Emory vs. Rice

Deciding between Emory 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.

Emory University
Rice University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Emory Atlanta, GA
  • Rice Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • Emory Large Suburban
  • Rice Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Emory 15,175
  • Rice 8,961
  • Type
  • Emory Private 4 Year
  • Rice Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Emory #28
  • Rice #9
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Emory United Methodist
  • Rice -
  • Status
  • Emory Non-profit
  • Rice Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Emory
  • Rice

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Emory $64,280
  • Rice $64,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Emory $64,280
  • Rice $64,144
  • Room & Board
  • Emory $20,220
  • Rice $18,100
  • Average Net Price
  • Emory $27,303
  • Rice $23,589
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Emory $56,319
  • Rice $56,199
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Emory 47%
  • Rice 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Emory 33,450
  • Rice 32,473
  • Admitted
  • Emory 3,562
  • Rice 2,597
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Emory 10.6%
  • Rice 8%
  • Enrolled
  • Emory 40.4%
  • Rice 44.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Emory 1510
  • Rice 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Emory 33
  • Rice 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Emory 3.8
  • Rice 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Emory A-
  • Rice A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Emory Elite
  • Rice Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Emory Very High
  • Rice Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Emory 32/35
  • Rice 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Emory 1470/1550
  • Rice 1510/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Emory Test optional
  • Rice Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Emory Jan 1, 2027
  • Rice Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Emory 10:1
  • Rice 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Emory
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Rice
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Emory 90%
  • Rice 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Emory $81,500
  • Rice $86,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Emory 80%
  • Rice 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Emory $17,233
  • Rice $10,227
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Emory $178
  • Rice $105

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Emory 39%
  • Rice 56%
  • % Women
  • Emory 61%
  • Rice 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Emory Very High
  • Rice Very High
  • HBCU
  • Emory No
  • Rice No
  • % White
  • Emory 41%
  • Rice 37%
  • % Asian
  • Emory 19%
  • Rice 24%
  • % Black
  • Emory 9%
  • Rice 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Emory 8%
  • Rice 14%
  • % Native American
  • Emory 0%
  • Rice 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Emory 0%
  • Rice 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Emory 3%
  • Rice 4%
  • % International
  • Emory 17%
  • Rice 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Emory 3%
  • Rice 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Emory 15%
  • Rice 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Emory 64%
  • Rice 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Emory University in Atlanta, GA with Rice University in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Emory University is larger than Rice based on total student enrollment (15,175 students vs. 8,961 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Emory University is located in Atlanta, GA (Large Suburban setting); Rice University is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • Emory University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rice University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Emory University 10:1; Rice University 6:1.

Emory vs. Rice Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emory 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 Emory ($23,589 vs. $27,303).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rice University are 10.5% lower than at Emory University ($18,100 vs. $20,220).
  • Emory University is 0.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rice (about $136 more per year; $64,280.00 vs. $64,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.2% higher at Emory than at Rice University (about $136 more per year; $64,280.00 vs. $64,144.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rice University than at Emory University (56% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Emory University students is 0.2% larger than aid received by Rice University students ($56,319 vs. $56,199).

Emory vs. Rice Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Emory or Rice? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Rice and Emory.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Rice University (1540) is 30 points higher than at Emory (1510).
  • Incoming Rice students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Emory).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Emory University 1470/1550; Rice University 1510/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Emory University 32/35; Rice University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emory - Test optional; Rice - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Emory Jan 1, 2027; Rice Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Rice students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Emory (3.8).
  • Emory has a higher acceptance rate (10.6%) than Rice (8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.4% at Emory vs. 44.2% at Rice.

Emory vs. Rice Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emory and Rice? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Rice University's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Emory University's (90%).
  • Graduates from Rice University earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than Emory graduates about ten years after starting college ($86,400 vs. $81,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rice University graduates have a $7,006 lower median loan debt than Emory graduates ($10,227 vs. $17,233).
  • Among borrowers, Rice graduates have an estimated $73 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Emory graduates ($105 vs. $178).
  • More Rice graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emory students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 80%)

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.