineers per year. The school was chosen as the top engineering school for Hispanics by ''Hispanic Engineer & Information Technology Magazine''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hispanicengineer.com/Editorial/top%20schools.shtml |title=Schools |publisher=Hispanicengineer.com |access-date=2010-07-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328142121/http://www.hispanicengineer.com/Editorial/top%20schools.shtml |archive-date=March 28, 2010 }}</ref>

In 2020 the director of [[NASA]] grant consortium in Puerto Rico doctor Gerardo Moller, stated that 25% of the Hispanic employees hired by NASA are graduates of the UPR.<ref>{{Cite web|title=El 25% del personal hispano de NASA es egresado de la UPR|url=https://www.primerahora.com/noticias/puerto-rico/notas/el-25-del-personal-hispano-de-nasa-es-egresado-de-la-upr/|access-date=2020-08-24|website=Primera Hora|date=31 May 2020}}</ref>

Research activity, measured in terms of external funds received, has grown exponentially since 1985, doubling every five years. In 2007–2008 the UPR received over $87 million for research.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://acweb.upr.edu/vpit/facts/degrees.html/ |title= Vice President for Research and Technology|website=acweb.upr.edu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141130051210/http://acweb.upr.edu/vpit/facts/degrees.html/ |archive-date=November 30, 2014}}</ref>

==Notable alumni==
{{Main|List of University of Puerto Rico people}}

<gallery class="center" perrow="6">
File:Anibal Acevedo Vila.jpg|[[Aníbal Acevedo Vilá]], (BA 1982, JD 1985), 8th [[governor of Puerto Rico]] (2005-2009), U.S. Representative (Resident Commissioner), D-Puerto Rico (2001-2004),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=A000359|title=ACEVEDO-VILÁ, Aníbal - Biographical Information|access-date=29 May 2015}}</ref> State Representative, [[Puerto Rico House of Representatives|P.R. House of Representatives]] (1992-1999)
File:Speaker of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico, Hon. Jose Aponte.jpg|[[José Aponte Hernández|José Aponte]], (BBA 1980), State Representative, [[Puerto Rico House of Representatives]], (2001–present), 28th Speaker of the [[Puerto Rico House of Representatives]] (2005-2009)
File:Orlando.Figueroa.jpg|[[Orlando Figueroa]] (BS 1978), Director of the Mars Exploration Program in NASA
File:ADM Joxel Garcia.jpg|[[Joxel García]] (BS), former four-star admiral in the [[United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps|U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps]]. He served as [[Assistant Secretary for Health]] and currently serves as the president of the [[Ponce School of Medicine]]
File:Gonzalez Sanabria.jpg|[[Olga D. González-Sanabria]] (BS), is the highest ranking [[Hispanic]] at NASA [[Glenn Research Center]]
File:Rafael Hernández Colón, Former Governor of Puerto Rico.jpg|[[Rafael Hernández Colón]] (JD 1956), 4th [[governor of Puerto Rico]] first term (1973-1977), second term (1985-1993, State Senator, [[Puerto Rico Senate]] (1969-1973)
File:Hertell amb dom republic.jpg|[[Hans Hertell]] (JD), U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, (2001-2007).
File:McClontock.JPG|[[Kenneth McClintock]] (UHS, 1974, Undergraduate 1974–77), 22nd [[Secretary of State of Puerto Rico]], (2009-2013), 13th [[President of the Senate of Puerto Rico]], (2005-2008), State Senator, [[Senate of Puerto Rico]], (1993-2008), [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]] City Councilman (1990–93)
File:AAMGSiani.jpg|[[Antonio Mignucci]] (PhD 1996), a [[marine biologist|biological oceanographer]] specializing in the management and conservation of marine mammals
File:William A. Navas.jpg|[[William A. Navas, Jr.]] (BS 1965), the first Puerto Rican to be named an [[Assistant Secretary of the Navy]]
File:Carlos Romero Barcelo.jpg|[[Carlos Romero Barceló]] (JD 1956), U.S. Representative (Resident commissioner), D-Puerto Rico (1993-2000),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000417|title=ROMERO-BARCELÓ, Carlos A. - Biographical Information|access-date=29 May 2015}}</ref> 5th [[Governor of Puerto Rico]] (1977–1985), State Senator, [[Puerto Rico Senate]] (1986-1988), [[Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico]] (1969-1977)
File:Dr Pedro Rosello.jpg|[[Pedro Rosselló]] (MPH 1981), 6th [[Governor of Puerto Rico]] (1993–2001), State Senator, [[Puerto Rico Senate]] (2005-2008)
File:Nydia Velázquez.jpg|[[Nydia Velázquez]] (BA 1974), U.S. Representative, D-New York (1993–present)<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=V000081 Biographical information] from the Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress</ref>
File:Victoria Espinosa Torres.jpg|Former Professor of Theatre, who became known as "the 'grand dame' of Puerto Rican theatre"
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal bar|Puerto Rico|Education}}
* [[School of Tropical Medicine (Puerto Rico)|School of Tropical Medicine]]
* [[2010 University of Puerto Rico Strike]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{in lang|es}} [http://www.upr.edu Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025204756/http://www.upr.edu/ |date=2014-10-25 }}

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{{University of Puerto Rico}}
{{Colleges and Universities in U.S. Dependencies}}
{{Government-owned corporations of Puerto Rico}}

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[[Category:University of Puerto Rico| ]]
[[Category:Land-grant universities and colleges|Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1903]]
[[Category:1903 establishments in Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Public university systems in insular areas of the United States]]