Admit rate has ranged 8%–11% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Rice University is a powerhouse of intimate, collaborative learning nestled in Houston's urban sprawl, where a 6:1 student-faculty ratio fuels rigorous academics without the cutthroat pressure of its Ivy peers. With a 96% graduation rate and a median early-career salary of $110K, Rice delivers elite outcomes wrapped in a quirky, residential college system that students describe as 'the happiest in the country.'
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Letters of recommendation
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Grade point average
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
4,776
In-state tuition
$64,144
Out-of-state tuition
$64,144
Acceptance Rate
7.99% (2024-25)
Graduation Rate
96%
Residential Colleges
11
Student-Faculty Ratio
6:1
Median Early-Career Salary
$110K
Average Financial Aid Package
$71,698
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$89,718
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
6.7×
Median debt at graduation
$11,000
Graduation rate
95%
First-year retention
97%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
87%
Pell (lower-income) share
48%
First-generation share
14%
Endowment / student
$1,660,764
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer and Information Sciences, General$129,481
Mathematics$97,071
Business Administration, Management and Operations$89,530
Chemical Engineering$83,915
Statistics$79,450
Economics$72,884
Civil Engineering
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
16
Per 1,000 students
3.35
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
98
Summer high
92°F
Winter low
48°F
Annual rain
73.1"
Natural-hazard risk
Very High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
931
Scholarly works
82,395
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Future-scholar output
Science & engineering PhDsper-capita yield 10.9
Share of this school’s graduates who go on to earn research doctorates (2010–20), by national rank and per-capita yield (NSF institutional-yield ratio). A signal of a research-oriented student culture — not a causal promise, since it partly reflects who enrolls. Only top producers appear. Source: NSF NCSES, Baccalaureate Origins of U.S. Research Doctorate Recipients.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.6%
Bottom → top quintile
49%
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Rice University?
Rice University's acceptance rate is approximately 8% (Houston, TX), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Rice University?
Admitted students at Rice University typically score 1510–1570 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Rice University cost?
At Rice University, the average net price (after aid) is about $13,370 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Rice University?
Rice University enrolls approximately 4,776 undergraduate students.
Where is Rice University located?
Rice University is located in Houston, TX.
Admissions
Rice's admissions are fiercely competitive, with a 7.99% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. for the 2024-2025 cycle — one of its lowest ever. The middle 50% SAT range for admitted students is 1510-1560, with ACT composites typically between 34-36. Early Decision applicants saw a slight bump in success, with 447 admitted in the Class of 2030 cycle. Rice evaluates applicants holistically but clearly prioritizes academic rigor: Reddit threads reveal admitted students often have near-perfect test scores (e.g., 1580 SAT) and GPAs above 4.0.
Rice offers 50+ undergraduate majors across six divisions, with particular strength in engineering, natural sciences, and architecture. The 6:1 student-faculty ratio enables unusually close mentorship — Princeton Review notes science labs are 'taught with a level of personal attention rare at top research universities.' The curriculum emphasizes collaboration over competition; one Quora reviewer highlights the 'highly intelligent and respected professors' who actively engage with undergraduates. Interdisciplinary programs like the famed Shepherd School of Music and Jones Graduate School of Business (offering a BA/MBA track) allow ambitious students to cross traditional academic boundaries.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$71,957
Mechanical Engineering$68,219
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
From bottom quintile
3%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Rice's 11 residential colleges form the backbone of campus culture, fostering tight-knit communities where 99% of students report feeling 'extremely safe.' The university consistently ranks among the happiest student bodies, thanks to traditions like Beer Bike (an annual bike race between colleges) and O-Week, a immersive orientation. Reddit threads describe a culture of 'kindness and respect' where students balance rigorous academics with quirky traditions — think midnight breakfasts during finals and public pillow fights on the academic quad. Houston's amenities (museums, NASA, a thriving food scene) provide endless off-campus exploration.
Six months post-graduation, 53% of Rice alumni are employed, 33% pursue advanced degrees, and median earnings hit $110K within three years (per Forbes). The 96% graduation rate — with near-parity between genders (94% male, 97% female) — reflects Rice's exceptional student support. STEM graduates dominate employment data, but even humanities majors benefit from Rice's strong Houston corporate ties. The university's ROI is exceptional: graduates typically recoup their $133K net cost in 3.5 years, with 10-year median earnings of $89,718.
At $71,140 for tuition (2026-27), Rice isn't cheap, but its need-blind admissions and 'Rice Investment' program ensure accessibility. Families earning <$75K pay no tuition, those under $140K get full tuition coverage, and incomes up to $200K qualify for at least half-tuition grants. 45% of students receive aid, with average packages of $71,698 — often covering 100% of demonstrated need without loans. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. for aided students averages $20,587, making Rice surprisingly affordable for middle-income families compared to peers.
Rice merges the academic firepower of an elite research university (think: Nobel-winning faculty and $156M in annual research expenditures) with the communal warmth of a small liberal arts college. Its residential college system — more cohesive than Yale's or Harvard's — creates instant belonging, while Houston's energy industry and Texas Medical Center offer unparalleled internships. Unlike northeastern peers, Rice couples Southern hospitality with an 'unpretentious genius' vibe: students here are as likely to debate quantum physics in a campus coffeehouse as they are to two-step at Houston's rodeo.
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