Rice University is a small private research university in Houston, Texas. It is best known for engineering, natural sciences, architecture and business, and for one of the lowest student-to-faculty ratios in the US. Choose it for close attention from professors and access to Houston's energy, medical and space industries.
Houston, United States
Official website: rice.edu
#141
Top 20 (U.S. News)
6:1 — among the lowest in the US
Member
$58,000 – $64,000
International students, undergraduate and most master's programmes
$18,000 – $24,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on rice.edu before you apply.
MCS Computer Science (professional)
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 90
MBA (Jones Graduate School of Business)
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
MEE Electrical Engineering (professional)
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 90
MS Data Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 90
MS Bioengineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 90
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
Student-to-faculty ratio of 6:1 — classes are small even at graduate level.
Texas Medical Center next door — the world's largest medical complex, a key research partner.
Endowment above USD 8 billion — among the largest per student in the US.
Residential college system — every undergraduate belongs to one of 11 colleges.
Graduates join ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, NASA's Johnson Space Center and Houston's medical institutions.
Jones MBA graduates report median base salaries above USD 130,000, with energy and consulting the top sectors.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Engineering and CS bachelor's graduates report median starting salaries around USD 95,000-110,000.
Undergrad
4 Jan 2027
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
No UG intake
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 300-acre wooded campus sits beside Hermann Park and the Texas Medical Center, with brick-and-arch buildings around a central quad and most undergraduates living in the residential colleges.
Houston is the fourth-largest US city and one of the most affordable big cities for rent. The Museum District and light rail are next to campus, though a car helps beyond the inner loop.
Form I-20 issued by Rice
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
For fall 2027 undergraduate entry, Early Decision closes 1 November 2026 and Regular Decision closes 4 January 2027. Graduate deadlines vary: most engineering and science master's programmes close between 15 December and 1 February, and the Jones MBA runs rounds from October to April.
Undergraduates start in the fall (August). Most master's programmes are fall entry, though the professional Master of Computer Science and some engineering degrees also admit for spring (January). Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. Rice's Office of International Students and Scholars issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, electrical engineering, data science, bioengineering and the Jones MBA attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a strong bachelor's degree in a related field, TOEFL 90-100 or IELTS 7.0, and the GRE for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is highly selective, with an acceptance rate under 10%.
Rice offers need-based financial aid to admitted international undergraduates, though admission for them is need-aware, and merit awards such as the Trustee Distinguished Scholarship. Professional master's programmes offer partial merit scholarships, while research master's and PhD students are often funded through assistantships.
