University of Houston vs. Rice University
A side-by-side comparison of Houston and Rice — acceptance rates (76% vs. 8.0%), SAT scores (1140–1310 vs. 1510–1560), tuition, financial aid, and majors, drawn from each school's official Common Data Set.
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Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Admissions
Houston does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
Houston is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Houston's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 71.3% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Houston does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Houston weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Houston's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $15,888 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Decision
Rice offers binding Early Decision. Applying early can meaningfully change your odds — but ED commits you to enroll if admitted.
Admit rate by application plan
% admitted~2.4× higher admit rate applying early.
Standardized Tests
Rice is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Rice's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 44% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Rice does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Rice weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Rice's Common Data Set.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
Writing your Houston or Rice application essay?
Esslo gives you line-by-line feedback on your Common App and supplemental essays — so your application stands out at Houston, Rice, and beyond.
Houston vs. Rice: frequently asked questions
Is Houston or Rice harder to get into?＋
Rice is more selective: it admits about 8.0% of applicants, compared with 76% at Houston. Both are competitive, and your odds depend on far more than the overall rate.
Which has higher SAT scores, Houston or Rice?＋
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1140–1310 at Houston and 1510–1560 at Rice on the SAT. Treat the ranges as a benchmark — a score inside or above a school's range keeps you competitive there.
Is Houston or Rice cheaper for out-of-state students?＋
Houston has the lower published price for out-of-state students — $27,776 in tuition and fees versus $67,497 at Rice, a gap of about $39,721 a year before financial aid.
Does Houston or Rice have a higher graduation rate?＋
Rice graduates a higher share of its students within six years — 95% versus 66% at Houston.
Source: University of Houston Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-11. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Houston. Banner photo by Brian Reading, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Source: Rice University Common Data Set 2024-2025. Figures transcribed 2026-06-07. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Rice. Banner photo by Claudia Paine22, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).