At schools with acceptance rates below 10%, nearly every applicant has near-perfect grades and test scores. Admissions decisions are driven by essays, extracurriculars, recommendations, and institutional priorities — factors no stats-based model can predict. Our likelihood labels reflect academic competitiveness only.
Rice University is a highly selective private research university in Houston, Texas, known for its intimate residential college system and strong engineering and science programs. With an undergraduate enrollment of about 4,200, Rice offers the resources of a major research university in a close-knit, collaborative setting.
Mascot: Owl
Notable Alumni
Larry McMurtry (Pulitzer Prize-winning author)•Peggy Whitson (record-setting NASA astronaut)•Howard Hughes (aviator and film producer)
At a Glance
Cost
Published sticker prices for 2025-2026. Actual cost after aid varies.
Top Programs & National Ranking
Approximate national ranking based on departmental rankings, research output, and program reputation.
Highlights
Campus Experience
Rice's residential college system — 11 colleges, randomly assigned, no Greek life whatsoever — creates a Hogwarts-like loyalty and some of the tightest campus community you'll find anywhere. Beer Bike (a relay race combining cycling and chugging) is the unofficial holiday, and O-Week orientation is legendarily bonding. The small size (~4,800 undergrads) means everyone knows everyone, and Houston's food scene and museum district are right outside the hedges.
Byzantine and Mediterranean-inspired buildings by Ralph Adams Cram, a canopy of live oaks draped in Spanish moss, and the iconic Lovett Hall entrance arch create a distinctive Southern elegance on a 300-acre wooded campus.
Based on Niche reviews, Princeton Review surveys, student forums, and institutional data.
Safety
Rice's 300-acre campus is enclosed by an iconic hedge perimeter with gated vehicle entrances patrolled by RUPD officers 24/7. The enclosed design and small student body create an unusually secure environment for an urban university.
The Museum District and adjacent neighborhoods are among Houston's safest areas. Houston's overall crime rate is above average, but Rice's immediate surroundings have low violent crime.
Based on Clery Act data, student surveys, and local crime statistics.
Plan Your Visit
Schedule: Monday-Friday, two sessions most days
Duration: About 60-75 minutes
Student-led tours by Office of Admission. No advance registration required for individual tours -- just show up at the Welcome Center desk in Sewall Hall (9am-5pm, Mon-Fri) and self-register. Group tours (10-40 visitors) must book 2+ weeks ahead at welcome@rice.edu.
Book a TourSelf-guided tour map available at the Welcome Center. On select days, current students set up tents at residential colleges for Q&A.
Tour ResourcesOctober-November or February-March (pleasant Houston weather, campus in session). Late March for Beer Bike is peak campus energy. Avoid June-August (Houston heat and humidity are oppressive, 95°F+ with high humidity). The live oak trees create beautiful canopy shade year-round, but spring brings the azaleas into bloom.
Visitor parking in the Central Campus Garage (underground, beneath McNair Hall) and North Annex Lot. Enter campus from Main Street at Entrance 1 or 2. From HOU (Hobby Airport, closest): ~30 min drive via I-45 and US-59 South. From IAH (Bush Intercontinental): ~45-60 min via US-59 South. Houston has limited public transit; driving or rideshare is the practical choice.
Location
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