Rice University (Houston, TX, United States)

University overview

Editorial View

Location, editorial summary, and verified institutional context.

Located in Houston, Texas, Rice University is a “southern Ivy” that has taken an unusual path. Whereas many of the southern Ivies have become party schools, Rice has remained true to its academic mission, and along with Duke, might be the most intellectual of its peer institution...

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Admissions

Verified Data

Selectivity, enrollment funnel, and reported test score ranges from verified federal data.

Institution type

Private nonprofit

Carnegie

A Doctoral University (which undergraduates attend) with very high research activity

Setting

Large city

Admit rate (9%)

Yield estimate (44%)

Applicants

29,544

Admits

2,802

Enrolled

1,226

SAT ERW: 720–770

SAT Math: 770–800

ACT: 34–35

Academics

Verified Data

Enrollment scale, calendar structure, and outcome-linked academic signals.

Total students

1,226

1,226 students

Calendar

semester

Academic calendar

Graduation rate

92%

Reported outcomes

Retention rate

97%

First-year retention

Carnegie classification

A Doctoral University (which undergraduates attend) with very high research activity

Cost and affordability

Verified Data

Tuition, net price, and aid signals sourced from federal reporting where available.

Average net price

N/A

After grants and scholarships for in-state students where reported.

In-state tuition$37

Out-of-state tuition$56,945

Institutional grant aid$61

Pell share17%

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Campus life

Verified Data

Culture percentile bands describe student life intensity across common fit dimensions.

Campus culture bands are not yet available for Rice University. Theme attributes and athletics may still appear under Special Features.

Rankings and recognition

Verified Data

CollegesRef does not invent magazine-style ranks. This section surfaces verified classification data and editorial context only.

Carnegie classification

A Doctoral University (which undergraduates attend) with very high research activity

Institutional classification used for academic peer grouping.

Athletics

NCAA Division I

NCAA division where available from verified imports.

Editorial spotlight

Rice University — editorial overview (Houston, TX)

Outcomes and after college

Verified Data

Verified outcomes from imported federal datasets. Editorial interpretation may supplement these facts elsewhere on the profile.

Median earnings

N/A

Median earnings where reported by federal outcomes data.

Retention rate

97%

First-year student retention.

Graduation rate

92%

Students graduating within 150% of normal time.

Student reviews

Editorial View

User-submitted reviews are not fabricated for launch. This report card summarizes verified data signals until moderated student voices are available.

Data report card

Admissions selectivityA

Graduation outcomesA

RetentionA

Editorial depthB+

Rice University

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Special features

Verified Data

Curated theme attributes and athletics context that distinguish campus character.

Historically Leans Liberal (relative to other American colleges)Need-Blind in AdmissionIs a QuestBridge CampusA So-Called "Ivy of the South"Lots of Concentration on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math

Athletics

NCAA Division I

Sources and data freshness

Verified Data

Legacy CLGS import

CollegesRef separates verified federal and institutional data from editorial interpretation. Personalized AI matching is available via Colleges Like This.

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