Rice vs. UT Austin

Comparable Facts

Compare Rice University in Houston, TX with The University of Texas at Austin in Austin, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Texas at Austin is larger than Rice based on total student enrollment (53,864 students vs. 8,961 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rice University is located in Houston, TX (Large City setting); The University of Texas at Austin is in Austin, TX (Large City setting).
• Rice University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Austin is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rice University 6:1; The University of Texas at Austin 18:1.

Rice vs. UT Austin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rice or UT Austin? 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 The University of Texas at Austin than Rice ($17,942 vs. $23,589).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at Austin are 18.1% lower than at Rice University ($14,828 vs. $18,100).
• Rice University is 448.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UT Austin (about $52,456 more per year; $64,144.00 vs. $11,688.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 42.8% higher at Rice than at The University of Texas at Austin (about $19,236 more per year; $64,144.00 vs. $44,908.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rice University than at The University of Texas at Austin (56% vs. 42%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rice University students is 310.8% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at Austin students ($56,199 vs. $13,681).

Rice vs. UT Austin Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rice University (1540) is 160 points higher than at UT Austin (1380).
• Incoming Rice students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at UT Austin).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rice University 1510/1570; The University of Texas at Austin 1250/1510.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rice University 34/35; The University of Texas at Austin 27/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rice - Test optional; UT Austin - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Rice Jan 1, 2027; UT Austin Dec 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Rice students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at UT Austin (3.8).
• UT Austin has a higher acceptance rate (26.6%) than Rice (8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 44.2% at Rice vs. 47.4% at UT Austin.

Rice vs. UT Austin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rice and UT Austin? 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 The University of Texas at Austin's (81%).
• Graduates from Rice University earn a median of about $17,800 more per year than UT Austin graduates about ten years after starting college ($86,400 vs. $68,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rice University graduates have a $12,023 lower median loan debt than UT Austin graduates ($10,227 vs. $22,250).
• Among borrowers, Rice graduates have an estimated $125 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UT Austin graduates ($105 vs. $230).
• More Rice graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Austin students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 77%)

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.