Founded in 1912, Rice University. is a Private college. Located in Texas, which is a city setting in Texas, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 3,893 full time undergraduate students, and 2,962 full time graduate students.
The Rice University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 6:1. There are 671 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Rice University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
15%
Application Deadline
1-Nov
Application Fee
75
SAT Range
1410-1570
ACT Range
32-35
Admissions at are considered Most Selective, with ,31% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 5 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
100% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 97% were in the top quarter, and 90% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Rice University.
14%
“We”re apathetic”
42%
“We know about current events and vote”
40%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
4%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
6%
“We save it for the classroom”
9%
“Sometimes, but not often”
48%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
36%
“All the time, including weekends”
1%
“I”m always terrified”
8%
“I only go out in groups”
26%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
65%
“I feel extremely safe”
17%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
66%
“We bought the gear”
17%
“We live for the big game”
1%
“It”s not really our thing”
35%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
58%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
6%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
1%
“Available in class”
47%
“They keep regular office hours”
52%
“They”re always available”
92%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
4%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
4%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
3%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
9%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
60%
“We only party on weekends”
29%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
18%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
64%
“There might be people who do”
18%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
0%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
14%
“We”re apathetic”
42%
“We know about current events and vote”
40%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
4%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
6%
“We save it for the classroom”
9%
“Sometimes, but not often”
48%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
36%
“All the time, including weekends”
1%
“I”m always terrified”
8%
“I only go out in groups”
26%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
65%
“I feel extremely safe”
17%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
66%
“We bought the gear”
17%
“We live for the big game”
1%
“It”s not really our thing”
35%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
58%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
6%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
1%
“Available in class”
47%
“They keep regular office hours”
52%
“They”re always available”
92%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
4%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
4%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
74 Students rated on-campus housing 3.9 stars. 24 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
43 Students rated off-campus housing 3.9 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
75 Students rated campus food 3.7 stars. 20 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
75 Students rated campus facilities 4.5 stars. 52 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
75 Students rated class size 4.3 stars. 48 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
74 Students rated school activities 4.2 stars. 42 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
74 Students rated local services 4.1 stars. 38 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
74 Students rated academics 4.5 stars. 61 % gave the school a 5.0.
Rice University REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of Rice University?
33 Students rated Rice University
Gabriela
Rice is like that super smart kid in high school who's somehow also really cool and chill. Tucked away in Houston's Museum District, it's got this gorgeous campus that looks like Hogwarts met Texas – think beautiful old buildings with archways everywhere, surrounded by live oaks and lots of green space where students actually hang out and study.
The school's pretty small, which means your professors actually know your name. The academics are no joke – it's up there with the Ivy Leagues, especially for engineering, architecture, and natural sciences. But here's what makes Rice different: it's way less cutthroat than you'd expect for a top school. There's this thing called the "Culture of Care" that students actually take seriously – imagine that, super smart people who aren't trying to sabotage each other!
The social life is surprisingly fun (not just nerds in labs, though there's plenty of that too). The residential college system is like Hogwarts houses but with better food – each college has its own culture and traditions. And get this – Rice kids party in what they call "publics," which are basically college-wide parties that sometimes involve turning their commons into foam pits or beach parties.
The biggest downsides? Houston's humidity will make you question all your life choices (seriously, the struggle is real), and sometimes the small size means you'll see your ex everywhere. Also, while Houston's got amazing food and culture, you definitely need a car to really explore it.
Cost-wise, it's expensive like any private university, but Rice is actually pretty generous with financial aid, which is a huge plus.
Rice is like the best of both worlds – elite academics without the elite attitude, plus a genuine community vibe that's hard to fake. It's not for everyone (what school is?), but for the right person (me), it's pretty much perfect.
Ariel
I personally think that rice university has a beautiful campus. It is very diverse and in very good location in Houston near the museum district. The people are so nice, when me and my mother were visiting the campus, we were confused on where to go, so we asked a lot of students walking by, if they could help us, and they were more than willing. Rice offers so many different opportunities for undergrads and creates a safe environment, where you don't feel like you have to figure it all out, right away as a freshman. So my over all opinion of Rice, is it is a place with a great environment because of the people, and a lot of great opportunities.
Jody
Based on my exploration of Rice, the most appealing thing to me is the campus diversity. Being surrounded by people of different ethnic groups. The aspect of having the opportunity to interact with people from different backgrounds and cultures. Knowing that I’m surrounded by different people who I will get the privilege to learn together ,grow together and support each other.
Lan
good good good
Marianelly
I like this University for being so diverse and open to every community to make it feel like if they were at home. I like how everyone can be involved in everything and can be able to meet new people and create new experiences. I like that they support each other in case that someone needs help.
