Rice University
Rice University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
What we think of Rice University
Rice sits in the top tier of value among elite private universities but does not get the national attention it deserves. The combination of a small size (about 4,800 undergraduates), aggressive aid via the Rice Investment program, and Houston's low cost of living produces effective net prices well under what most northeast peers deliver — with a 95.2% graduation rate that matches the Ivies.
The Rice Investment covers full tuition for families earning under $75,000 and covers half of tuition for families up to $200,000. Combined with a $13,370 average net price and Houston's below-average housing costs, the effective four-year cost of a Rice degree runs meaningfully lower than at Duke, Vanderbilt, or Emory for most admitted students. Median debt at graduation of $11,000 is among the lowest for any school of its selectivity.
Where Rice trades off against larger elites is scale. The alumni network is deep and loyal but geographically concentrated in Texas and the energy industry. For a career in software or venture on the coasts, Stanford or MIT deliver stronger pipeline access despite comparable ROI on paper. Rice's strengths are engineering, pre-med, and the humanities-plus-science hybrid programs that its small-school structure enables.
Bottom line: Texas residents targeting STEM or pre-med should apply here with confidence, and out-of-state applicants comparing Rice against Duke, Vanderbilt, or Emory should weigh the ~$16,000-per-year net price advantage seriously. Rice is the rare elite where the aid math is genuinely better than headline peers, not just competitive.
Rice University at a Glance
William Marsh Rice University, also known as Rice University, is a private research university in Houston, Texas, United States. Established in 1912, it spans 300 acres. The university consists of eight constituent schools in the fields of architecture, business, continuing studies, engineering, humanities, music, natural sciences, and social sciences.
1912
114 years old
$8.1B
$8.07 billion ( FY 2024)
8,880
4,776 undergrad · 4,104 grad
855
300 acres
Identity
How to Apply to Rice University
Official admissions pageJanuary 1
November 1 (Early Decision, binding)
$75
Fee waiver available
2 required
Testing policy
Recommendation letters
Essays
Fee waiver
Is Rice University Worth It?
Rice University is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $13,370/year net price and $89,718 median earnings, graduates earn 6.7× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 95% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
The catch: admission is extremely selective at just 8%, making this an option only for top-tier applicants.
Median student debt of $11,000 is manageable at just 12% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: Rice University delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Rice University compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 22 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Rice University | 100 | $13,370 | $89,718 |
| #2 | Yale University | 100 | $23,777 | $100,533 |
| #3 | University of Chicago | 100 | $14,860 | $91,885 |
| #4 | Colby College | 100 | $17,180 | $80,490 |
| #5 | Johns Hopkins University | 100 | $18,809 | $87,555 |
| #6 | Harvard University | 100 | $19,066 | $101,817 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Rice University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Rice University
The highest-earning program at Rice University is Computer and Information Sciences, General at $111,900/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Sociology at $29,500/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer and Information Sciences, General graduate from Rice University earns $111,900, while a Sociology graduate earns $29,500. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $13,370/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $111,900 | $111,900 | $11,855 |
| Chemical Engineering | $80,100 | $80,100 | $9,367 |
| Economics | $73,100 | $73,100 | $11,724 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $70,500 | $70,500 | $11,250 |
| History | $47,700 | $47,700 | N/A |
| English Language and Literature, General | $39,500 | $39,500 | $14,683 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $37,300 | $37,300 | $8,000 |
| Psychology, General | $34,800 | $34,800 | $7,500 |
| Sociology | $29,500 | $29,500 | N/A |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Houston, TX
- Student Body
- 4,776 students
- Admission Rate
- 8%
- Graduation Rate
- 95%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $13,370
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $89,718
- Median Student Debt
- $11,000