1. [College research](/) 2. / 3. [Rice University](/school/rice-university/) 4. / 5. Programs & majors brief Programs & majors brief Copy linkPrint brief # Rice University Majors & Programs Updated October 1, 2026 [Overview](/school/rice-university/)[Cost & aid](/school/rice-university/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/rice-university/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/rice-university/admissions/)Majors[Similar schools](/school/rice-university/similar/) **On this page**+ ## Which majors earn the most at Rice University? The highest-earning programs at Rice University are concentrated in engineering and computing, and the largest program is also the best-paid one. Computer and Information Sciences awards 121 degrees a year, and its graduates earn a median of $182,443 four years after completion. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) it #4 nationally in its field. Engineering fields show strong but more varied returns. Electrical Engineering graduates earn $136,656 from 49 degrees awarded. Mechanical Engineering graduates earn $108,970 from 60 degrees awarded, and Azimuth ranks it #13 in its field. Away from engineering, Economics is the third-largest program with published earnings at 75 degrees awarded and median earnings of $129,575. Azimuth ranks it #21 nationally and #1 in Texas. Kinesiology and Physical Education awards 104 degrees and ranks #1 nationally, with earnings of $87,404. ### Major mix · each dot ≈ 1% of completions Share of reported completions in the bachelor’s programs included here. Each dot represents approximately 1% of those completions. Counts are credentials, not unique students; excluded programs are not zero activity. - Engineering**191 · 15.8%** - Social sciences**148 · 12.2%** - Biological sciences**137 · 11.3%** - Computer science**121 · 10.0%** - Parks and recreation**104 · 8.6%** - Other**508 · 42.0%** Find a field Sort programsLargest programsHighest four-year earningsBest national field rankProgram name 38 of 38 programs shown Four-year earnings · first six matching programs **Computer and Information Sciences, General 121 degrees awarded** $182,443 **Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering 49 degrees awarded** $136,656 **Economics 75 degrees awarded** $129,575 **Biomedical/Medical Engineering 34 degrees awarded** $121,099 **Chemical Engineering 25 degrees awarded** $113,605 **Mechanical Engineering 60 degrees awarded** $108,970 Each bar is a field’s median. Program size counts degrees awarded, not unique people or the earnings sample. Compare all matching programs Reported bachelor’s programs · earnings, program size and field ranks | Program | Degrees awarded | 4-yr earnings | Field rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Computer and Information Sciences, General | 121 | $182,443 | #4 | | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 49 | $136,656 | — | | Economics | 75 | $129,575 | #21 | | Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 34 | $121,099 | — | | Chemical Engineering | 25 | $113,605 | #10 | | Mechanical Engineering | 60 | $108,970 | #13 | | Political Science and Government | 37 | $87,804 | — | | Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 104 | $87,404 | #1 | | Cognitive Science | 48 | $66,913 | #11 | | Natural Resources Conservation and Research small degree count | 7 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Architectural Sciences and Technology | 20 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Architecture small degree count | 16 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Area Studies small degree count | 13 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Civil Engineering | 23 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Nanotechnology small degree count | 6 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics small degree count | 16 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services small degree count | 12 | Too few graduates to report | — | | English Language and Literature, General | 31 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Biology, General | 57 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 38 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 29 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology small degree count | 13 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Statistics | 33 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Mathematics | 32 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Applied Mathematics small degree count | 13 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Philosophy small degree count | 12 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Chemistry | 27 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Physics small degree count | 9 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Psychology, General | 77 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Public Policy Analysis | 33 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Sociology | 25 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Anthropology small degree count | 11 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Visual and Performing Arts, General | 24 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Music small degree count | 17 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Fine and Studio Arts small degree count | 8 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General small degree count | 9 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Business Administration, Management and Operations | 22 | Too few graduates to report | — | | History | 23 | Too few graduates to report | — | [Program data and definitions](#page-sources) · [How to evaluate program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) ## What are the largest programs at Rice University? Ten largest programs by degrees awarded **Computer and Information Sciences, General** 121 **Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness** 104 **Psychology, General** 77 **Economics** 75 **Mechanical Engineering** 60 **Biology, General** 57 **Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering** 49 **Cognitive Science** 48 **Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology** 38 **Political Science and Government** 37 Counts describe degrees awarded in the reporting period, not current enrollment. [Program data and definitions](#page-sources) ## How do Rice University majors rank nationally? ### National program rankings 1. Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness**#1** 2. Computer and Information Sciences, General**#4** 3. Chemical Engineering**#10** 4. Cognitive Science**#11** 5. Mechanical Engineering**#13** 6. Economics**#21** Programs ranked in the national top 50, supplemented by the largest ranked programs when needed to show ten. Fewer appear when fewer ranks are reported. Each rank compares bachelor’s programs in the same field; field sizes differ. [How Azimuth compares programs across colleges](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) ## Further analysis Rice University awards bachelor's degrees across fields that pay very differently four years after completion. Azimuth evaluates programs on earnings among federally aided completers, debt, and cohort size, not reputation. Earnings figures are published for 9 programs, and 6 have an Azimuth national rank. Engineering accounts for 15.8% of degrees awarded, Social Sciences for 12.2%, and Biological Sciences for 11.3%. Across all fields, 57.4% of degrees awarded are in STEM. Computer and Information Sciences awards 121 degrees a year, the largest count of any program, and its graduates earn $182,443 four years after completion. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) it #4 nationally and #1 in Texas. Kinesiology and Physical Education reports earnings of $87,404 and ranks #1 nationally from 104 degrees a year. ## Data & methodology Sources and reporting periods: [methodology](/methodology/). Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth. Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source. Figure notes link to sources and limitations. [About College Azimuth](/about/).