Rice University
#1 Best Colleges in Texas- Graduation Rate
- 95% A+
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $89,718 A+
- Top 2% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $13,370 C+
- 22% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 8% A+
- Rejects about 92 of every 100 applicants
Bottom line: A A- overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 38.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $38.4 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Colleges in Texas.
Every $1 spent returns $38.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,002,476.
What The Data Says
-
An A- overall — top 15% of all U.S. colleges on measured outcomes.
-
Graduates earn 120% more than the national college median.
-
A 95% graduation rate — 67% above the national average.
-
Inventor rate in the top 9% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.
-
A top feeder school for 8 major employers.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 3.4%
- Top 9%
- Patents
- 143
- Linked to graduates
- World Rank
- #47
- Times Higher Education
- Employer Pipelines
- 8
- Top feeder programs
- Patent Citations
- 53
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 51/100
- Times Higher Education
Why Rice University Matters
Rice University is a private research university in Houston, TX ranked #47 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by exceptional admissions selectivity, a top-tier research enterprise, an unusually high rate of inventors and patents, and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 2% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 4,776
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Biology & Biomedical, Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Social Sciences
Why students choose Rice University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Highly selective — admits about 8% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1510–1570. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $13,370 a year after grants and scholarships — 22% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $89,718 ten years after enrolling — 120% above the typical college, against $11,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 43% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.86 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of just 8%, Rice University attracts driven students who are eager to excel academically and socially. This private nonprofit institution in Houston is ideal for those interested in fields like Engineering, Biology, Computer Science, and Mathematics. The strong graduation rate of 95% speaks volumes about the supportive environment here, where students are encouraged to dive deep into their studies and collaborate across disciplines.
Graduates from Rice see impressive earnings, with a median salary of $89,718 just ten years after finishing their degree. This figure is significant because it highlights the school's effectiveness in preparing students for successful careers. While 17% of students rely on Pell Grants, the overall affordability of education here, combined with the strong salary potential, makes it a viable option for many.
When it comes to the practical side of things, the net price after aid is around $13,370, and the median debt for graduates is relatively low at $11,000. These numbers suggest that students can graduate with manageable debt, which is a big plus in today’s economy. Those who thrive here are often collaborative, ambitious, and ready to engage with a diverse community, making the most of the excellent academic resources available to them.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Rice University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Rice University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Houston, Texas, Rice University turns away the vast majority of its applicants. The acceptance rate is 8%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,553. The graduation rate is roughly 95%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 8%
- Retention Rate
- 97%
- SAT Average
- 1553
- ACT Midpoint
- 35
- SAT Range
- 1510–1570
- ACT Range
- 34–35
- Full-Time Faculty
- 84%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $18,454
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 6:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.80
- First-Gen Students
- 14%
- Applicants
- 31,443
- Admitted
- 2,730
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Rice University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 44% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school many admits weigh against other offers.
- Yield Rate
- 44%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 48%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 22%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Early Decision Admit Rate
- 16.8%
- vs 8.0% overall
Applying early pays off here. Of 3,087 Early Decision applicants, 519 were admitted — a 16.8% admit rate, roughly 2.1× the 8.0% rate for the overall pool. That binding round alone filled about 45% of the entering class (519 of 1,148 first-years). The catch: Early Decision is a commitment you make before you can compare aid offers.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Rice University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Rice University is $64,144, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $13,370. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,827 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $64,144
- Out-of-State
- $64,144
- Avg Net Price
- $13,370
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 17%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 6%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $5,827
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $563
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $3,217
- Family Income $110K+
- $48,466
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Rice University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Rice University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Rice University earn a median of $89,718, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $79,751
- 8 Years
- $78,690
- 10 Years
- $89,718
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.12x
- Earning > $25K
- 80%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (803)
- 85%
- 100% (803)
- 85%
- 100% (803)
- 85%
- 100% (803)
- 85%
Where Grads Go
Rice University is a top feeder for:
- #3 Dell Technologies
- #3 ExxonMobil
- #5 Morgan Stanley
- #5 JP Morgan Chase
- #5 AT&T
- #8 Microsoft
- #10 Bain & Company
- #12 Boston Consulting Group
Rank among programs feeding each employer.
Top employers of Rice University’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.