Sarah
If you want to be an engineer, computer scientist, or doctor, few schools rival Rice. Plenty of opportunities for the social sciences. If you want to study art or theater, you're better off at UT Austin. Rice is extremely insular and the residential college system isn't for everyone. I recommend resisting the urge to stay on campus all the time. Houston is a wonderful city with a lot to see.
Viviana
From the moments you drive under the arching trees to standing in the middle of the George R. Brown School of Engineering, it does not only feel like you're living in a surreal moment. Honestly what really made me fall in love with Rice is that everyone who I've spoken to is incredibly welcoming, friendly, and driven. You truly feel the sense of community. Like I previously said, people here are driven and have strong academic prowess, yet the idea of collaborative work is naturally practiced by everyone. I highly encourage this school. I love Rice.
Jin
Rice is a great school and is considered the Ivy League of the South! The students and teachers are friendly and go out of their way to help you. The academics are challenging but most professors are helpful and hold office hours. The residential college system is great; as a transfer student or incoming freshmen, upperclassmen, magisters, RA's, and HRF's are there to welcome you into their college. Rice is also close to the Texas Medical Center and the Museum District, which means there are many opportunities for internships and jobs in the medical field as well as fun places to explore in Houston!
Celeste
Amazing University with many opportunities for research. I love the feeling I get when I am around other students. Everyone is so welcoming and warm-hearted. I fit right in and no one is afraid to be a little quirky. The professors are also really open and I feel like there is only healthy competition around here.
Amanda
When I first got to Rice, I'll be honest, it was nothing like how I expected it to be, and not in a good way. For instance, there are traditions I thought were weird and wasn't a huge fan of (i.e., O-Week, Baker 13, Beer Bike, Room Jack, etc.) and limited major choices since it's a relatively small and predominantly STEM school; it wasn't nearly as diverse as the high school I was coming from; our dining halls (known as “serveries”) are open during very rigid hours; everyone on campus is required to have the same full meal plan, and the quality of your on-campus housing, laundry facilities, and when/whether you’re required to live off campus is entirely dependent on which of the 11 residential colleges you’re randomly assigned to when you first arrive. But now that my time at Rice is almost over, I've come to appreciate many of its quirks and have realized that ultimately it's a campus where the quality of your experience is determined by how much you're willing to invest in it. There are tons of resources and opportunities students can take advantage of both on campus and in the wider Houston community--ones that I’ll admit likely wouldn't have been available to me at other institutions. Despite the academic rigor of classes and the seemingly constant stress that Rice students are under, the school has grown on me tremendously, and I genuinely think it’s a good place to be. Why? Because Rice is known for its culture of care, something that’s evidenced by the fact that the university truly does its best to provide for and take care of its students. You can receive academic support from the staff at Student Success Initiatives and free counseling and 24/7 emotional support from the Wellbeing Center. You can get your resume reviewed, a free professional headshot, and receive career guidance and help with finding and applying to internships at the Center for Career Development; you can improve your leadership skills through individual and group leadership training at the Doerr Institute, through the Rice IMPACT program or the Center for Civic Engagement; and you can lean on the group of 6 adults--known collectively as the A-Team and comprised of your college magisters and residential advisors--that live at your specific residential college.
Rice’s culture of care also extends to peer-to-peer relationships. While Rice does allow students to serve as your typical TA or tutor, students at Rice can also serve in a variety of other roles in which they can contribute to the overall well-being or success of members of the Rice community--whether that’s by being a Peer Academic Advisor, Peer Career Advisor, Study Abroad Ambassador, STRIVE (Students Transforming Rice Into a Violent-Free Environment) Liaison, Residential Health Advisor, leadership facilitator, or Rice EMT. Students can also serve in various student government positions at the residential college or university level (i.e., Honor Council, University Court, and the Student Association) to further support their peers and make meaningful changes on Rice’s campus.
And if being in an extracurricular activity without holding a fancy title or position is more your style, you can choose from over 100 registered student organizations to join that span pretty much any interest, topic or hobby you can think of. Plus, if you ever change your mind about adopting a leadership role, you can always take on one within an existing organization or create your own club. You can also create and teach your own college classes as an undergrad and enroll in the courses taught by your fellow peers for college credit.
There are probably so many more opportunities and resources I’m failing to mention, but the point is, I feel like Rice really does have something for everyone, even if it may not be obvious at first or takes you longer to find your footing like it did for me. Despite the fact I will be transferring at the end of this semester to pursue a major in Communications, I can honestly say that I've grown so much as a person while attending Rice, and I think that's all anyone can really ever ask for from their college experience.
