Babson vs. Rice

Comparable Facts

Compare Babson College in Wellesley, MA with Rice University in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rice University is larger than Babson based on total student enrollment (8,961 students vs. 3,932 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Babson College is located in Wellesley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Rice University is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
• Babson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rice University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Babson College 15:1; Rice University 6:1.

Babson vs. Rice Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Babson 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 Babson ($23,589 vs. $32,019).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rice University are 16% lower than at Babson College ($18,100 vs. $21,550).
• Rice University is 12.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Babson (about $6,992 more per year; $64,144.00 vs. $57,152.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.2% higher at Rice than at Babson College (about $6,992 more per year; $64,144.00 vs. $57,152.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rice University than at Babson College (56% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rice University students is 16.7% larger than aid received by Babson College students ($56,199 vs. $48,173).

Babson vs. Rice Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Babson 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 Babson.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rice University (1540) is 80 points higher than at Babson (1460).
• Incoming Rice students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Babson).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Babson College 1390/1530; Rice University 1510/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Babson College 31/34; Rice University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Babson - Test optional; Rice - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Babson Jan 3, 2027; Rice Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Rice students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Babson (3.79).
• Babson has a higher acceptance rate (17.1%) than Rice (8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 39% at Babson vs. 44.2% at Rice.

Babson vs. Rice Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Babson 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 Babson College's (90%).
• Graduates from Babson College earn a median of about $22,100 more per year than Rice graduates about ten years after starting college ($108,500 vs. $86,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rice University graduates have a $15,773 lower median loan debt than Babson graduates ($10,227 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Rice graduates have an estimated $163 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Babson graduates ($105 vs. $268).
• More Babson 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.