Rice University (Houston, TX) — Cost, Earnings & Admissions

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $12,640491st cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $58,1281,924th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $58,1281,924th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $74,1101,858th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $11,000137th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $89,71873rd highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $79,75163rd highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 95.7%34th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 97.6%76th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 7.9%23rd most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: 15532nd highest of 1,024 reporting
Median ACT: 351st highest of 954 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates: 4,562530th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 6.0:195th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 16.1%1,892nd highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 19 mi (IAH)

On 9 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Applying

EDNov 1
ED IIJan 4
RDJan 4

Common App member: Yes
Application fee: $75
Personal essay: Required
Writing supplement: Yes

Supplemental prompts (2025-26)

1. Please explain why you wish to study in the academic areas you selected. 150 word limit.
2. Based upon your exploration of Rice University, what elements of the Rice experience appeal to you? 150 word limit.
3. Please respond to one of the following prompts to explore how you will contribute to the Rice community:
The Residential College System is at the heart of Rice student life and is heavily influenced by the particular cultural traditions and unique life experiences each student brings. What life experiences and/or unique perspectives are you looking forward to sharing with fellow Owls in the residential college system? 500 word limit.
Rice is strengthened by its diverse community of learning and discovery that produces leaders and change agents across the spectrum of human endeavor. What perspectives shaped by your background, experiences, upbringing, and/or cultural identity inspire you to join our community of change agents at Rice? 500 word limit.

Source: Aristotle Circle 2025-26 supplemental prompt roundup

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 46 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralComputer Science	bachelors	$144,240	$129,481
StatisticsMathematics & Statistics	bachelors	$119,061	$79,450
Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringEngineering	bachelors	$79,450	—
EconomicsSocial Sciences	bachelors	$77,715	$72,884
Chemical EngineeringEngineering	bachelors	$73,635	$83,915
Biomedical/Medical EngineeringEngineering	bachelors	$69,338	$52,107
Mechanical EngineeringEngineering	bachelors	$67,660	$68,219
Civil EngineeringEngineering	bachelors	$66,653	$71,957
Cognitive ScienceMultidisciplinary Studies	bachelors	$45,529	—
History	bachelors	$41,565	$49,840
SociologySocial Sciences	bachelors	$33,993	$39,009
English Language and Literature, GeneralEnglish Language & Literature	bachelors	$33,446	$46,087

Campus facts

Founded in 1891source
Motto: "Letters, Science, Art"source
Athletic nickname: "Owls"source
Mascot: Sammy the Owlsource
Rice Stadium seats about 47,000source
Competes in NCAA Division Isource
Campus size: about 300 acressource
Athletic conference: Americansource
A [[National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program institutionsource
A space-grant]]}} institutionsource
Football rivalry: Baylor–Rice (since 1914)source
Plays for the "Bayou Bucket" (since 1971)source
Plays for the "Mayor's Cup" (since 1916)source
Football rivalry: Rice–Texas (since 1914)source
2 Nobel laureates affiliatedsource
Fight song: ""Rice Fight Song""source
Notable alum: Peggy Whitson (NASA astronaut; former ISS commander)source
Notable alum: Robert Curl (Nobel Prize in Chemistry)source
Notable alum: Howard Hughes (Aviator, engineer, and film producer)source

Athletics — 9 sports

NCAA Division I-FBS · NCAA Division I

Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $19,965,395 (M $12,535,937 · W $7,429,458)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.

Notable alumni

Peggy WhitsonNASA astronaut; former ISS commander
Robert CurlNobel Prize in Chemistry
Howard HughesAviator, engineer, and film producerattended

Illustrative alumni only — not exhaustive and not a quality ranking. Affiliation claims cite Wikipedia/Wikidata; confirm on primary bios before relying on them.