Wake Forest vs. Rice

Wake Forest University and Rice University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Wake Forest University
Rice University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Rice (8% admitted vs 21.7%). Typical SAT 1540 vs 1470.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $24,401 at Wake Forest vs $23,589 at Rice. Wake Forest in-state tuition is about $3,498 more per year.
  • Graduation: Wake Forest 88% vs Rice 92%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Wake Forest $77,200 vs Rice $86,400 (median).
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Key differences

Wake Forest University Rice University
Acceptance rate
Rice more selective
Wake Forest21.7%
Rice8%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Rice higher
Wake Forest1410-1520
Rice1510-1570
Average net price
About even
Wake Forest$24,401
Rice$23,589
In-state tuition
Rice $3,498 less
Wake Forest$67,642
Rice$64,144
Out-of-state tuition
Rice $3,498 less
Wake Forest$67,642
Rice$64,144
Graduation rate
Rice +4 pts
Wake Forest88%
Rice92%
Median earnings (10 years)
Rice +$9,200
Wake Forest$77,200
Rice$86,400

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Wake Forest 18,727
  • Rice 32,473
  • Admitted
  • Wake Forest 4,058
  • Rice 2,597
  • Acceptance rate
  • Wake Forest 21.7%
  • Rice 8%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Wake Forest 36.1%
  • Rice 44.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wake Forest 1470
  • Rice 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wake Forest 33
  • Rice 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Wake Forest -
  • Rice 3.96
  • Typical high school grades
  • Wake Forest -
  • Rice A
  • Admissions standards
  • Wake Forest Exceptional
  • Rice Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Wake Forest Very High
  • Rice Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Wake Forest 1410-1520
  • Rice 1510-1570
  • ACT range
  • Wake Forest 32-34
  • Rice 34-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Wake Forest Test optional
  • Rice Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027
  • Rice Jan 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Rice $64,144
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Rice $64,144
  • Room & board
  • Wake Forest $18,494
  • Rice $18,100
  • Average net price
  • Wake Forest $24,401
  • Rice $23,589
  • Average grant aid
  • Wake Forest $63,117
  • Rice $56,199
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Wake Forest 35%
  • Rice 56%
  • Graduation rate
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Rice 92%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Wake Forest $77,200
  • Rice $86,400
  • Making student loan payments
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Rice 87%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Wake Forest $23,000
  • Rice $10,227
  • Median loan payment
  • Wake Forest $237
  • Rice $105
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Wake Forest 10:1
  • Rice 6:1
  • Popular majors
  • Wake Forest
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Rice
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Location
  • Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC
  • Rice Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • Wake Forest Midsize City
  • Rice Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Wake Forest 9,322
  • Rice 8,961
  • Type
  • Wake Forest Private 4 Year
  • Rice Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Wake Forest #49
  • Rice #9

Comparable Facts

Compare Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC with Rice University in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Wake Forest University is larger than Rice based on total student enrollment (9,322 students vs. 8,961 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); Rice University is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • Wake Forest University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rice University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wake Forest University 10:1; Rice University 6:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rice University are 2.1% lower than at Wake Forest University ($18,100 vs. $18,494).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.5% higher at Wake Forest than at Rice University (about $3,498 more per year; $67,642 vs. $64,144).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rice University than at Wake Forest University (56% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 12.3% larger than aid received by Rice University students ($63,117 vs. $56,199).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Rice than at Wake Forest (34 vs. 33, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Wake Forest and Rice.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027; Rice Jan 1, 2027.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.1% at Wake Forest vs. 44.2% at Rice.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rice University graduates have a $12,773 lower median loan debt than Wake Forest graduates ($10,227 vs. $23,000).
  • Among borrowers, Rice graduates have an estimated $132 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wake Forest graduates ($105 vs. $237).
  • More Wake Forest 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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