Rice vs. Texas Tech

Rice University and Texas Tech University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Rice University
Texas Tech University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Rice (8% admitted vs 72.6%). Typical SAT 1540 vs 1190.
  • Cheaper after aid: Texas Tech. Average net price is $16,919 vs $23,589 at Rice.
  • Graduation: Rice 92% vs Texas Tech 61%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Rice $86,400 vs Texas Tech $58,500 (median).
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Key differences

Rice University Texas Tech University
Acceptance rate
Rice more selective
Rice8%
Texas Tech72.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Rice higher
Rice1510-1570
Texas Tech1090-1280
Average net price
Texas Tech $6,670 less
Rice$23,589
Texas Tech$16,919
In-state tuition
Texas Tech $52,292 less
Rice$64,144
Texas Tech$11,852
Out-of-state tuition
Texas Tech $39,693 less
Rice$64,144
Texas Tech$24,451
Graduation rate
Rice +31 pts
Rice92%
Texas Tech61%
Median earnings (10 years)
Rice +$27,900
Rice$86,400
Texas Tech$58,500

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Rice 32,473
  • Texas Tech 34,356
  • Admitted
  • Rice 2,597
  • Texas Tech 24,958
  • Acceptance rate
  • Rice 8%
  • Texas Tech 72.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Rice 44.2%
  • Texas Tech 27.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rice 1540
  • Texas Tech 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rice 34
  • Texas Tech 25
  • Average high school GPA
  • Rice 3.96
  • Texas Tech 3.76
  • Typical high school grades
  • Rice A
  • Texas Tech A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Rice Elite
  • Texas Tech Challenging
  • Applicant competition
  • Rice Extreme
  • Texas Tech Low
  • SAT range
  • Rice 1510-1570
  • Texas Tech 1090-1280
  • ACT range
  • Rice 34-35
  • Texas Tech 23-28
  • Submit test scores
  • Rice Test optional
  • Texas Tech Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Rice Jan 1, 2027
  • Texas Tech
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Rice $64,144
  • Texas Tech $11,852
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Rice $64,144
  • Texas Tech $24,451
  • Room & board
  • Rice $18,100
  • Texas Tech $10,742
  • Average net price
  • Rice $23,589
  • Texas Tech $16,919
  • Average grant aid
  • Rice $56,199
  • Texas Tech $10,494
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Rice 56%
  • Texas Tech 79%
  • Graduation rate
  • Rice 92%
  • Texas Tech 61%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Rice $86,400
  • Texas Tech $58,500
  • Making student loan payments
  • Rice 87%
  • Texas Tech 66%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Rice $10,227
  • Texas Tech $22,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Rice $105
  • Texas Tech $232
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Rice 6:1
  • Texas Tech 20:1
  • Popular majors
  • Rice
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Texas Tech
    • Business (23%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Work and Family Studies (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Location
  • Rice Houston, TX
  • Texas Tech Lubbock, TX
  • Setting
  • Rice Large City
  • Texas Tech Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Rice 8,961
  • Texas Tech 40,757
  • Type
  • Rice Private 4 Year
  • Texas Tech Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Rice #9
  • Texas Tech #448

Comparable Facts

Compare Rice University in Houston, TX with Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Texas Tech University is larger than Rice based on total student enrollment (40,757 students vs. 8,961 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rice University is located in Houston, TX (Large City setting); Texas Tech University is in Lubbock, TX (Midsize City setting).
  • Rice University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Texas Tech University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rice University 6:1; Texas Tech University 20:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Texas Tech University are 40.7% lower than at Rice University ($10,742 vs. $18,100).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 162.3% higher at Rice than at Texas Tech University (about $39,693 more per year; $64,144 vs. $24,451).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Texas Tech University than at Rice University (79% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rice University students is 435.5% larger than aid received by Texas Tech University students ($56,199 vs. $10,494).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 9 points higher at Rice than at Texas Tech (34 vs. 25, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Rice and Texas Tech.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Rice Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Rice average a 3.96 high school GPA, 0.2 higher than at Texas Tech (3.76).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 44.2% at Rice vs. 27.1% at Texas Tech.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rice University graduates have a $12,273 lower median loan debt than Texas Tech graduates ($10,227 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, Rice graduates have an estimated $127 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Texas Tech graduates ($105 vs. $232).
  • More Rice graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Texas Tech students, three years after graduation (87% vs. 66%).

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

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