MIT vs. Rice

Deciding between Massachusetts Institute of Technology 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.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Rice University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MIT Cambridge, MA
  • Rice Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • MIT Midsize City
  • Rice Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • MIT 11,886
  • Rice 8,961
  • Type
  • MIT Private 4 Year
  • Rice Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MIT #8
  • Rice #9
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MIT -
  • Rice -
  • Status
  • MIT Non-profit
  • Rice Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MIT
  • Rice

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Rice $64,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Rice $64,144
  • Room & Board
  • MIT $20,280
  • Rice $18,100
  • Average Net Price
  • MIT $20,996
  • Rice $23,589
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MIT $61,734
  • Rice $56,199
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MIT 59%
  • Rice 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MIT 28,232
  • Rice 32,473
  • Admitted
  • MIT 1,284
  • Rice 2,597
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MIT 4.5%
  • Rice 8%
  • Enrolled
  • MIT 85.8%
  • Rice 44.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MIT 1550
  • Rice 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • MIT 35
  • Rice 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • MIT 3.96
  • Rice 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MIT A
  • Rice A
  • Admissions Standards
  • MIT Elite
  • Rice Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • MIT Extreme
  • Rice Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • MIT 34/36
  • Rice 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • MIT 1520/1580
  • Rice 1510/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MIT Required
  • Rice Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MIT Jan 1, 2027
  • Rice Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MIT 3:1
  • Rice 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MIT
    • Engineering (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Physical Sciences (10%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • Rice
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MIT 93%
  • Rice 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MIT $142,100
  • Rice $86,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MIT 92%
  • Rice 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MIT $17,316
  • Rice $10,227
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MIT $179
  • Rice $105

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MIT 56%
  • Rice 56%
  • % Women
  • MIT 44%
  • Rice 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MIT Very High
  • Rice Very High
  • HBCU
  • MIT No
  • Rice No
  • % White
  • MIT 37%
  • Rice 37%
  • % Asian
  • MIT 25%
  • Rice 24%
  • % Black
  • MIT 6%
  • Rice 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • MIT 15%
  • Rice 14%
  • % Native American
  • MIT 0%
  • Rice 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MIT 0%
  • Rice 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MIT 6%
  • Rice 4%
  • % International
  • MIT 10%
  • Rice 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MIT 2%
  • Rice 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MIT 8%
  • Rice 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MIT 80%
  • Rice 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA with Rice University in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is larger than Rice based on total student enrollment (11,886 students vs. 8,961 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Rice University is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rice University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1; Rice University 6:1.

MIT vs. Rice Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MIT 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 Massachusetts Institute of Technology than Rice ($20,996 vs. $23,589).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rice University are 10.7% lower than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($18,100 vs. $20,280).
  • Rice University is 2.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than MIT (about $1,748 more per year; $64,144.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.8% higher at Rice than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (about $1,748 more per year; $64,144.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at Rice University (59% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students is 9.8% larger than aid received by Rice University students ($61,734 vs. $56,199).

MIT vs. Rice Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MIT 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 MIT.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1550) is 10 points higher than at Rice (1540).
  • Incoming MIT students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Rice).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580; Rice University 1510/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36; Rice University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MIT - Required; Rice - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MIT Jan 1, 2027; Rice Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MIT students have the same average high school GPA (3.96) as students at Rice (3.96).
  • Rice has a higher acceptance rate (8%) than MIT (4.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 85.8% at MIT vs. 44.2% at Rice.

MIT vs. Rice Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MIT 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).

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Rice University's (92%).
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn a median of about $55,700 more per year than Rice graduates about ten years after starting college ($142,100 vs. $86,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rice University graduates have a $7,089 lower median loan debt than MIT graduates ($10,227 vs. $17,316).
  • Among borrowers, Rice graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MIT graduates ($105 vs. $179).
  • More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rice students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 87%)

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.