MIT vs. Rice

Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Rice University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Rice University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: MIT (4.5% admitted vs 8%). Typical SAT 1550 vs 1540.
  • Cheaper after aid: MIT. Average net price is $20,996 vs $23,589 at Rice.
  • Graduation: MIT 93% vs Rice 92%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: MIT $142,100 vs Rice $86,400 (median).
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Key differences

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Rice University
Acceptance rate
MIT more selective
MIT4.5%
Rice8%
SAT range (middle 50%)
MIT higher
MIT1520-1580
Rice1510-1570
Average net price
MIT $2,593 less
MIT$20,996
Rice$23,589
In-state tuition
MIT $1,748 less
MIT$62,396
Rice$64,144
Out-of-state tuition
MIT $1,748 less
MIT$62,396
Rice$64,144
Graduation rate
MIT +1 pts
MIT93%
Rice92%
Median earnings (10 years)
MIT +$55,700
MIT$142,100
Rice$86,400

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • MIT 28,232
  • Rice 32,473
  • Admitted
  • MIT 1,284
  • Rice 2,597
  • Acceptance rate
  • MIT 4.5%
  • Rice 8%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • MIT 85.8%
  • Rice 44.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MIT 1550
  • Rice 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • MIT 35
  • Rice 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • MIT 3.96
  • Rice 3.96
  • Typical high school grades
  • MIT A
  • Rice A
  • Admissions standards
  • MIT Elite
  • Rice Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • MIT Extreme
  • Rice Extreme
  • SAT range
  • MIT 1520-1580
  • Rice 1510-1570
  • ACT range
  • MIT 34-36
  • Rice 34-35
  • Submit test scores
  • MIT Required
  • Rice Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • MIT Jan 1, 2027
  • Rice Jan 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Rice $64,144
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Rice $64,144
  • Room & board
  • MIT $20,280
  • Rice $18,100
  • Average net price
  • MIT $20,996
  • Rice $23,589
  • Average grant aid
  • MIT $61,734
  • Rice $56,199
  • % receiving grant aid
  • MIT 59%
  • Rice 56%
  • Graduation rate
  • MIT 93%
  • Rice 92%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • MIT $142,100
  • Rice $86,400
  • Making student loan payments
  • MIT 92%
  • Rice 87%
  • Median student loan debt
  • MIT $17,316
  • Rice $10,227
  • Median loan payment
  • MIT $179
  • Rice $105
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • MIT 3:1
  • Rice 6:1
  • Popular majors
  • MIT
    • Engineering (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Physical Sciences (10%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • Rice
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Location
  • MIT Cambridge, MA
  • Rice Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • MIT Midsize City
  • Rice Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • MIT 11,886
  • Rice 8,961
  • Type
  • MIT Private 4 Year
  • Rice Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • MIT #8
  • Rice #9

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA with Rice University in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is larger than Rice based on total student enrollment (11,886 students vs. 8,961 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Rice University is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rice University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1; Rice University 6:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rice University are 10.7% lower than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($18,100 vs. $20,280).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.8% higher at Rice than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (about $1,748 more per year; $64,144 vs. $62,396).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at Rice University (59% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students is 9.8% larger than aid received by Rice University students ($61,734 vs. $56,199).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at MIT than at Rice (35 vs. 34, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are required at MIT, test optional at Rice.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MIT Jan 1, 2027; Rice Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman MIT students have the same average high school GPA (3.96) as students at Rice (3.96).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 85.8% at MIT vs. 44.2% at Rice.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rice University graduates have a $7,089 lower median loan debt than MIT graduates ($10,227 vs. $17,316).
  • Among borrowers, Rice graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MIT graduates ($105 vs. $179).
  • More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rice students, three years after graduation (92% vs. 87%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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