Rice vs. Stanford

Deciding between Rice University and Stanford 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.

Rice University
Stanford University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rice Houston, TX
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • Rice Large City
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Rice 8,961
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • Rice Private 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rice #9
  • Stanford #3
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rice -
  • Stanford -
  • Status
  • Rice Non-profit
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rice
  • Stanford

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rice $64,144
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rice $64,144
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & Board
  • Rice $18,100
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average Net Price
  • Rice $23,589
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rice $56,199
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rice 56%
  • Stanford 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rice 32,473
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • Rice 2,597
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rice 8%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Rice 44.2%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rice 1540
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rice 34
  • Stanford 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rice 3.96
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rice A
  • Stanford A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rice Elite
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rice Extreme
  • Stanford Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Rice 34/35
  • Stanford 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Rice 1510/1570
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rice Test optional
  • Stanford Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Rice Jan 1, 2027
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rice 6:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rice
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rice 92%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rice $86,400
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rice 87%
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rice $10,227
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rice $105
  • Stanford $128

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rice 56%
  • Stanford 52%
  • % Women
  • Rice 44%
  • Stanford 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rice Very High
  • Stanford Very High
  • HBCU
  • Rice No
  • Stanford No
  • % White
  • Rice 37%
  • Stanford 37%
  • % Asian
  • Rice 24%
  • Stanford 20%
  • % Black
  • Rice 7%
  • Stanford 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rice 14%
  • Stanford 15%
  • % Native American
  • Rice 0%
  • Stanford 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rice 0%
  • Stanford 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rice 4%
  • Stanford 10%
  • % International
  • Rice 12%
  • Stanford 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rice 2%
  • Stanford 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rice 38%
  • Stanford 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rice 46%
  • Stanford 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Stanford University is larger than Rice based on total student enrollment (18,625 students vs. 8,961 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Rice vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rice or Stanford? 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 Stanford ($23,589 vs. $25,078).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rice University are 15.1% lower than at Stanford University ($18,100 vs. $21,315).
  • Stanford University is 2.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rice (about $1,766 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $64,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.8% higher at Stanford than at Rice University (about $1,766 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $64,144.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stanford University than at Rice University (61% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Stanford University students is 11.7% larger than aid received by Rice University students ($62,755 vs. $56,199).

Rice vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rice or Stanford? 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 Stanford and Rice.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Rice (1540).
  • Incoming Rice students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Stanford (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rice University 1510/1570; Stanford University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rice University 34/35; Stanford University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rice - Test optional; Stanford - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Rice Jan 1, 2027; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Rice students have the same average high school GPA (3.96) as students at Stanford (3.96).
  • Rice has a higher acceptance rate (8%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 44.2% at Rice vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

Rice vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rice and Stanford? 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).

  • Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Rice University's (92%).
  • Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $36,500 more per year than Rice graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $86,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rice University graduates have a $2,248 lower median loan debt than Stanford graduates ($10,227 vs. $12,475).
  • Among borrowers, Rice graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Stanford graduates ($105 vs. $128).
  • More Stanford graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rice students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.