Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Rice University is a private national university located in Houston, Texas. Rice University is extremely selective in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Rice University is in the top 5% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $77,683 10 years after enrolling, 2nd in Texas, and in the top 5% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Rice University bachelor students earn 33% more than the national average. Rice University is ranked 1st in Texas.
Rice University’s median net annual cost of $16,076 and average years to graduate of 4.2 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Rice University sorted by number of graduates - Computer science, Health & Fitness, Economics, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical/Medical Engineering, Psychology - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$16,076
Average years to graduate
4.2
Mathematics
Rank: #5
Economic score: 0.51
Chemical Engineering
Rank: #7
Economic score: 0.86
Statistics
Rank: #5
Economic score: 1.1
History
Rank: #8
Economic score: 1.13
Civil Engineering
Rank: #34
Economic score: 1.36
Poli Sci/Government
Rank: #12
Economic score: 1.4
Public Policy Analysis
Rank: #3
Economic score: 1.88
English Language & Lit
Rank: #13
Economic score: 2.34
Cognitive Science
Rank: #7
Economic score: 4.02
Sociology
Rank: #101
Economic score: 4.53
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 2 graduate programs at Rice University - Music, Business Administration - are shown below.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.2 years. 92% of all students graduate within 8 years. The graduation rate at Rice University is 40% higher than the state average, and 25% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At Rice University, Pell Grant recipients represent 16% of the measured graduating class, 19% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Rice University graduates within 4.3 years.
Rice University is in the bottom 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Rice University’s economic mobility score of 15.71 is calculated by adjusting the 0.23 economic score of lower-income students by the 16% pell grant recipients within the student body. Rice University’s EMS of 15.71 ranks in the top 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Rice University pays $16,076 a year, $53,481 less than the $69,557 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $16,076
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Rice University, 61% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $16,076 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 9% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $9,413. This is 45% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,982
Pell grants
$5,063
State grants
$3,563
Institutional grants
$47,455
Rice University's extremely selective admissions are indicated by their 9% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 29,544 applicants, of which 2,802 were admitted and 1,226 enrolled. Rice University doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
100%
83%
Female
45%
59%
First time
94%
59%
In-state
40%
68%
1st generation
14%
35%
White
31%
52%
Black
8%
14%
Hispanic
16%
15%
Asian
28%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
18%
12%