National university
#5 Best colleges in AmericaRice University
Houston, TX · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $13,370 a year
Median debt at graduation: $11,000 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Upcoming admissions events
- Virtual Admission Information SessionOctober 29, 2026 · 4:00 PM · VirtualMore about Virtual Admission Information SessionAdd to calendar
- Virtual Academic Information Session - Virani Undergraduate School of BusinessNovember 3, 2026 · 6:00 PM · VirtualMore about Virtual Academic Information Session - Virani Undergraduate School of BusinessAdd to calendar
- Virtual Admission Information SessionNovember 10, 2026 · 4:00 PM · VirtualMore about Virtual Admission Information SessionAdd to calendar
- Virtual Academic Information Session - School of Social SciencesNovember 16, 2026 · 12:00 PM · VirtualMore about Virtual Academic Information Session - School of Social SciencesAdd to calendar
View all upcoming events (6 more) · From the college's admissions website.
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in America#1 of 950
- Best colleges for business in America#2 of 1,563
- Best colleges for psychology in America#3 of 1,418
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#3 of 1,358
- Best colleges for art and design in America#3 of 1,187
- Best colleges in America#5 of 1,829
Show 25 more
- Best colleges for English in America#4 of 1,283
- Best colleges for history in America#4 of 1,247
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#4 of 1,215
- Best test-optional colleges in America#5 of 1,481
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#4 of 1,162
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#4 of 1,116
- Best colleges for music in America#4 of 1,063
- Best mid-size colleges in America#3 of 667
- Best colleges for economics in America#4 of 788
- Best colleges for engineering in America#4 of 749
- Best value colleges in America#4 of 674
- Best value colleges in the South in America#1 of 153
- Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in America#3 of 367
- Lowest net price for middle-income families in America#6 of 682
- Colleges with the lowest student debt in America#11 of 684
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#33 of 1,829
- Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in America#13 of 690
- Best colleges under $20,000 a year in America#4 of 197
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in America#14 of 598
- Colleges with the best earnings for the price in America#16 of 681
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in America#20 of 704
- Colleges with the most faculty per student in America#21 of 704
- Most selective colleges in America#22 of 683
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in America#43 of 693
- Most affordable colleges with strong academics in America#43 of 690
In Texas
- Best colleges in Texas#1 of 85
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Texas#1 of 85
- Best colleges for business in Texas#1 of 79
- Best colleges for psychology in Texas#1 of 71
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Texas#1 of 68
- Best colleges for English in Texas#1 of 67
Show 24 more
- Best colleges for history in Texas#1 of 67
- Best colleges for mathematics in Texas#1 of 67
- Best test-optional colleges in Texas#1 of 65
- Best colleges for chemistry in Texas#1 of 63
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in Texas#1 of 63
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in Texas#1 of 62
- Best colleges for music in Texas#1 of 56
- Best colleges for art and design in Texas#1 of 54
- Best colleges for engineering in Texas#1 of 46
- Best mid-size colleges in Texas#1 of 35
- Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in Texas#1 of 26
- Best colleges for economics in Texas#1 of 24
- Best value colleges in Texas#1 of 20
- Best value colleges in the South in Texas#1 of 20
- Colleges with the best earnings for the price in Texas#1 of 20
- Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in Texas#1 of 20
- Colleges with the lowest student debt in Texas#1 of 20
- Lowest net price for middle-income families in Texas#1 of 20
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in Texas#1 of 20
- Most affordable colleges with strong academics in Texas#1 of 20
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Texas#1 of 17
- Most selective colleges in Texas#1 of 17
- Colleges with the most faculty per student in Texas#2 of 20
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in Texas#3 of 20
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.95%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.97%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,553 · ACT 34.5
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.6 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$47,816
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $79,788 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 4,574 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 50% · Women 50% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 14% |
| First-year students from another state IPEDS, fall 2023 | 58% |
| Total students | 8,556 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $13,370 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $79,788 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $11,000 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 95% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 89% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 90% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 87% |
| First-year retention | 97% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $89,718 |
| Admission rate | 8% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | $75 |
| Typical rent HUD fair market rent, FY2026 | About $1,323 a month for a one-bedroom |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 17% |
| Average SAT | 1553 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 740–770 |
| SAT math | 770–800 |
| ACT composite | 34–35 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Exceptional · Top 1% (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Computing and information science | |
| Electrical engineering | |
| Economics | |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | |
| Chemical Engineering | |
| Mechanical engineering | |
| Political science | |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | |
| Cognitive Science |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Anthropology, Applied mathematics, Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation, Architectural Sciences and Technology, Architecture, Area studies, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Biology, Business (general), Business administration, Chemistry, Civil engineering, Classical and Ancient Studies, Classics, Data Analytics, Ecology and evolutionary biology, Electrical and Computer Engineering, English, Ethnic and gender studies, Fine arts, Geology and earth science, German, Health sciences, History, Interdisciplinary studies, Linguistics, Management science, Mathematics, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Music, Nanotechnology, Natural resources and conservation, Neuroscience, Operations Research, Philosophy, Physics, Physiology and pathology, Psychology, Public Policy Analysis, Religious studies, Romance languages, Social sciences, Sociology, Statistics, Visual and performing arts.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Engineering | |
| Biology | |
| Computer and information sciences | |
| Social sciences | |
| Mathematics and statistics |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | City |
| Part-time undergraduates | 2% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 0% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $18,100 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · American Athletic Conference |
| ROTC | Army · Navy · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 6 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 9%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 84%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $939,559IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 76% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)About 9 miles away · about 30 minutes by car |
| Town population | 2,328,253Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | HoustonAbout 5 miles away · about 20 minutes by car |
| Typical weather | 54°F in January · 85°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Houston-Port, TX, about 8 miles away |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.45 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.07 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.71 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 2.23 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Rice University’s Compass Score?
- Exceptional (grade A+). It ranks in the top 1% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Rice University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $13,370 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Rice University?
- Rice University admitted 8% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Rice University’s graduates do?
- 95% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $89,718; the median federal debt at graduation is $11,000.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 227757
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (very high research)
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges d.b.a. Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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