The University of Puerto Rico in Arecibo was founded in 1967 under the name Arecibo Regional College. It began its operations in August of that same year with an enrollment of 515 students and a faculty of 28 professors. In the year 1974 the present dependencies were inaugurated, that are located in a property of over 50 cuerdas in the Barrio Hato Abajo, Sector Hoyo Los Santos, Highway 653, Km 0.8, Arecibo, Puerto Rico. That same year, the College was accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) for the first time.
After thirteen years of existence as a Regional College, the Council of Higher Education (CES) of Puerto Rico, in its Certification Number 23 of the 1980-81 Series, authorized the conversion to the Technological University College of Arecibo (CUTA). With this change in the collegiate academic focus, the baccalaureate offerings were extended.
The 1st ro. July 1998, through Certification Number 151 of the Series 1997-98, and in accordance with the provisions of Law 16 of June 16, 1993, the Board of Trustees of the University of Puerto Rico agreed to grant institutional autonomy to the CUTA, which then became the University College of Arecibo (CUA). Through Certification No. 2000-205, it agreed to authorize the start of the change of name of the CUA by the University of Puerto Rico in Arecibo (UPRA).
Finally, the Board of Trustees approved on March 9, 2000, through Certification number 103 of the 1999-2000 Series, the new name designation scheme for the CUA to be called UPRA.
Currently, the University of Puerto Rico in Arecibo has an enrollment of 3,693 students and a faculty of 266 teachers approximately. It offers 14 Baccalaureate programs, 3 Associated Degree programs and 44 Articulated Transfer programs.
In June 2011, the MSCHE reaffirmed the accreditation of the university. The license of the Board of Education of Puerto Rico (Certification No. 2007-097 PRCHE) was also obtained. The Institutional Profile provides a brief X-ray of our Institution.