Rice University Degree Opportunities
Rice University appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Best Colleges in Texas.
Students who want to enroll in a program at Rice University must demonstrate high academic achievement. They may study on the university’s campus in Houston or online for classes offered by the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies. Rice University has an exciting approach to student life with its 11 residential colleges where students live for the duration of their enrollment at the college.
The university also has eight schools that house its degree programs. Those schools include:
- the George R. Brown School of Engineering
- the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business
- the School of Architecture
- the School of Humanities
- the School of Social Sciences
- Wiess School of Natural Sciences
- the Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies
- The Shepherd School of Music.
Degree programs that receive the most applications and which are most popular include:
- computer & information sciences
- chemical engineering
- economics
- exercise science
- mechanical engineering
The university has an extraordinary freshman retention rate of 97 percent, which means almost all students return to the university for their second year of study.
Prospective students who want to study online may pursue:
- degree programs
- professional development courses
- non-credit options
Degrees offered fully online at Rice University include the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and the Master of Computer Science Online Program.
Although high school students aren’t eligible to enter Rice University as dual enrollment students, the university does offer a concurrent enrollment program for its bachelor’s degree students. Here, students may enroll in graduate classes while still pursuing their undergraduate degrees.
Professional development courses are available in a wide array of topics with available classes like:
- Data Analysis and Visualization Online
- America Through Foreign Eyes
- Data Science for Business: Building a Data-Driven Organization
Students may also enroll in courses like:
- Real Estate Investment and Development
- Fundamentals of Immunology
- Engineering Project Management
A selection of academic programs at Rice University includes:
- the Master of Science in Applied Physics
- the Master of Arts in Chemistry
- the Master of Industrial Engineering
- the Ph.D. in Political Science
Students may also pursue:
- a Bachelor of Arts in Visual and Dramatic Arts
- a Master of Science in Subsurface Geoscience
- a Master of Arts in Psychology
About Rice University
Rice University is a private institution of higher learning in Texas. The university’s Houston campus covers 300 acres. The student body population is around 7,100. Established in 1912, the full name of the university is William March Rice University. The school has an extraordinarily low 6:1 student/faculty ratio. The institution is very selective in its admissions policy.
Notably, two graduates of the university have won the Nobel Prize. Other graduates have earned distinction as Marshall Scholars and Rhodes Scholars. The university has maintained a close relationship with NASA, with several alumni becoming scientists affiliated with the organization.
The official colors of Rice University are blue and gray. The school’s mascot is named Sammy the Owl.
Rice University Accreditation Details
Institutional accreditation for Rice University has been granted by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC). The university is also programmatically accredited by many organizations. For example, the architecture degrees at Rice University are accredited by the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB). The university’s business programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredits these programs:
- chemical engineering
- electrical engineering
- civil engineering
- mechanical engineering
- bioengineering
Rice University Application Requirements
To apply to Rice University, students will submit the Coalition Application or the Common Application, as well as a supplemental essay for the university. A non-refundable application fee of $75 is due at the time of the application. The fee must be paid online. Students must also submit:
- high school transcripts
- standardized test scores
- a school report written by a counselor.
Applications must also include two teacher evaluations. Students who want to apply early must also submit an early decision agreement. Applications to the architecture program require a portfolio that is due at the same time as the initial application. Students may request an admission interview, but the interview is optional and only available if scheduling permits.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The cost of attendance at Rice University is $48,330 for tuition and $782 for fees. Students may also pay $14,140 for room and board and an estimated $1,200 for books. The university expects that personal expenses will add another $2,650 to the yearly total. The total cost of attendance at Rice University is $67,102. First-year students will also pay a $330 orientation week fee, as well as a room and board fee for orientation week of $350.
Graduate tuition for Rice University students is based on the student’s program. The professional master’s in architecture program is $32,360 per year for full-time enrollment or $1,798 per credit for part-time enrollment. The MBA program is $59,750 per year for the full-time program and $56,375 per year for the professional MBA option. Other program costs include $48,000 annually for the online Master’s of Computer Science and $58,000 for the Master’s of Human-Computer Interaction and Human Factors.
Financial aid for eligible students is handled by the Rice Office of Student Financial Services. The university offers a grant that covers full tuition, fees, room, and board for students with a family income of $65,000 and below. Students with a family income of $65,001 to $130,000 receive a grant that covers tuition. Students with family incomes between $130,000 and $200,000 receive a grant for half the cost of tuition.
In addition, students may receive other types of financial aid for costs that aren’t covered by the grant and for which the student can demonstrate financial need. Students may receive a combination of:
- loans
- grants
- merit scholarships
- offers of student employment
There are also some options for financial aid for summer school. Merit-based scholarships for students at Rice University may be offered to students with:
- athletic skills
- a history of leadership and service
- entrepreneurial projects
- artistic talent.