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Rice University

private · Founded 1912 · Houston, TX

Acceptance Rate

7.90%

Enrollment

8,556

Tuition & Fees

$59,046

Graduation Rate

96.00%

Retention Rate

98.00%

Off-Campus Needed

2,053

Browse Apartments Near Rice

Rice Report Card

Letter grades compare this school against national university benchmarks.

Academics

Selectivity, test scores, retention, and faculty access.

A+
Raw z-score: 1.29

Value

Cost, aid, grants, and post-graduation earnings.

B-
Raw z-score: -0.92

Diversity

Economic access, geographic mix, and gender balance.

A
Raw z-score: 1.02

Location

Safety, walkability, transit, and student nightlife.

-
Insufficient data

Campus

Housing capacity, student body scale, and campus setting.

A-
Raw z-score: 0.10

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, employment, and earnings.

A+
Raw z-score: 1.13

Grades are benchmarked against national profile data. View methodology

Rice University is a leading private research university in Houston's Museum District, known for strong programs in engineering, natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. It consistently ranks among the top US universities and features a unique residential college system fostering a close-knit community on its 300-acre campus.

Can You Get Into Rice?

Rice admitted just 2,447 of 31,059 applicants — a 7.90% acceptance rate

Admissions Snapshot

Acceptance Rate7.90%
School
State avg

87% below state avg

Total Applicants31,059
Students Admitted2,447
Students Enrolled1,125
Yield Rate46.00%
School
State avg

61% above state avg

Test Scores (Middle 50%)

SAT Reading & Writing

730770

200800

SAT Math

770800

200800

ACT Composite

3436

136

Your odds at this school

Coming to Rice from out of state?

65% of freshmen aren't from Texas. If you're moving for Rice, start your housing search early — only 76.00% of students can live on campus.

Browse Housing Near Rice

What Will Rice Cost You?

Most students don't pay sticker price — 63.00% receive financial aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$58,128
School
National avg

9% below national avg

Fees$918
Room (on-campus)$10,400
Board (meal plan)$5,500
Total Cost of Attendance$74,946

Per-credit cost: $2,384 (part-time)

Financial Aid & Grants

Students receiving any aid63.00%
Average grant amount$50,264/yr

Your estimated net price

On-Campus vs. Off-Campus Housing Cost

Rice's on-campus room and board adds up to $15,900 per year ($1,325/month). Many students find that off-campus apartments offer more space, kitchen access, and flexibility — often at a lower monthly cost.

On-CampusOff-Campus (avg)
Annual Housing$10,400Varies
Monthly Equivalent$867/moSee listings
Meal Plan$5,500 (required)Flexible
Availability3,477 beds onlyHundreds of options

What Can You Study at Rice?

Most Popular Undergraduate Majors

1

Computer and Information Sciences, General.

158 graduates · 31.65% women

2

Biology/Biological Sciences, General.

70 graduates · 51.43% women

3

Mechanical Engineering.

65 graduates · 32.31% women

4

Economics, General.

59 graduates · 38.98% women

5

Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology.

52 graduates · 65.38% women

6

Psychology, General.

52 graduates · 71.15% women

7

Sport and Fitness Administration/Management.

47 graduates · 23.4% women

8

Neuroscience.

42 graduates · 54.76% women

9

Statistics, General.

40 graduates · 57.5% women

10

Cognitive Science, General.

35 graduates · 71.43% women

Your major at this school

Grad students need housing too

With 3,982 graduate students and only 3,477 total dorm beds, most grad students live off campus.

See Apartments Popular with Grad Students

What's It Like at Rice?

Houston, TX — city

Student Body

Total Enrollment8,556
Undergraduates4,574
Graduate Students3,982
Full-Time7,972 (93%)
Part-Time584 (7%)
Women44.00%

Where Freshmen Come From

Out-of-State
48%
Texas
35%
International
16%

From your state to this school

Student Demographics

White
26%
Asian
21%
Hispanic
13%
Black
7%
Two or More
4%
Not Reported
2%

Neighborhoods near Rice

Where students live around Rice University — vibe, walkability, and commute at a glance.

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How Does Rice Compare?

Institutional resources and student-faculty ratios

Student-Faculty Ratio

6:1

Peer Institutions

Schools that Rice reports as peers for academic and admissions benchmarking.

228778
228246
229267
228787

Will You Succeed at Rice?

98.00% of freshmen return for sophomore year — 96.00% graduate within 6 years

Graduation Rates

First-Year Retention98.00%
School
State avg

15% above state avg

4-Year Graduation Rate89.00%
5-Year Graduation Rate95.00%
6-Year Graduation Rate96.00%
School
State avg

40% above state avg

National Average (6-year)53%
Rice
96.00%
Natl Avg
53%

6-Year Graduation by Group

Asian Students99.00%
White Students95.00%
Black Students92.00%
Hispanic Students92.00%
Women97.00%
Men94.00%

Rice Reviews

Student perspectives on academics, campus life, and housing fit

Be the first student to review this university.

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2,053 Rice Students Need Off-Campus Housing

With 8,556 students and only 3,477 dorm beds, 24% of Rice students live off campus.

4,574

Undergraduates

3,982

Graduate Students

2,053

Need Off-Campus Housing

Data Sources: U.S. Department of Education IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics. University Apartments is not affiliated with Rice University.