Rice University
6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005
Rice University is a private university in TX, founded in 1912 and offers Bachelor’s degrees for undergraduates and Master’s and Doctoral degrees for graduate students. The undergraduate enrollment is 4,076, and the graduate enrollment is 3,567. Rice University is a hyper-selective school, receiving 23,455 applications and accepting 10.9% of applicants. Rice University’s athletics teams compete at the intramural and varsity level. Additionally, Rice University employs 698 full-time instructional staff (97% of whom hold doctorate degrees) and has a 5:1 student to faculty ratio.
Empowerly Score®
95
University Score
- School Performance
- Extracurriculars
- Standardized Tests
- Essays
Empowerly Score®
At Empowerly, we prioritize data to customize our approach to student counseling. College admissions is becoming more selective by the year, so it’s never been more important than now to prepare in advance and give yourself the best chance for success.
Take the Empowerly QuizESSAYS
Applicants applying to Rice University will apply through the Common Application, the Coalition Application, or the QuestBridge Application (if qualified). Applicants will be required to write one personal statement based on a set of prompts within the application and will also be required to answer specific questions pertaining to the university.
Additional Essay Requirements
- The Rice Box - Share an image of something that appeals to you, one that stands for itself and does not need an explanation.
Deadlines For Submitting Applications
Early Decision Application Deadline
November 1st
Regular Application Deadline
January 4th
ATTENDANCE FACTORS
- Extracurricular Activities - Very Important
- Character/Personal Qualities - Very Important
- Application Essay - Very Important
- Academic GPA - Very Important
- Rigor of Secondary School Record - Very Important
Average Acceptance Rate
10.90%
Empowerly Acceptance Rate
29.00%
STUDENT LIFE
According to the Princeton Review, student life at Rice University is a happy one, ranking it 8th for “Happiest Students.” The 290-acre campus sits at Houston’s cultural center, the Museum District, in a wooded area that gives Rice a cozy small-town vibe while only steps away from an exciting urban setting. The busy campus includes an extensive residential college system that’s the heart of the Rice campus community—and its strong campus traditions. The school supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally, with 300 clubs and organizations imparting diverse experiences that students will cherish for years to come.
Housing
- 70% of students live on campus
- Priority housing for freshmen
Much of an undergraduate student’s academic and social life occurs within Rice University’s residential college system, which provides housing, dining, and social activities. Rice emphasizes its tradition of residential colleges, so much so that first-year students become a member of one of 11 residential colleges even before registering. All colleges are sex and gender-neutral, and the school randomly assigns students to a college to create a complete cross-section of students. Likewise, each college has its distinct personality and traditions. While the school only guarantees on-campus housing for first-year students and two of the next three years, students remain college members for their entire undergraduate stay even if they live elsewhere. For example, the annual Beer Bike Race intensifies student loyalty with friendly rivalries among Rice’s residential colleges, regardless of where they live.
Life as a Student
Whether academic, athletic, or social, life as a student at Rice University is guaranteed to be challenging and fulfilling. With its 6:1 student to faculty ratio, Rice prides itself on its small class sizes and approachable professors. While the school is known for its rigorous academic curriculum, it also has the perfect combination of balanced extracurricular activities. There are student-run media like the college radio station KTRU Rice Radio, the weekly student newspaper, The Rice Thresher, and student magazines dedicated to assorted topics. Students are also urged to join the numerous student organizations that are a cornerstone of the Rice experience, including academic, religious, cultural, and performing arts. Rice University also hosts student-run institutions like Rice Coffeehouse, Valhalla Pub, and Willy’s Pub. With a tight-knit campus community like no other, it’s no wonder that Rice has some of the happiest students in the country!
TOP MAJORS
Information Science
Economics
Mechanical Engineering
Cognitive Science
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
SERVICES
Health and Safety
- 24-hour trained security on campus
- Late night ride/safe escort service available
Student Services
- Health Center
- Psychological Counseling
- Women's Center
Athletics
Varsity
Varsity
Badminton
Baseball
Basketball
Crew
Fencing
Football
Golf
Lacrosse
Rugby
Sailing
Soccer
Tennis
Track and Field
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Water Polo
Cross-Country Running
Badminton
Basketball
Cheerleading
Crew
Equestrian Sports
Fencing
Rugby
Sailing
Soccer
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Water Polo
Cross-Country Running
Intramural
Intramural
Badminton
Basketball
Football
Golf
Racquetball
Soccer
Softball
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Table Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Water Polo
Cross-Country Running
Badminton
Basketball
Golf
Racquetball
Soccer
Softball
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Table Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Water Polo
Cross-Country Running
FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
For families with an income range of $65k and below, a full-tuition, fees, board, and board grant is offered, and Rice University will meet 100% of demonstrated needs for undergraduate students, inclusive of International Students, through financial aid. Additionally, Rice University offers a need-blind admission for domestic students.
*All costs below are estimates and may differ based on your circumstances.
- Tuition - $54,100
- Fees - $860
- Room and Board - $15,000
- Books - $1,350
- Personal Expenses - $2,800
- Total Estimated Cost of Attendance - $74,110
HISTORY
William Marsh Rice University, more commonly known as Rice University, was founded and endowed by the eponymous Massachusetts businessman William Marsh Rice in 1891. Originally named the Marsh Rice Institute for the Advancement of Literature, Science and Art in Houston, Texas, the university was presented as a gift to the city following William Marsh Rice’s death. Then-president of Princeton University (and future United States President) Woodrow Wilson recommended that Rice’s trustee name astronomer and mathematician Edgar Odell Lovett as its first president. Under Lovett’s guidance, the school opened in 1912 with 77 students and a dozen faculty members for its first academic year. Lovett emphasized the newly opened institution’s mission as “a university of the highest grade and an institution of liberal and technical learning devoted quite as much investigation as to instruction.”
While not the standard practice for the time, Rice Institute launched as a coeducational institution. It held its first commencement in 1916, awarding 35 bachelor’s degrees and one master’s degree. Students likewise voted to embrace an official Rice Honor Code the same year, which is still obeyed today. Yet it wouldn’t be until 1918 that the school conferred its first doctorate in mathematics, paving the way as the home to highly ranked graduate schools like George R. Brown School of Engineering. Rice Institute was formally renamed William Marsh Rice University in 1960, shortly after the Rice Institute Computer went online. This paved the way for Rice University’s strong relationship with NASA and the city of Houston to the present day.
Today, Rice University is ranked #16 in National Universities by U.S. News & World Report. The school has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,052 and a graduate enrollment of 3,442. With a most selective 10.9% acceptance rate, Rice promises students an unconventional mix of top-tier academic, athletic, and extracurricular interactions. The school shines with its semester-based undergraduate program emphasizing arts & sciences and professions in academics. The Rice Owls, the athletic team, participates in NCAA Division I athletics and is best known for winning the 2003 College World Series against Stanford University. Rice has produced two Nobel Prize winners, two dozen Marshall Scholars, and a dozen Rhodes Scholars in its history. The university has made numerous astronauts because of its close relationship with NASA. Its most famous alumni include Howard Hughes, Academy Award-winning film producer Ron Bozman, and NASA’s first African-American flight director Kwatsi Alibaruho.