Rice vs Southern Methodist
What each college publishes, side by side. Cost, admission, graduation, earnings and debt come from federal data.
A+Compass Score: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.Rice UniversityHouston, TXCompass Score: Exceptional · Top 1%ACompass Score: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TXCompass Score: Exceptional · Top 9%
At a glance
- Rice has the higher graduation rate: 95% against 84% at Southern Methodist.
- For families earning $48,001 to $75,000, Rice has the lower price after aid: $3,217 a year, against $24,152 at Southern Methodist.
- Rice has the lower average price after aid: $13,370 a year, against $40,892 at Southern Methodist.
Scores
Compass Score
A+Compass Score: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 1%
ACompass Score: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 9%
Academic Excellence
A+Academic Excellence: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 1%
AAcademic Excellence: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 5%
Value
A+Value: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 1%
C+Value: Solid (grade C+): below the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.
The college
Category
National universities
National universities
Location
Houston, TX
Dallas, TX
Setting
City
Suburb
Students
8,556
11,842
Sports
NCAA Division I · American Athletic Conference
NCAA Division I · Atlantic Coast Conference
Admission
Admission rate
8%
63%
Average SAT
1553
1428
ACT middle 50%
34–35
30–34
Outcomes
Graduation rate
95%
84%
First-year retention
97%
91%
Median earnings 10 years after entry
$89,718
$78,354
Median debt
$11,000
$19,500
Cost
Average price after aid
$13,370
$40,892
Price after aid, by family income
Up to $30,000
$5,827
$23,544
$30,001–$48,000
$563
$20,038
$48,001–$75,000
$3,217
$24,152
$75,001–$110,000
$17,755
$33,477
Over $110,000
$48,466
$58,213
Top majors by graduate earnings
Bachelor's majors
- Computing and information science $182,443
- Electrical engineering $136,656
- Economics $129,575
- Biomedical/Medical Engineering $121,099
- Chemical Engineering $113,605
- Finance $133,852
- Computer science $126,590
- Mathematics $111,773
- Business administration $106,799
- Accounting $103,675
Compare with another college
The Compass Score and grades are College Compass Guide’s own ratings. Cost, admission, graduation, earnings and debt are federal data. This comparison doesn’t rank the two colleges; the figures are shown as published.