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Naman Arora Study Abroad Course Specialist
Study Abroad Course Specialist | Updated On - Sep 12, 2025
Rice University is a private research university located in Houston, Texas. Admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of Rice being around 8%. It is a small university with around 4,800 undergraduates. Engineering, Natural Sciences (particularly Biology), Social Sciences, Visual & Performing Arts, and Business are some of the most popular programs at Rice. The six-year graduation rate is approximately 92%, and alumni have a median earning of around USD 86,400 (INR ~69,00,000) ten years after graduation.
University of Texas at Austin is a public flagship research university in Austin, Texas. The admissions are highly selective, with UT Austin acceptance rate being approximately 29-32%. It is an extremely large university with approximately 42,400 undergraduate students. Business, Engineering, Communication, Biology, and Social Sciences are some of the most sought-after programs at UT Austin. The six-year graduation rate is approximately 84-87%, and the median earnings reported by the alumni are around USD 68,600 (INR ~55,00,000) ten years after graduation.
| Rice University | University of Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 5.7 Out of 10 | 4.1 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 103 Times Higher Education 2026 # 119 QS World University 2026 # 39 Financial Times 2025 | # 50 Times Higher Education 2026 # 68 QS World University 2026 # 36 Center for World University Rankings 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 89 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 351 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 | # 9 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 148 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 14 for Law by US News 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -45 PG Programs -26 Doctorate Programs -3 | UG Programs -80 PG Programs -83 |
| Acceptance Rate | 7.9 % | 31.0 % |
| Exam Score | Duolingo-130 GMAT-680 IELTS-7 SAT-1490 TOEFL-100 | IELTS-6.5 SAT-1230 TOEFL-79 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 50310 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 51500 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 24200 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 44450 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 27216 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 12286 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). | QS Graduate Employability Rankings- #54; |
| Campuses and B-Schools | NA | McCombs School of Business |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.3/10 Read 4 reviews | 8.1/10 Read 15 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 89 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 219 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 # 30 for Engineering by US News 2024 | # 39 for Arts by QS World University 2025 # 55 for Arts by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 115/160GRE - 322/340IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 90/120 | IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 79/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -51500 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -26652 |
| application dates | Dec 31, 2024 (Application Deadline For Fall 2025 Intake) | Dec 1, 2024 (Application Deadline For 2025 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Rice University | University of Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1912 | 1883 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 19:1 |
| Male:Female | 53% Male, 47% Female | 47% Male, 53% 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. | Main Campus in central Austin; J. J. Pickle Research Campus in north Austin. The main campus has 150 building with its main visible feature as Beaux-Arts main Building. Some of the nearby areas are Cameron Road, Hyde Park, Mueller, Tarrytown, Downtown Austin |
| 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. | For more than 125 years, the University of Texas Libraries have committed to building one of the greatest library collections in the world. Maintaining more than 10 million volumes and providing access to the latest digital journals, databases and web resources, the Libraries collects and preserves the finest achievements of human knowledge in support of not only research and instruction needs, but also the exploration of ideas and intellectual innovation. |
| 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). | 1,300+ student organizations, Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art, Harry Ransom Center, Texas Memorial Museum, Natural Science Center, UT Tower are all offered to students for indulging in their passion. There are over 10 dining halls within the campus. |
| Hostel | #On-Campus Living Expenses - $18100 #Off-Campus Living Expenses - $6100 | #Room & Board (including Meals) - $12286 |
| 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). | 482,000+ alumni; Matthew McConaughey (American actor); Owen Wilson (American Actor), Rex W. Tillerson (Former United States Secretary of State), Neil deGrasse Tyson (American astrophysicist), Lady Bird Johnson (Former First Lady of the United States) |
| 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). | The city bursts with an entrepreneurial spirit and has internationally renowned music, film and art scenes. The spring-fed waters of Barton and greenbelt trails make the city a perfect destination for outdoor creation. The unemployment rate of the city is 6.7 as of July 2020. Being one of the fastest-growing metros, it offers a great opportunities for students. |
| Weather |
Rice University vs University of Texas at Austin
Subject Strength & World Rankings (2025/2026)
Rice University, a Houston, Texas-based private research university, is famous for Engineering, Natural Sciences, Architecture, and Business. It is ranked #124 in QS World University Rankings 2026 and =124 in THE World University Rankings 2025.
The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), a flagship public institution, has its strong programs in Business, Law, Engineering, Computer Science, and Public Affairs. UT Austin is #58 in QS 2026 and #52 in THE 2025, higher worldwide than Rice.
General Information
Rice, established in 1912, has approximately 8,000 students and is recognized for having small class sizes, high student-faculty ratio, and lively residential college system.
UT Austin, which was founded in 1883, has more than 51,000 students and is among the largest universities in the U.S., providing more than 170 areas of study with a reputation for both research and athletics.
Acceptance Rate & Admission
Rice is very competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 7–9%, SAT 1500+ or ACT 34+, and top-notch academic/extracurricular records.
UT Austin has a more selective public system of admissions with an acceptance rate of approximately 30–33%, although admission to some programs (such as Computer Science, Business, and Engineering) is highly selective. The state of Texas' "Top 6% rule" secures admission for the top graduating students in Texas high schools.
Research Impact & Facilities
Rice boasts cutting-edge research in nanotechnology, space science, biotechnology, and energy, complemented by its strong connection to NASA and the Texas Medical Center.
UT Austin is among the largest research universities in the country, with top research in engineering, business, natural and social sciences, and public policy, and a research budget of over $1 billion annually.
Cost & Financial Aid
Rice's cost is approximately $57,000 annually, but it gives high-need students highly generous need-based aid, often enough to cover nearly all costs for students from families earning less than $75,000.
UT Austin charges out-of-state tuition of around $41,000 annually and less for residents of Texas (~$11,000). UT offers merit scholarships and need-based aid but not as liberal as Rice's private model.
Graduate Studies & Alumni Outcomes
Rice alumni are well-represented in academia, research, engineering, and entrepreneurship, with a mid-career salary of around $140,000 (INR 1.15 crore) on average.
UT Austin graduates are all over the business, tech, law, government, and entertainment industries with an average mid-career salary of approximately $125,000 (INR 1.02 crore). UT's alumni base is huge and powerful in every industry, and Rice provides more intimate contacts in the high-end research and business communities.
