Trajecta score
+1.3 since '20Ranked #7 of 2,375
5-year trend
85.4 · #4
2020
84.2 · #13
2021
85.8 · #6
2022
86.9 · #4
2023
86.7 · #5
2024
Academic Profile
95/ 100
Career Outcomes
86/ 100
Student Success
95/ 100
Affordability
86/ 100
Academic Investment
98/ 100
Access & Equity
52/ 100
Academic Profile
95
Career Outcomes
86
Student Success
95
Affordability
86
Academic Investment
98
Access & Equity
52
AI Fit Analysis
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See how your profile stacks up at Rice University — predicted chances, program fit, and a personalized application strategy.
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Cost / Net Price
$80k / $13k
SAT Avg
1,553
Retention
97%
Grad Rate
95%
Admissions
Test Scores
Scores represent the midpoint of enrolled students, not a cutoff.
Finances
Tuition
In-State Tuition
$64,144
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$64,144
per year
Aid & Debt
Pell Grant Share
17%
undergraduates receiving Pell
Federal Loan Share
6%
students borrowing
Median Debt
among completers
$11,000
Admissions Factors
Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025, what Rice University reports weighing in admissions.
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of secondary school record | Rigor of secondary school record: Very Important | |||
| Class rank | Class rank: Very Important | |||
| Academic GPA | Academic GPA: Very Important | |||
| Standardized test scores | Standardized test scores: Very Important | |||
| Application essay | Application essay: Very Important | |||
| Recommendation(s) | Recommendation(s): Very Important | |||
| Interview | Interview: Considered | |||
| Extracurricular activities | Extracurricular activities: Very Important | |||
| Talent/ability | Talent/ability: Very Important | |||
| Character/personal qualities | Character/personal qualities: Very Important | |||
| First generation | First generation: Considered | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | Alumni/ae relation: Not Considered | |||
| Geographical residence | Geographical residence: Considered | |||
| State residency | State residency: Considered | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Religious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered | |||
| Volunteer work | Volunteer work: Considered | |||
| Work experience | Work experience: Considered | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | Level of applicant's interest: Considered |
Supplemental Essays · 2025-26
school's admissions site ↗Why your academic areas
Required150 wordsPlease explain why you wish to study in the academic areas you selected.
What appeals to you about Rice
Required150 wordsBased upon your exploration of Rice University, what elements of the Rice experience appeal to you?
Residential College System contribution
RequiredChoose 1500 wordsThe Residential College System is at the heart of Rice student life and is heavily influenced by the particular cultural traditions and unique life experiences each student brings. What life experiences and/or unique perspectives are you looking forward to sharing with fellow Owls in the residential college system?
Background and community impact
RequiredChoose 1500 wordsWhat perspectives shaped by your background, experiences, upbringing, and/or cultural identity inspire you to join our community of change agents at Rice?
Drafting these? Write them with AI feedback in Trajecta →
Methodology
The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.
Read the full methodologyMedian earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.
Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.
Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.
Graduation rate and first-year retention.
Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.
Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.
Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.
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