Rice University or Georgia Tech: Which is better in USA?

Rice University vs Georgia Tech

Rice University is a highly selective private research university in Houston, Texas. It is a mid-sized school with approximately 8,300 students. Admissions are very selective with an acceptance rate of around 7.9%. Rice is particularly strong in majors including Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. The six-year graduation rate is high at 93%. Graduates have excellent results, with a median ten-year post-graduation salary of roughly INR 94,00,000 (equivalent to $113,000). 

Georgia Institute of Technology, or Georgia Tech, is a highly ranked public research university located in Atlanta, Georgia. It is a very large school with more than 45,000 students in the undergraduate and graduate programs. Admissions are competitive with an acceptance rate of roughly 52%. Georgia Tech's most competitive majors include Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Design, and Physical Sciences. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Alumni have a reported median salary of almost INR 90,00,000 (equivalent to $108,000) after ten years from graduation. 

Overview Comparison
Rice UniversityGeorgia Institute of Technology
Collegedunia Score5.7 Out of 106.1 Out of 10
ranking (overall)# 103 Times Higher Education 2026
# 119 QS World University 2026
# 39 Financial Times 2025
# 41 Times Higher Education 2026
# 123 QS World University 2026
# 40 Times Higher Education 2025
Subject Strength# 89 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025
# 351 for Medicine by QS World University 2025
# 4 for Engineering by US News 2025
# 15 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025
# 201 for Medicine by QS World University 2025
ProgramsUG Programs -45
PG Programs -26
Doctorate Programs -3
UG Programs -42
PG Programs -63
Doctorate Programs -8
Acceptance Rate7.9 %14.0 %
Exam ScoreDuolingo-130
GMAT-680
IELTS-7
SAT-1490
TOEFL-100
GMAT-620
GRE-305
IELTS-7
SAT-1300
TOEFL-90
Cost to StudyAverage Tuition Fees   50310
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  51500
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 24200 Per Year
Average Tuition Fees  29140
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 31638 Per Year
placement (average package)

THE Global University Employability Rankings- #56; Average salary- 82,883 USD; Top recruiters: Microsoft Corp, IB Corp, Baylor College of Medicine, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Intel Corporation; Highest paying degrees- MBA (132,000 USD), Bachelor of Arts (93,000 USD), Bachelor of Science (81,000 USD).


Top Recruiters: A T Kearney; Accenture; Acuity Brands Lighting; Aerospace Corp; Akuna Capital; AT&T; Barry Wehmiller Design Group; BMW Manufacturing Co. etc. 75% of students get recruitment through the placement cell. 

Average Salaries By Degree:

  • Doctorate: $170,000 
  • PhD: $120,000 
  • MBA:  $111,000 
  • Masters in Science: $94,000 
  • Master (Other): $88,000 
  • Bachelor of Science: $82,000 

application requirements

Academic transcripts; School report (counsellor recommendation); 2 teacher recommendations; 2-3 LORs; Resume; SOPs/ Essays; Proof of English language proficiency; Standardized test scores; Additional Requirements (Work experience, Interview (upon invitation), Portfolio, etc.)

LOR; SOP; GPA- 3.3 (percentage equivalent 86-89%). 

CollegeDunia Reviews7.3/10 Read 4 reviews8.0/10 Read 12 reviews

Top Courses Comparison

Top Courses Comparison

ranking# 89 for Business by QS World University 2026
# 29 for Business by US News 2025
# 126 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025
# 21 for Business by US News 2025
# 73 for Business by QS World University 2025
# 38 for Business by Times Higher Education 2023
application-#444 Applicants
# 85 Admissions
# 19 % Acceptance Rate
exam scoresDuolingo - 115/160GRE - 322/340IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 90/120GMAT - 689/800GRE - 318/340IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 95/120
cost to studyTotal Cost (Tuition + Living) -66000Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -
documents required#Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose#Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose
General Facts Comparison
General FactsRice UniversityGeorgia Institute of Technology
Type of UniversityUniversity
University
Established1912
1885
Student:Faculty Ratio9:1
22:1
Male:Female53% Male, 47% Female62% Male, 38% Female
Location Facts

a residential college system set on a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas; Located just minutes from downtown Houston, the Museum District and the world’s largest medical center.


If you have love for animals then you can visit Georgia Aquarium to catch the beautiful glances of the aquatic world. 

You can also immerse yourself in the fantasy world of coca cola. The exciting history of the museum will give you the secret formula of happiness. 

