Rice University, a private research university in Houston, Texas, climbed 23 positions in QS World University Rankings between 2024 and 2027. Rice University ranks #122 globally in QS World University Rankings 2027 and posts its sharpest result at ARWU #24 in Mechanical Engineering.
- QS World University Rankings 2027: #122 globally, #24 in USA
- Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026: #79 globally, #34 in USA
- THE World University Rankings 2026: #103 globally, #37 in USA
- ARWU 2025: 101-150 band globally
Note for Indian applicants: Rice ranks 79 positions tighter in QS (#122) than in U.S. News Best Global (#201), a signal of stronger reputation than pure citation count. Against IIT Bombay (QS #134, THE #351), Rice trails by only 12 positions on QS but leads by over 248 on THE. For STEM and MBA aspirants, ARWU places Mechanical Engineering at #24 and FT places the Jones School MBA at #38 globally, the two sharpest credentials to verify against your target program.
Table of Contents
- Rice University Overall Rankings 2026
- Rice University Rankings: Bottom Line for Indian Students
- Rice University QS World University Rankings 2027
- Collegedunia Study Abroad Rankings of Rice University
- Rice University Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings 2026
- Rice University ARWU (Shanghai) Rankings 2025
- Rice University U.S. News Best Global University Rankings 2025-2026
- Rice University Financial Times Rankings 2026
- Rice University Subject Rankings
- Rice University Rankings: Indian Student Outlook
- Rice University Ranking FAQs
Read More: Rice University Admissions 2026: Deadlines, Eligibility & Acceptance Rate for Indian Students
Rice University Overall Rankings 2026
Rice University posts five live overall ranks across the major global bodies, ranging from #79 on Collegedunia Study Abroad to #201 on U.S. News Best Global. The QS-to-U.S. News gap of 79 positions is the headline divergence Indian applicants should read first.
| Ranking Body (Edition) | Rice University Global Rank |
|---|---|
| Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026 | #79 (out of 824) |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | #122 (out of 1,504) |
| THE World University Rankings 2026 | #103 (out of 3,118) |
| ARWU (Shanghai) 2025 | 101-150 (out of 1,000) |
| U.S. News Best Global Universities 2025-2026 | #201 (out of 2,250) |
The five-body average places Rice in the top 7% of every list it appears on, but the spread between bodies is wide. Indian applicants comparing only one source will see a different Rice than those reading three or more.
Key insight: Rice ranks tightest on Collegedunia Study Abroad (#79) and widest on U.S. News Best Global (#201), a 122-position spread that signals each body weights very different factors.
Rice University Rankings: Bottom Line for Indian Students
For an Indian applicant, the most actionable rank is not the headline QS number but the gap between Rice and the closest Indian alternative on the same body. The table below maps each major rank against IIT Bombay, the closest Indian comparator for STEM and research-heavy applicants.
| Ranking Body | Rice University vs IIT Bombay | What it means for Indian applicants |
|---|---|---|
| QS World 2027 | #122 vs #134 | Rice 12 positions ahead; Indian applicants get a comparable global brand |
| THE World 2026 | #103 vs #351 | Rice 248 positions ahead; stronger teaching and research signals |
| ARWU GRAS 2025 (Mechanical Engineering) | #24 globally | Top-25 subject brand for Indian ME aspirants |
| FT Global MBA 2026 | #38 globally, #16 US | Strong US placement signal for Indian MBA aspirants |
Key insight
- QS gap is narrow: Rice beats IIT Bombay by only 12 positions, so the headline rank is comparable.
- THE gap is wide: A 248-position lead shows Rice’s teaching and research scores far outpace IIT Bombay on this body.
- Subject is the real signal: Mechanical Engineering at ARWU #24 is Rice’s single strongest brand credential.
- MBA pathway: FT Global MBA #38 places the Jones School ahead of most other US private universities outside the top 25.
Rice University QS World University Rankings 2027
Rice University ranks #122 globally and #24 in the USA in QS World University Rankings 2027, the body that scores universities on academic reputation, employer opinion and research citations. QS has been Rice’s most movement-heavy ranking over the past five editions.
The university fell from #100 in 2023 to #145 in 2024, then climbed back 23 positions to #122 by 2027. The 2024 drop followed a QS methodology revision that added employability and sustainability scores.
| Year | Rice University QS World Rank |
|---|---|
| 2027 | #122 |
| 2026 | #119 |
| 2025 | #141 |
| 2024 | #145 |
| 2023 | #100 |
Rice averaged QS rank #125 across the last five editions, placing it consistently in the top 9% of all 1,504 ranked universities. For Indian applicants weighing peer Ivy alternatives, the US national rank of #24 keeps the degree value unaffected.
