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College comparison
Rice vs Williams
A side-by-side of acceptance rate, test scores, and cost — source-cited estimates, not guarantees. Want the number that actually matters for your student? Model your admit odds at each.
| Metric |  Rice Houston, TX |  Williams Williamstown, MA |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rateRice University is more selective | 8% | 8% |
| SAT (25–75) | 1510–1570 | 1490–1570 |
| ACT (25–75) | — | — |
| Undergrad enrollment | 4,776 | 2,076 |
| Avg net price | $13,370 | $17,716 |
| Median earnings (10 yr)Rice reports higher median earnings | $89,718 | $88,665 |
| Graduation rate | 95% | 94% |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $12,761 |
| Economic mobility | 1.6% | 1.0% |
| Test policy | — | — |
| Type | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
Rice vs Williams: how they compare
For an affluent, data-driven family, this is a choice between two elite, highly selective liberal arts institutions with different models for delivering exceptional undergraduate value.
By the numbers Both are equally selective (8% acceptance) with nearly identical standardized test bands (Rice 1510–1570, Williams 1490–1570) and graduation rates (~95%). The key financial and outcomes distinctions lie in value and stability. Rice demonstrates stronger economic mobility (160% vs. 99% at Williams), a significantly lower average net price ($13k vs. $18k), and thus a higher calculated value (6.7x vs. 5.0x earnings per dollar of net price). Rice also shows more predictable admissions (38% admit-rate volatility vs. 80% at Williams) and a notably higher future scholar yield (10.9). Williams counters with a perfect DOE financial health score (3.0/3), indicating exceptional institutional stability. Post-graduate earnings are virtually identical (~$90k median at 10 years).
Where they overlap They share a profound commitment to undergraduate teaching, evidenced by low student-to-faculty ratios and high graduation rates. Both are premier destinations for students seeking intense, faculty-led academic engagement in a close-knit community.
How they differ The core divergence is environment and academic scope. Rice is a research university in a major city (Houston), offering a wide array of STEM, engineering, and professional disciplines alongside the liberal arts, integrated with a vibrant residential college system. Williams provides a quintessential, intimate liberal arts experience in a rural college town, celebrated for its tutorial-based teaching and deep focus on the humanities and sciences without the backdrop of a large city or graduate schools.
Who each suits Rice suits the student who values a collaborative campus culture, desires access to city resources and research, and may be leaning toward STEM, engineering, or pre-professional paths within a tight-knit residential framework. Williams is ideal for the student who thrives in a quieter, more traditionally academic and secluded environment, prizes a purely undergraduate-focused liberal arts curriculum with tutorial instruction, and may have stronger interests in the humanities or pure sciences. The choice hinges on the preferred ecosystem for intellectual growth: a dynamic urban research hub or a pastoral academic enclave.
Quick answers
- Is Rice University or Williams College harder to get into?
- Rice University is more selective: Rice University's acceptance rate is approximately 8% and Williams College's is approximately 8% (estimates from public and primary sources).
- What SAT score do you need for Rice University vs Williams College?
- The middle-50% SAT range is 1510–1570 at Rice University and 1490–1570 at Williams College. Scores outside these bands are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
Figures are estimates compiled from public datasets (College Scorecard / IPEDS) and primary sources; verify with each institution before relying on them.
These outputs are estimates from a baseline model — not guarantees of admission, cost, or outcome.