Acceptance Rate
8%
Avg. SAT
1570
75th percentile
“Rice delivers intimate residential college life like Yale's, but sets you loose in Houston's explosive energy hub.”
Houston, TX
Location
Large City
Campus Setting
Founded in 1912 by Texas millionaire William Marsh Rice—who was poisoned by his valet in a plot uncovered after his death—the university rose from his estate's fortune to champion tuition-free education until the 1960s, when surging demand forced fees. You'll thrive here if you're intellectually voracious yet collaborative, drawn to quirky problem-solvers who geek out on everything from quantum physics to indie rock; the school's personality mixes Southern hospitality with nerdy ambition, fostering tight-knit bonds in its 11 Oxford-style residential colleges amid a lush, oak-draped 300-acre campus in Houston's Museum District. Tradeoffs hit hard: Houston's relentless humidity and sprawl mean you trade walkable college towns for a car-dependent city, but gain proximity to NASA's Johnson Space Center and the world's largest medical complex.
Photo Gallery
+30
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In Rice's classrooms, professors who chase breakthroughs—like nanoscale fabrication or sustainable energy—lead discussions in seminar-style settings where your voice shapes debates, thanks to a 6:1 student-faculty ratio that dwarfs even most Ivies and keeps average class sizes under 20. Engineering, architecture, and natural sciences dominate, with standouts like the George R. Brown School of Engineering churning out innovators amid hands-on labs, while the Shepherd School of Music rivals Juilliard for classical training; undergrads snag research gigs early, co-authoring papers that land in Nature. The intellectual culture rewards bold interdisciplinary leaps, say blending bioengineering with policy, but demands self-starters—there's no hand-holding in this research powerhouse where more selective admits (8.7% rate) push you harder than at 98% of U.S. colleges.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
4,789 undergrad • 4,172 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
26%
Black / African American
7%
Hispanic / Latino
13%
Asian
21%
Other / Multi-racial
32%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Houston, TX
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
You'll wake to college breakfasts in one of 11 fiercely loyal residential systems, each with its own government, pub, and mascot, fueling a social scene that's collaborative and whimsically chaotic—think Thursday college formals, intramural Beer Bike races where teams pedal keg-toting contraptions, or the infamous Baker 13 streaking dash at semester's end. A typical week blends rigorous classes with courtyard barbecues, a cappella jams, and escapes to Houston's Third Ward taquerias or Montrose dive bars; the vibe skews inclusive and low-drama, with 300+ clubs from quidditch to quantum computing. Challenges include sweltering summers that empty campus and a transient urban feel where lifelong friends form fast but locals eye you as transients—yet that insularity breeds unbreakable loyalty.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
American Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
Yes
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$5,578
$30K – $48K
$5,959
$48K – $75K
$6,320
$75K – $110K
$18,315
$110K+
$46,926
Apply for Financial Aid
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Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
97%
4 Years Graduation Rate
88%
6 Years Graduation Rate
93%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$89,718
97% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Rice University and return in the fall. 88% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 93% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
88%
4-6 years
5%
Non-grad
7%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$54,100
Acceptance
8%
Undergrads
4,789
4-Year Grad Rate
88%
Endowment
$4.8B
Houston, TX 77005-1827
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