- Barclays Global Markets ✓ VerifiedFinance & banking · Class of 2025
- Citigroup Banking ✓ VerifiedFinance & banking · Class of 2025
- JP Morgan Chase ✓ VerifiedFinance & banking · Class of 2025
- Morgan Stanley ✓ VerifiedFinance & banking · Class of 2025
- RBC Capital Markets ✓ VerifiedFinance & banking · Class of 2025
- McKinsey & Company ✓ VerifiedConsulting · Class of 2025
- Boston Consulting Group ✓ VerifiedConsulting · Class of 2025
- Infosys Consulting ✓ VerifiedConsulting · Class of 2025
- Bain & Company ✓ VerifiedConsulting · Class of 2025
- Deloitte ✓ VerifiedConsulting · Class of 2025
- Amerapex Corporation ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- CenterPoint Energy ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Chevron ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- ExxonMobil ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Phillips 66 ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Dell Technologies ✓ VerifiedTechnology · Class of 2025
- Amazon ✓ VerifiedTechnology · Class of 2025
- AT&T ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Microsoft ✓ VerifiedTechnology · Class of 2025
- HPE ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
How Rice Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Rice University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Rice University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $13,370/year ($53,480 total). Graduates earn $89,718 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,055,956 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,002,476 (38.4× your investment). The median debt is $11,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 95% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $53,480
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,055,956
- Net Return
- $2,002,476
- ROI Multiple
- 38.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $13,370
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 95%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Rice University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Rice University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.60%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 3.3% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 48.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $149,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.60%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 48.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 3.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $202,711
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Research & Teaching
Data: Times Higher Education World University Rankings
How Research-Intensive Is Rice University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places Rice University at #47 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 51/100, teaching at 57/100, and citation impact of 99/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
- World Rank
- #47
- Teaching
- 57.4
- Research
- 50.6
- Citations
- 99.1
- International
- 31.2
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Rice University produces inventors at an exceptional rate — the top 9% of U.S. colleges, with 143 patents tied to its graduates, and ranks among research universities with a 51/100 research score.
- Inventor Rate
- 3.36%
- Top 9% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 143
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 53
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 51/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 99/100
- Citation impact (THE)
- Industry Engagement
- 29/100
- Knowledge transfer (THE)
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 1.89%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-6,311,000
Top Programs
The fields Rice University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Biology & Biomedical 16% $29,017 early-career
- Engineering 16% $99,707 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 15% $153,848 early-career
- Social Sciences 10% $86,600 early-career
- Business & Marketing 7% $106,379 early-career
- Mathematics & Statistics 6% $115,339 early-career
- Psychology 4% $35,787 early-career
- Physical Sciences 4%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Rice University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Rice University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Houston, Texas, Rice University turns away the vast majority of its applicants. The acceptance rate is 8%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,553. The graduation rate is roughly 95%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Rice University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Rice University is $64,144, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $13,370. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,827 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
Is Rice University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Rice University earn a median of $89,718, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Rice University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Rice University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.60%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 3.3% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 48.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $149,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Rice University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Rice University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.86, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is Rice University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places Rice University at #47 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 51/100, teaching at 57/100, and citation impact of 99/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Does Rice University offer Early Decision, and does it improve admission chances?
Yes. Rice University offers a binding Early Decision plan, and it carries a real advantage: Early Decision applicants were admitted at 17%, about 2.1 times the overall 8% acceptance rate, and ED filled roughly 45% of the entering class. Because ED is binding, it makes sense only if Rice University is a clear first choice and you can commit before comparing aid offers (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is Rice University really test-optional?
Rice University reports test-optional admission, but most enrolled students still submit scores: about 70% of first-year students sent an SAT or ACT (2024-25 Common Data Set). Submitting strong scores is the norm here.
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Rice University?
About 44% of admitted students choose to enroll at Rice University — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
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Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Rice University.
- University of ChicagoChicago, IL · Close peer95% grad $91,885 earn 4% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD · Close peer94% grad $87,555 earn 6% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN · Close peer93% grad $91,565 earn 6% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Dartmouth CollegeHanover, NH · Close peer96% grad $97,434 earn 5% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Brown UniversityProvidence, RI · Close peer96% grad $93,487 earn 5% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL · Close peer96% grad $89,363 earn 8% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Rice University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Rice University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.86, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note