USC vs. Rice

Deciding between University of Southern California 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.

University of Southern California
Rice University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • USC Los Angeles, CA
  • Rice Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • USC Large City
  • Rice Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • USC 46,566
  • Rice 8,961
  • Type
  • USC Private 4 Year
  • Rice Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • USC #37
  • Rice #9
  • Religious Affiliation
  • USC -
  • Rice -
  • Status
  • USC Non-profit
  • Rice Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • USC
  • Rice

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • USC $72,097
  • Rice $64,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • USC $72,097
  • Rice $64,144
  • Room & Board
  • USC $19,931
  • Rice $18,100
  • Average Net Price
  • USC $43,412
  • Rice $23,589
  • Average Grant Aid
  • USC $46,897
  • Rice $56,199
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • USC 70%
  • Rice 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • USC 82,027
  • Rice 32,473
  • Admitted
  • USC 8,050
  • Rice 2,597
  • Acceptance Rate
  • USC 9.8%
  • Rice 8%
  • Enrolled
  • USC 43.3%
  • Rice 44.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • USC 1500
  • Rice 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • USC 33
  • Rice 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • USC 3.83
  • Rice 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • USC A-
  • Rice A
  • Admissions Standards
  • USC Elite
  • Rice Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • USC Very High
  • Rice Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • USC 32/35
  • Rice 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • USC 1450/1550
  • Rice 1510/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • USC Test optional
  • Rice Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • USC
  • Rice Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • USC 9:1
  • Rice 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • USC
    • Business (25%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Rice
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • USC 90%
  • Rice 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • USC $85,500
  • Rice $86,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • USC 81%
  • Rice 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • USC $22,375
  • Rice $10,227
  • Median Loan Payment
  • USC $231
  • Rice $105

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • USC 47%
  • Rice 56%
  • % Women
  • USC 53%
  • Rice 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • USC Very High
  • Rice Very High
  • HBCU
  • USC No
  • Rice No
  • % White
  • USC 40%
  • Rice 37%
  • % Asian
  • USC 22%
  • Rice 24%
  • % Black
  • USC 4%
  • Rice 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • USC 14%
  • Rice 14%
  • % Native American
  • USC 0%
  • Rice 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • USC 0%
  • Rice 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • USC 5%
  • Rice 4%
  • % International
  • USC 13%
  • Rice 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • USC 1%
  • Rice 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • USC 42%
  • Rice 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • USC 39%
  • Rice 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA with Rice University in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Southern California is larger than Rice based on total student enrollment (46,566 students vs. 8,961 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Rice University is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • University of Southern California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rice University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Southern California 9:1; Rice University 6:1.

USC vs. Rice Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USC 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 USC ($23,589 vs. $43,412).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rice University are 9.2% lower than at University of Southern California ($18,100 vs. $19,931).
  • University of Southern California is 12.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rice (about $7,953 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $64,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.4% higher at USC than at Rice University (about $7,953 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $64,144.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Southern California than at Rice University (70% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rice University students is 19.8% larger than aid received by University of Southern California students ($56,199 vs. $46,897).

USC vs. Rice Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USC 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 USC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rice University (1540) is 40 points higher than at USC (1500).
  • Incoming Rice students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at USC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Southern California 1450/1550; Rice University 1510/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Southern California 32/35; Rice University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USC - Test optional; Rice - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Rice Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Rice students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at USC (3.83).
  • USC has a higher acceptance rate (9.8%) than Rice (8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.3% at USC vs. 44.2% at Rice.

USC vs. Rice Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USC 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).

  • Rice University's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than University of Southern California's (90%).
  • Graduates from Rice University earn a median of about $900 more per year than USC graduates about ten years after starting college ($86,400 vs. $85,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rice University graduates have a $12,148 lower median loan debt than USC graduates ($10,227 vs. $22,375).
  • Among borrowers, Rice graduates have an estimated $126 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USC graduates ($105 vs. $231).
  • More Rice graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USC students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 81%)

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.