Case Western vs. Rice

Deciding between Case Western Reserve University and Rice University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Case Western Reserve University
Rice University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Case Western Cleveland, OH
  • Rice Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • Case Western Large City
  • Rice Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Case Western 12,475
  • Rice 8,961
  • Type
  • Case Western Private 4 Year
  • Rice Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Case Western #51
  • Rice #9
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Case Western -
  • Rice -
  • Status
  • Case Western Non-profit
  • Rice Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Case Western
  • Rice
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Case Western $66,608
  • Rice $64,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Case Western $66,608
  • Rice $64,144
  • Room & Board
  • Case Western $18,762
  • Rice $18,100
  • Average Net Price
  • Case Western $44,000
  • Rice $23,589
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Case Western $41,913
  • Rice $56,199
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Case Western 88%
  • Rice 56%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Case Western 37,082
  • Rice 32,473
  • Admitted
  • Case Western 13,550
  • Rice 2,597
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Case Western 36.5%
  • Rice 8%
  • Enrolled
  • Case Western 11.9%
  • Rice 44.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Case Western 1490
  • Rice 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Case Western 33
  • Rice 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Case Western 3.86
  • Rice 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Case Western A
  • Rice A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Case Western Exceptional
  • Rice Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Case Western High
  • Rice Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Case Western 32/34
  • Rice 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Case Western 1430/1540
  • Rice 1510/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Case Western Test optional
  • Rice Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Case Western Jan 15, 2027
  • Rice Jan 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Case Western 9:1
  • Rice 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Case Western
    • Engineering (28%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • Rice
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Case Western 78%
  • Rice 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Case Western $84,700
  • Rice $86,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Case Western 84%
  • Rice 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Case Western $24,066
  • Rice $10,227
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Case Western $248
  • Rice $105
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Case Western 48%
  • Rice 56%
  • % Women
  • Case Western 52%
  • Rice 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Case Western High
  • Rice Very High
  • HBCU
  • Case Western No
  • Rice No
  • % White
  • Case Western 52%
  • Rice 37%
  • % Asian
  • Case Western 20%
  • Rice 24%
  • % Black
  • Case Western 5%
  • Rice 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Case Western 6%
  • Rice 14%
  • % Native American
  • Case Western 0%
  • Rice 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Case Western 0%
  • Rice 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Case Western 4%
  • Rice 4%
  • % International
  • Case Western 11%
  • Rice 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Case Western 2%
  • Rice 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Case Western 13%
  • Rice 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Case Western 75%
  • Rice 46%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Case Western Yes
  • Rice Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Case Western No
  • Rice No
  • Meal Plan
  • Case Western Yes
  • Rice Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Case Western No
  • Rice Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Case Western No
  • Rice No

Comparable Facts

Compare Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH with Rice University in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Case Western Reserve University is larger than Rice based on total student enrollment (12,475 students vs. 8,961 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Case Western Reserve University is located in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting); Rice University is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • Case Western Reserve University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rice University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Case Western Reserve University 9:1; Rice University 6:1.

Case Western vs. Rice Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Case Western or Rice? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rice University than Case Western ($23,589 vs. $44,000).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rice University are 3.5% lower than at Case Western Reserve University ($18,100 vs. $18,762).
  • Case Western Reserve University is 3.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rice (about $2,464 more per year; $66,608.00 vs. $64,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.8% higher at Case Western than at Rice University (about $2,464 more per year; $66,608.00 vs. $64,144.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Case Western Reserve University than at Rice University (88% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rice University students is 34.1% larger than aid received by Case Western Reserve University students ($56,199 vs. $41,913).

Case Western vs. Rice Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Case Western or Rice? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Rice and Case Western.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rice University (1540) is 50 points higher than at Case Western (1490).
  • Incoming Rice students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Case Western).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Case Western Reserve University 1430/1540; Rice University 1510/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Case Western Reserve University 32/34; Rice University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Case Western - Test optional; Rice - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Case Western Jan 15, 2027; Rice Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Rice students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Case Western (3.86).
  • Case Western has a higher acceptance rate (36.5%) than Rice (8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.9% at Case Western vs. 44.2% at Rice.

Case Western vs. Rice Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Case Western and Rice? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Rice University's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Case Western Reserve University's (78%).
  • Graduates from Rice University earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than Case Western graduates about ten years after starting college ($86,400 vs. $84,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rice University graduates have a $13,839 lower median loan debt than Case Western graduates ($10,227 vs. $24,066).
  • Among borrowers, Rice graduates have an estimated $143 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Case Western graduates ($105 vs. $248).
  • More Rice graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Case Western students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 84%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.