Rice vs. UT Austin

Rice University and The University of Texas at Austin side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Rice University
The University of Texas at Austin

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Rice (8% admitted vs 26.6%). Typical SAT 1540 vs 1380.
  • Cheaper after aid: UT Austin. Average net price is $17,942 vs $23,589 at Rice.
  • Graduation: Rice 92% vs UT Austin 81%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Rice $86,400 vs UT Austin $68,600 (median).
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Key differences

Rice University The University of Texas at Austin
Acceptance rate
Rice more selective
Rice8%
UT Austin26.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Rice higher
Rice1510-1570
UT Austin1250-1510
Average net price
UT Austin $5,647 less
Rice$23,589
UT Austin$17,942
In-state tuition
UT Austin $52,456 less
Rice$64,144
UT Austin$11,688
Out-of-state tuition
UT Austin $19,236 less
Rice$64,144
UT Austin$44,908
Graduation rate
Rice +11 pts
Rice92%
UT Austin81%
Median earnings (10 years)
Rice +$17,800
Rice$86,400
UT Austin$68,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Rice 32,473
  • UT Austin 72,885
  • Admitted
  • Rice 2,597
  • UT Austin 19,417
  • Acceptance rate
  • Rice 8%
  • UT Austin 26.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Rice 44.2%
  • UT Austin 47.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rice 1540
  • UT Austin 1380
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rice 34
  • UT Austin 30
  • Average high school GPA
  • Rice 3.96
  • UT Austin 3.8
  • Typical high school grades
  • Rice A
  • UT Austin A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Rice Elite
  • UT Austin Exceptional
  • Applicant competition
  • Rice Extreme
  • UT Austin High
  • SAT range
  • Rice 1510-1570
  • UT Austin 1250-1510
  • ACT range
  • Rice 34-35
  • UT Austin 27-33
  • Submit test scores
  • Rice Test optional
  • UT Austin Required
  • Application deadline
  • Rice Jan 1, 2027
  • UT Austin Dec 1, 2026
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Rice $64,144
  • UT Austin $11,688
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Rice $64,144
  • UT Austin $44,908
  • Room & board
  • Rice $18,100
  • UT Austin $14,828
  • Average net price
  • Rice $23,589
  • UT Austin $17,942
  • Average grant aid
  • Rice $56,199
  • UT Austin $13,681
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Rice 56%
  • UT Austin 42%
  • Graduation rate
  • Rice 92%
  • UT Austin 81%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Rice $86,400
  • UT Austin $68,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • Rice 87%
  • UT Austin 77%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Rice $10,227
  • UT Austin $22,250
  • Median loan payment
  • Rice $105
  • UT Austin $230
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Rice 6:1
  • UT Austin 18:1
  • Popular majors
  • Rice
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • UT Austin
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • Location
  • Rice Houston, TX
  • UT Austin Austin, TX
  • Setting
  • Rice Large City
  • UT Austin Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Rice 8,961
  • UT Austin 53,864
  • Type
  • Rice Private 4 Year
  • UT Austin Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Rice #9
  • UT Austin #105

Comparable Facts

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

The University of Texas at Austin is larger than Rice based on total student enrollment (53,864 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 Austin is in Austin, TX (Large City setting).
  • Rice University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Austin is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rice University 6:1; The University of Texas at Austin 18:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at Austin are 18.1% lower than at Rice University ($14,828 vs. $18,100).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 42.8% higher at Rice than at The University of Texas at Austin (about $19,236 more per year; $64,144 vs. $44,908).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rice University than at The University of Texas at Austin (56% vs. 42%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rice University students is 310.8% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at Austin students ($56,199 vs. $13,681).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 4 points higher at Rice than at UT Austin (34 vs. 30, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Rice, required at UT Austin.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Rice Jan 1, 2027; UT Austin Dec 1, 2026.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Rice average a 3.96 high school GPA, 0.16 higher than at UT Austin (3.8).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 44.2% at Rice vs. 47.4% at UT Austin.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rice University graduates have a $12,023 lower median loan debt than UT Austin graduates ($10,227 vs. $22,250).
  • Among borrowers, Rice graduates have an estimated $125 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UT Austin graduates ($105 vs. $230).
  • More Rice graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Austin students, three years after graduation (87% vs. 77%).

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

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