Campus & Student Life at Rice University

Home to about 4,076 undergraduates in 2020, Rice is a private university located in Houston, Texas. This urban setting might be best suited for students who like the fast-paced city life. Should you tire of the campus however, Rice offers a “study abroad” program. Please note, some classes/degrees offered by Rice can be taken “online” so keep that in mind when reviewing this report. For more context, you might also check out our Rice Guide to Distance and Online Learning.

Rice Has a Disability Services Site

Individuals with disabilities make up 8.0% of the student population at Rice. For more information on policies and accommodations that the university provides to ensure all students get the opportunity to participate, you can visit Rice Disability Services.

Rice for the Military

While not a "service academy", Rice does offer support for veterans and those seeking a career in the armed forces. Undergraduates have access to one or more ROTC programs and there is an active student veterans group on campus. For more information on policies related to veterans, you can visit Rice Veteran Services . For more information, check out our Rice for Veterans Guide.

Freshmen Living Arrangements at Rice University

Rice offers on-campus housing, but freshmen are not required to take advantage of it. In the end though, most do choose to live in the dorms.

* Data compiled from students who received financial aid, including loans.

Full-time vs. Part-time Studies at Rice University

There were 4,076 undergraduates in 2020. Full-time attendance was 3,960 (97.2%). Part-time attendance was 116 (2.8%).

Rice University is Ranked #29 for Overall Diversity

Compared to other colleges and universities across the nation, Rice receives top marks for overall diversity. We rank Rice #29 out of 3,451.

The chart below shows each element that we looked at to determine this ranking, and how that metric compares to the national average. 100 would indicate excellent diversity in each category, and 1 would mean poor diversity.

You can learn more about the diversity of the student body at Rice by looking closer at the ethnic,  gender,  age, and geographic diversity metrics from the Rice Diversity Guide.

Rice University Competes in the NCAA

Rice has a total of 488 student athletes, 275 men and 213 women who compete in inter-collegiate athletics.

Athletics Financing

For more information about athletics including per-team sizes, coaching and scholarships check out our Guide to Rice University Athletics