Rice University Tuition and Fees

Rice University Tuition

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      By Susan Guillory

      (Last Updated – 08/2025)

      Total Cost of Attendance

      Rice University, located in Houston, Texas, is one of the top-ranked private universities in the country. Rice has a 6:1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a dynamic campus life.

      Rice University tuition and fees for the 2024-25 school year totaled $63,799. This is substantially higher than the 2023-24 national average of $41,540 for tuition and fees at private universities.

      Costs for 2024-2025

      Expense

      Cost

      Tuition & Fees

      $63,799

      Books & Supplies

      $1,440

      Room & Board

      $18,100

      Other Expenses

      $3,640

      Total Cost of Attendance

      $86,979

      Financial Aid

      A full 70% of undergraduates use financial aid to help with the Rice University cost. This includes student loans, scholarships, and grants.

      Explore financial aid options: Texas Student Loan & Scholarship Information

      Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need and merit. Students that qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

      The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

      •  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, and financial need.

      •  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, and non-profit organizations.

      •  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

      •  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans’ rates.

      Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state and federal and school deadlines may differ.

      You can find other financial aid opportunities at sources such as:

      •  U.S. Department of Education – Learn more about the grants that are bestowed by the federal government

      •  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

      •  Scholarship Search Tool

      Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

      Private Student Loans

      For Rice University tuition in the academic year 2022-2023, 6% of beginning Rice students took out federal student loans, and 1% took out private student loans that averaged $27,304.

      Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or state-affiliated organizations. While federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

      What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans, which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

      Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for as needed. However, if you think you may need to take out a private student loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for, as it generally may have better rates and terms.

      If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school throughout the year, private loans can potentially help you make your payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

      Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

      Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

      The Rice University cost for four years, based on 2024-25 numbers, would be $347,916. In comparison, the average cost (using 2023-24 figures) for a four-year degree at a private institution is $241,680.

      Here’s some Student Loan & Scholarship Information for you.

      Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

      Costs for 2024-25

      Expense

      Cost

      Tuition & Fees

      $63,799

      Room & Board

      $18,100

      Total

      $81,899

      The total Rice University cost, including tuition, fees, room, and board, totaled $81,899 for undergraduates in 2024-25.

      Graduate Tuition and Fees

      Costs for 2024-25

      Expense

      Cost

      Tuition

      $56,230

      Fees

      $800

      Total

      $57,030

      The Rice cost to attend one year of graduate school was $57,030 in 2024-25. This is higher than the average cost of graduate school at a private university, which is $51,770.

      There are many options for graduate loans that can help with these costs.

      Cost per Credit Hour

      Students can choose part-time enrollment at Rice and pay per credit hour. The cost of Rice University per credit hour is $2,620 for new students and $2,491 for continuing students. In addition, there is a part-time enrollment fee of $175 per semester.

      Campus Housing Expenses

      Costs for 2024-25

      Expense

      On Campus

      Off Campus

      Room & Board

      $18,100

      $1,759/mo*

      Other Expenses

      $3,640

      $3,640

      *Average rate based on available one-bedroom apartments listed on Rice University’s off-campus housing website in 2025.

      Although Rice students aren’t required to live on campus, the university’s residential life centers around the 11 colleges on campus. The idea is to make it easier to get to know other students in your area of study.

      For those who prefer to live off-campus, there are many apartments, duplexes, and houses located nearby.

      Rice University Acceptance Rate

      Fall 2023

      Number of Applications

      Number Accepted

      Percentage Accepted

      32,473

      2,597

      8%

      The Rice University acceptance rate is low. Only 8% of the students who apply to Rice are accepted.

      Admission Requirements

      Interested in applying to Rice? Here’s what you’ll need to supply along with your application.

      Required:

      •  High school transcript

      •  Letters of recommendation from school counselor and 2 teachers

      •  Rice writing supplement (essay)

      Recommended:

      •  SAT or ACT scores

      •  Interview with Rice alumnus or current student

      The Early Decision deadline for Rice is November 1. The Regular Decision deadline is January 4.

      SAT and ACT Scores

      Standardized test scores are currently not required at Rice. However, it can be helpful to know how other students scored.

      Subject

      25th Percentile

      75th Percentile

      SAT Evidence-Based
      Reading/Writing

      730

      770

      SAT Math

      770

      800

      ACT Composite

      34

      36

      ACT English

      35

      36

      ACT Math

      33

      36

      Rice University Graduation Rate

      These are the graduation rates at Rice University:

      •  Four years: 87%

      •  Six years: 92%

      •  Eight years: 93%

      Post-Graduation Median Earnings

      Graduates of Rice University bring home a median salary of $89,718. This is significantly higher than the overall median salary of $53,727 earned by 2024 graduates of private nonprofit colleges.

      Bottom Line

      Rice University provides students with a quality education and a rich campus life. While Rice tuition is steep, it’s more affordable than many top-tier schools. And because Rice is a need-blind institution, your ability to pay for the Rice cost won’t be a factor when you apply. Rice is selective, however, so the trickiest part may be getting in!

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