Key insight: Rice scored highest in QS 2026 for international student diversity, international student ratio, citations per faculty and sustainability, the four sub-indicators that lifted it back inside the top 125.
Read More: Rice University Courses and Fees 2026 for Indian Students
Collegedunia Study Abroad Rankings of Rice University
Collegedunia Study Abroad places Rice in the top 10% of 824 ranked universities, tighter than its U.S. News Best Global standing by over 120 positions. The Collegedunia Study Abroad ranking of Rice University reflects factors Indian applicants prioritise.
| Category | Collegedunia Rank |
|---|---|
| Global | #79 (out of 824) |
| USA | #34 (out of 357) |
CD weights factors relevant to Indian applicants (international acceptance, scholarship breadth, programme range for visa-sponsored study) over pure research citation count. The 122-position gap versus U.S. News Best Global reflects this difference. For Indian families shortlisting, Rice’s #34 USA position keeps it above the typical Ivy cutoff.
Rice University Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings 2026
Rice University ranks #103 globally and #37 in the USA in Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026, the body that scores teaching, research environment, research quality, industry income and international outlook. Rice has climbed 33 positions on THE since 2022.
The path was not linear: a 2023 dip of 11 positions preceded three straight years of recovery to #103. The 9-position jump from #112 (2025) to #103 (2026) is THE’s largest single-year gain for Rice in five years.
| Year | Rice University THE Rank |
|---|---|
| 2026 | #103 |
| 2025 | #112 |
| 2024 | #119 |
| 2023 | #147 |
| 2022 | #136 |
This climb signals stronger teaching and research scores, placing Rice in the top 4% of 3,118 institutions THE ranked in 2026. For Indian applicants weighing teaching-quality signals, THE is the body where Rice now ranks highest among the five major ones.
Key insight: THE has been Rice’s most consistent upward trend, with a 5-year average rank of #123 and zero editions falling outside the top 150.
Rice University ARWU (Shanghai) Rankings 2025
Rice University sits in the 101-150 band of the ARWU (Shanghai) Rankings 2025, the body that scores universities mainly on Nobel and Fields medal counts and high-impact research papers. Rice has stayed flat in this band for five consecutive years.
| Year | Rice University ARWU Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 101-150 |
| 2024 | 101-150 |
| 2023 | 101-150 |
| 2022 | 101-150 |
| 2021 | 101-150 |
The flat 5-year band is a signal in itself: ARWU’s research-citation methodology gives Rice a stable middle-band position rather than the climbing pattern seen on QS or THE. For Indian PhD applicants ranking universities by raw research output, this places Rice behind US Ivy peers ranked in the top 50.
Key insight: Rice’s strongest ARWU subject result is Mechanical Engineering at #24 globally, more than 75 positions tighter than its overall ARWU band.
Rice University U.S. News Best Global University Rankings 2025-2026
Rice University ranks #201 globally and #52 in the USA in U.S. News Best Global Universities 2025-2026, the body that uses 13 indicators weighted heavily toward research publication and citation density. The 2025-2026 edition is the only Best Global edition currently live for Rice.
For Indian applicants, Rice’s wider U.S. News Best Global gap mirrors a pattern common to mid-size US private universities with low publication volume per faculty. The 79-position spread versus QS reflects U.S. News weighting bibliometric inputs more heavily than reputation surveys.
Key insight: Rice ranks #17 in U.S. News Best Colleges 2026 (domestic undergraduate), 184 positions tighter than its Best Global rank of #201 because the two rankings use entirely different methodologies.
Rice University Financial Times Rankings 2026
Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business broke into the FT Online MBA top 15 for the first time in 2026, debuting at #13 globally on the Financial Times ranking. The Full-time MBA holds #38 globally and #1 in Texas.
| Financial Times Ranking | Jones School Rank (2026) |
|---|---|
| FT Global MBA 2026 | #38 globally, #16 US, #1 Texas |
| FT Online MBA 2026 | #13 globally, #6 US |
The Online MBA debut at #13 beats the Full-time MBA rank by 25 positions, an unusual cross-format gap. For Indian working professionals weighing US MBA options without relocation, Rice’s Online MBA sits ahead of many top-30 residential programs.
Key insight: Jones earned the highest score globally on FT’s "Aims Achieved" metric, which measures whether MBA alumni met their pre-enrolment goals after graduation.
Rice University Subject Rankings
Rice’s strongest subject brand is Mechanical Engineering, ranked #24 globally by ARWU and the single tightest subject credential the university holds. Engineering and Physical Sciences also break inside the THE top 100.
Key insight
- Mechanical Engineering (ARWU #24): Rice’s only top-25 subject rank, more than 75 positions tighter than its overall ARWU band.