You can also enjoy your leisure time by taking a tour to Fox Theatres which has been restored recently in its original exquisite look back from the 1920s.


Library

Over 2.8 million print volumes; 72,000+ print & electronic serial titles; 141,000+ subscriptions; 4,000+ DVDs/CDs/VHS recordings; Library Service Center (off-site storage facility) holds over 1.1 million volumes, with a facility capacity of 1.8 million.


Around 2.4 million books, 2.7 million technical reports, 240 online databases and more than 40,000 e-journals


Campus Life

11 co-ed colleges; Dining facilities such as 4.Tac0, @Sammy’s, Whoo Deli, Valhalla, etc.; 200+ student organizations; Rice Players (Houston’s oldest student-run theatre company); Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation Center; Moody Center for the Arts (experimental space for both fabrication and exhibition); James Turrell Twilight Epiphany Skyspace (hosts musical performances and acts as a laboratory for Shepherd School of Music students).


Economic Engine, Game on, Music Mecca and foodie heaven are the well known events celebrated within the campus to promote diversity among the students. Apart from these events, there are more than 500 organizations made for the students as per their choices.


Hostel#On-Campus Living Expenses - $18100
#Off-Campus Living Expenses - $6100
#Housing Allowance On Campus Cost - $11532
#Housing Allowance Off Campus Cost - $13974
Famous Alumni

several US Congressmen & Cabinet Secretaries; 9 astronauts, 9 Major League Baseball players, 2 Nobel Laureates; Lance Berkman (Baseball outfielder); Larry McMurtry (American novelist); Howard Hughes (American business magnate); Annise Parker (Former Mayor of Houston); Alberto Gonzales (US Attorney General); Peggy Whitson (American astronaut); Dave Hyatt (American software engineer).


Jimmy Carter (former President of USA); Chri Bosh (Basketball player); Nomar Garciaparra (Baseball player); Krishna Bharat (Google research scientist and founder of Google News)


City Life

Houston- most populated city in Texas; recognized for its energy industry; home to the famous Space Center Houston, Livestock Show and Rodeo, Museum District, Buffalo Bayou Park, Houston Zoo, The Heights, beaches of Galveston, Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park, etc.; Houses second-most Fortune 500 headquarters in USA; Unemployment Rate- 3.6% (Dec 2019).


Atlanta is the most popular city of the US state of Georgia with a population of about 506,811 (2019). The city is situated among the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. With a GDP of 385 billion USD, Atlanta's economy is among the top 20 in the world. As a national center for the arts, the city is home to several art museums and institutions, opera, ballet, symphony orchestra, theatre, etc.


Weather
Comparison Notes

Rice University vs Georgia Tech

Subject. Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)

Rice University: Ranked approximately 119 worldwide (QS 2026),university with high rankings in Natural Sciences, Biosciences, Engineering, Architecture, Business, and Social Sciences. It is particularly renowned for nanotechnology, biomedical research, and energy programs.Georgia Tech: Ranked approximately 781-790  (QS 2026), Georgia Tech is a global leader in Engineering, Computer Science, AI, Robotics, and Technology Innovation, ranked consistently in the top 5 of U.S. engineering schools.

General Information

Rice: Established in 1912 in Houston, Texas, Rice has a small student population (~8,200), a residential college system, and a strong undergraduate emphasis.Georgia Tech: Established in 1885 in Atlanta, Georgia, Georgia Tech has a substantially larger student population (~45,000 including online students), with a dynamic, industry-tied urban campus.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Rice: Very selective with an acceptance rate of ~7.9%, holistic admissions process, and focus on both academic and extracurricular excellence.
Georgia Tech: Selective 52% acceptance rate, particularly challenging for out-of-state students; STEM majors such as Engineering and CS are the most competitive.

Research Impact & Facilities

Rice: World-leading research clusters in nanotechnology, biosciences, energy, and materials science, with strong connections to the Texas Medical Center.
Georgia Tech: R1 research leader, with distinction in aerospace, AI, robotics, supercomputing, and applied sciences, with strong industry and government partnerships.

Cost & Financial Aid

Rice: High tuition, but very generous need-based aid makes it accessible to many students.Georgia Tech: Less expensive for Georgia residents; out-of-state students pay more, but merit scholarships are available.

Career Outcomes & Alumni Success

Rice: Alumni lead in STEM, medicine, business, law, and academia, frequently taking on leadership positions, startups, and international institutions.Georgia Tech: Alumni lead in engineering, computer science, aerospace, and technology fields, with one of the largest and most robust global alumni networks in STEM.