Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Rice University #63 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $110,080, placing Rice University in the 99.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn about $11,720 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Rice University in the 88.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Artificial Intelligence #7 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $182,443 — anchoring Rice University's standing as a program-level leader in engineering and applied fields. --- Students at Rice University earn substantially more than similar students at comparable institutions, reflecting one of the strongest earnings advantages among nonprofit four-year institutions and a program mix anchored by high-demand engineering and applied science fields. Graduates achieve median 4-year earnings that place the university near the very top of its cohort, with program-level strength in Artificial Intelligence reinforcing the institution's broad return on investment standing.
Azimuth ranks Rice University #63 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Houston, TX, Rice University enrolls roughly 4,776 undergraduates. Retention is 97.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 94.6%, figures that place the university among the strongest nationally for converting enrollment into degree completion. Where Rice University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Rice University #8 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $110,080, and graduates earn about $11,720 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Rice University in the 88.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university's dominant program family is Engineering, which anchors much of the earnings strength, though strong outcomes extend across multiple fields. The composite is pulled down by access. Rice University admits about 8.0% of applicants — a selectivity level that limits the size of each entering class and the share of low-income students the institution enrolls (17.0% Pell, 14.5% first-generation). Rice University sits in the 77.4 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 92.2 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, and mobility in the 77.1 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions — reflecting how selectivity constrains the volume of students who benefit from the university's strong post-graduation outcomes.
Rice University's published cost of attendance is $79,788, but need-based aid reshapes that figure substantially across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $5,827 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $3,217, and higher-income families pay approximately $48,466. Azimuth ranks Rice University #112 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Rice University's aid structure is need-based, and the university commits to meeting demonstrated financial need for admitted students under current financial aid policies. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and the university participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs. The net price illusion is particularly relevant here: Rice's published sticker price substantially overstates what most low- and middle-income families actually pay, making it more accessible than headline figures suggest. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $11,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $35,338; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $110,080, median federal debt of $11,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $124 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Rice University is a strong fit for students drawn to engineering, natural sciences, and quantitative fields who want a highly selective private research university experience in Houston, TX — and who are prepared for a rigorous academic environment where program concentration in Engineering shapes both the culture and the career trajectory. The earnings case is compelling. Graduates earn median $110,080 four years after enrollment, placing Rice University in the 99.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates also earn about $11,720 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Rice University in the 88.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure matters for access. 17.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 14.5% are first-generation students — a smaller share than at broad-access public universities, but Rice's need-based aid policies are designed to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay, and Pell-eligible graduates place in the 98.9 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Rice University admits roughly 8.0% of applicants, making the application process highly competitive, and the program mix is concentrated in Engineering and related STEM fields — students whose academic interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes and the clearest path to the earnings advantage the data reflects.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Rice University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Union College Higher acceptance rate (35.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 44% | $88,604 | Compare |
George Washington University Higher acceptance rate (35.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | DC | 44% | $90,873 | Compare |
Texas A & M University-College Station Same state (84 miles away) (earnings difference: 19.6%) | TX | 63% | $72,097 | Compare |
New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology Same region (earnings difference: 14.7%) | NM | 54% | $76,489 | Compare |
Southern Methodist University Same state (earnings difference: 12.7%); same institution type | TX | 61% | $78,354 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vanderbilt University Similar quality tier (#4172 ranked) | TN | 6% | $91,565 | #4172 | Compare |
Duke University Similar quality tier (#4173 ranked) | NC | 6% | $97,800 | #4173 | Compare |
Yale University Similar quality tier (#4165 ranked) | CT | 4% | $100,533 | #4165 | Compare |
Johns Hopkins University Similar quality tier (#4182 ranked) | MD | 6% | $87,555 | #4182 | Compare |
Princeton University Similar quality tier (#4189 ranked) | NJ | 5% | $110,066 | #4189 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Rice University's published cost of attendance is $79,788, but need-based aid reshapes that figure substantially across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $5,827 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $3,217, and higher-income families pay approximately $48,466.
Azimuth ranks Rice University #112 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Rice University's aid structure is need-based, and the university commits to meeting demonstrated financial need for admitted students under current financial aid policies. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and the university participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs.
The [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is particularly relevant here: Rice's published sticker price substantially overstates what most low- and middle-income families actually pay, making it more accessible than headline figures suggest. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $11,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $35,338; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $110,080, median federal debt of $11,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $124 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Rice University earn median earnings of $110,080 four years after enrollment, placing Rice University in the 99.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $67,139 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $11,720 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Rice University in the 88.3 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Rice University #8 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects Rice University's concentration in quantitative and applied fields. Engineering is the dominant program family, accounting for 16% of degrees, followed by Social Sciences at 12% and Arts at 4%.
Artificial Intelligence combines large cohort scale with strong pay, anchoring the institution's aggregate return story. Azimuth ranks Artificial Intelligence #7 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 121 graduates earning median earnings of $182,443.
The Kinesiology program graduates 104 students and Azimuth ranks it #1 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $87,404. Among the most popular programs, Economics (75 graduates) and Mechanical Engineering (60 graduates) deliver median earnings of $129,575 and $108,970 respectively, with Azimuth ranking them #21 and #11 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Computer and Information Sciences, General
121 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
49 graduates
Economics
75 graduates
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
34 graduates
Chemical Engineering
25 graduates
Rice University's program mix is anchored in engineering, quantitative sciences, and applied business fields. Engineering accounts for 16% of graduates, followed by Social Sciences at 12% and Arts at 4%.
The largest programs by cohort size are Artificial Intelligence (121 graduates), Kinesiology (104 graduates), Economics (75 graduates), Mechanical Engineering (60 graduates), and Psychology, General (77 graduates). Across 38 programs serving roughly 1,209 students annually, 9 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold.
The earnings leaders illustrate where Rice University's strongest financial outcomes concentrate. Azimuth ranks Artificial Intelligence #7 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 121 graduates earning $182,443.
Azimuth ranks Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering #8 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 49 graduates earning $136,656. Azimuth ranks Economics #21 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 75 graduates earning $129,575.
Mechanical Engineering and Political Science round out the top earners, with Azimuth ranking them #11 and #31 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, respectively. Several of these programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the national labor market directly — particularly Artificial Intelligence, Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
Psychology, General and Mechanical Engineering are more likely grad-school-dependent pathways, where four-year earnings undercount the lifetime trajectory of graduates who continue to medical school, doctoral programs, or professional study.
