Rice vs. UT Dallas

Comparable Facts

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

The University of Texas at Dallas is larger than Rice based on total student enrollment (29,886 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 Dallas is in Richardson, TX (Small City setting).
• Rice University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Dallas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rice University 6:1; The University of Texas at Dallas 23:1.

Rice vs. UT Dallas Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rice or UT Dallas? 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 Dallas than Rice ($14,916 vs. $23,589).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at Dallas are 20.3% lower than at Rice University ($14,430 vs. $18,100).
• Rice University is 338% more expensive for in-state tuition than UT Dallas (about $49,500 more per year; $64,144.00 vs. $14,644.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 59.8% higher at Rice than at The University of Texas at Dallas (about $24,000 more per year; $64,144.00 vs. $40,144.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas at Dallas than at Rice University (64% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rice University students is 276.9% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at Dallas students ($56,199 vs. $14,909).

Rice vs. UT Dallas Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rice University (1540) is 250 points higher than at UT Dallas (1290).
• Incoming Rice students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 28 at UT Dallas).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rice University 1510/1570; The University of Texas at Dallas 1160/1410.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rice University 34/35; The University of Texas at Dallas 24/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rice - Test optional; UT Dallas - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Rice Jan 1, 2027; UT Dallas May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Rice students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at UT Dallas (3.78).
• UT Dallas has a higher acceptance rate (65.1%) than Rice (8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 44.2% at Rice vs. 20.3% at UT Dallas.

Rice vs. UT Dallas Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rice and UT Dallas? 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 Dallas's (61%).
• Graduates from Rice University earn a median of about $27,400 more per year than UT Dallas graduates about ten years after starting college ($86,400 vs. $59,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rice University graduates have a $8,523 lower median loan debt than UT Dallas graduates ($10,227 vs. $18,750).
• Among borrowers, Rice graduates have an estimated $88 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UT Dallas graduates ($105 vs. $193).
• More Rice graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Dallas students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 64%)

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.