Julia
Rice University is amazing! Although the intro classes can be large (the largest I have heard of was 200 people), many of my major-specific classes are quite small (less than 20 people). This makes the professors extremely accessible. Rice also has a really active student body. Students are encouraged to learn about a variety of issues and advocate for what is important to them.
Lemuel
It feels like a place that I truly belong in. The atmosphere is calming and enriching, and since it is in a big city, there are many entertainment venues available. Rice University is a place where you can express yourself without being judged, and I enjoy an environment like that. Overall, Rice University is a great school and I hope to attend someday.
Stephen
I came to know this school as a place for unique individuals who strive to push themselves farther, it is a competitive school but one comes to realize that the competition is more internal than external. I appreciate that aspect of this school the most, their focus is on the students and even though they used to be a segregated school their diversity as well as overall student support is significant.
Olivia
I'm so so glad I chose Rice over other top universities. It may not be as well known in the northeast (yet), but it has the perfect blend of stellar academics and friendly community. Everyone here is so nice and welcoming and there are numerous events throughout the year to take your mind off of studying!
Wendy
Rice university is a very nice place, I like how everyone is treated there. The teachers, the principal, and students are all very friendly and welcoming. The campus is a calm and clean place. I would love to attend the school sometime in the future.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Rice University is 15%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
Describe the students at your school.
Rice students are very studious and serious about their work. That said, many are too serious about partying too. Orientation week can be an opportunity to meet friends that you will have for your entire life, but if you are placed into the wrong orientation group or you don't like the social atmosphere at your "college," you may find yourself feeling isolated and be left without the resources to meet others and make new friends.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
My college experience has shown me how responsible I've become and has increased my knowledge of real-world things. It has been very valuable to attend because as a young adult I am transitioning from depending on my parents to depending on myself. College has helped me do this. In regards to school, I rely on myself to decide what classes I should take. This transition is making me make more life decisions that I usually would rely on my parents to make.
I like that the school is small, but by senior year it can feel to small. Especially if you have a tough breakup in a relationship it is very hard to avoid the ex. The campus is beautiful and I think its great htat so many people live on campus and it is so easy to have and go to parties. I was happy overall with Rice administration. Overall students are pretty apathetic about alot of issues and I wouldnt say the student body is as smart or goal oriented as I had imagined. Not sure if that is a bad or a good thing.
Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?
In some ways yes. There may be a certain level of social immaturity on campus, but it isn't alway present. People do work, but not everyone is a workaholic. People like to party, but again there is quite a variety. I think overall the average person is rather similar: Smart, driven but not psycho, nice.
Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.
Rice is a small university (in some ways resembling a liberal arts college but with good engineering and natural sciences) that is strong academically and has a quirky/interesting student body.
What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?
The worst thing about my school is the lack of options for a meal plan. Currently, Rice offers one meal plan for all students: 19 meals per week - 3/day on weekdays and 2/day on Saturdays and Sundays. As a person who likes to explore a city and discover new restaurants, it would be nice to have an option for fewer meals per week because I would be able to go out to restaurants in the area and not feel guilty about spending money on a meal that I have previously paid for on campus.
My school is best known for cutting-edge engineering and nanotechnology research. We get grants and awards for our work in nanotechnology and I've had classes with professors considered to be the leading innovators in nanotechnology. The school of engineering is very large, but doesn't overwhelm the other academic disciplines in my mind. Socially, we're known for our residential college system that greatly encourages students to make friends with all kinds of people.
What kind of person should not attend this school?
Rice accepts a diverse range of people from all over the world, but it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to be here. A person who is not willing to keep up a strong work ethic and maintain discipline should not attend Rice; also, someone who is not willing to keep an open mind regarding new ideas or cultures would not be recommended to attend Rice.
What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?
I think it would have been nice to know about the partying scene prior to coming to school in that it was a lot more intense than I had imagined it to be. However, both drinkers and non-drinkers are at ease at parties and if you are a non-drinker, you will never be pressured to drink by your peers, which is another wonderful thing about Rice students.
Where is the best place to get work done on campus?
There are a lot of places to get work done on campus, it depends what time of atmosphere you would like. Fondren library is probably the most popular. There are 6 floors at Fondren, and each has a different feel to it. First and second have a lot more socializing going on, so if you don't mind talking while working that's the place for you. The top floor has a beautiful view of the academic quad and is a lounge for the undergraduates, with cubbies, tables, and couches. The coffeehouse is another popular place to get some work done and also grab some great drinks!
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
67% of students attending Rice University receive some sort of financial aid.
15% were awarded federal grants.17%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.