- Physical Sciences (THE =#75): Rice’s tightest THE subject rank, 28 positions tighter than its overall THE position.
- Engineering (THE =#94): The only other THE subject inside the top 100.
- Chemistry (ARWU #44): Second strongest ARWU subject after Mechanical Engineering.
Rice University Subject Rankings: THE World 2026
| Subject | Rice University THE Rank (2026) |
|---|---|
| Physical Sciences | =#75 |
| Engineering | =#94 |
| Computer Science | #101-125 |
| Psychology | #101-125 |
| Life Sciences | #126-150 |
| Social Sciences | #151-175 |
| Arts and Humanities | #176-200 |
| Business and Economics | #201-250 |
Physical Sciences at =#75 sits 28 positions tighter than the overall THE rank of #103, the largest positive subject-vs-overall gap Rice posts on THE. For Indian applicants targeting Computer Science, the band of #101-125 is comfortably above the typical US top-50 cutoff for CS-bound international students.
Rice University Subject Rankings: ARWU GRAS 2025
| Subject | Rice University ARWU GRAS Rank (2025) |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | #24 |
| Chemistry | #44 |
| Materials Science & Engineering | #51-75 |
| Statistics | #51-75 |
| Mathematics | #101-150 |
| Physics | #101-150 |
| Ecology | #101-150 |
| Nanoscience & Nanotechnology | #101-150 |
Mechanical Engineering at #24 is the single tightest subject result Rice posts anywhere, more than 75 positions ahead of the overall ARWU band of 101-150. For Indian MS applicants in ME or Chemistry (ARWU #44), Rice’s subject brand is stronger than its overall rank suggests.
Key insight: Rice’s subject-vs-overall gap is consistently positive, meaning every officially ranked subject performs better than its overall global rank. This pattern is typical of US private universities with concentrated STEM strengths.
Rice University Rankings: Indian Student Outlook
For Indian applicants, the Rice University ranking for Indian students reads tightest on Mechanical Engineering (ARWU #24) and on the Jones School FT MBA (#38 globally), the two credentials with the clearest brand recall on Indian CVs. The five-year QS climb of 23 positions and the THE climb of 33 positions both signal sustained upward momentum.
Rice University Popular Programs for Indian Students
- MS Computer Science: Rice’s THE Engineering rank of =#94 plus the Houston tech and energy corridor make this a frequent India pick.
- MBA (Jones School): FT Global MBA #38 and Online MBA #13 deliver clear US placement signals for Indian MBA aspirants.
- MS Mechanical Engineering: ARWU #24 is the single sharpest subject credential Rice holds globally.
- MS Chemical Engineering: ARWU Chemistry rank of #44 plus Houston’s energy hub anchor the India demand.
- MS Data Science: Rice’s Computer Science band of #101-125 on THE plus the Houston healthcare-data ecosystem support the India pipeline.
Rice University Indian Applicant Signals
| Signal | Rice University Data Point |
|---|---|
| Strongest subject for Indian STEM applicants | Mechanical Engineering, ARWU #24 |
| QS five-year movement | Climbed 23 positions (2024 to 2027) |
| vs IIT Bombay on QS 2027 | Rice #122, IIT Bombay #134 |
| vs IIT Bombay on THE 2026 | Rice #103, IIT Bombay #351 |
| CD vs U.S. News Best Global gap | Rice tighter on CD by 122 positions |
Key insight
- Subject-vs-overall gap: Mechanical Engineering at ARWU #24 is 75-plus positions tighter than the overall ARWU band, the sharpest credential to verify.
- QS stability: A 5-year average of #125 keeps Rice consistently inside the global top 9%.
- THE momentum: A 9-position jump in the latest edition is THE’s largest single-year gain for Rice in five years.
- MBA pathway: Jones FT Global MBA #38 and Online MBA #13 open both residential and remote routes for Indian applicants.
- vs IIT Bombay: 12-position QS lead, 248-position THE lead, signaling stronger international teaching scores.
For Indian applicants weighing Rice against US peers, the five-year rank pattern shows consistent improvement on the two most-watched bodies (QS up 23 positions, THE up 33 positions). The Mechanical Engineering rank of #24 at ARWU and the Jones School FT MBA rank of #38 are the two sharpest credentials to verify against your target program before applying.
Rice University Ranking FAQs
Ques. What is the QS World University Ranking of Rice University in 2027?
Ans. Rice University ranks #122 globally and #24 in the USA in QS World University Rankings 2027. The 2027 result is a 23-position climb from the 2024 rank of #145.
Ques. How has Rice University ranked in THE World University Rankings over the last five years?
Ans. Rice University climbed from #136 (2022) to #103 (2026) on THE World University Rankings, a 33-position gain. The path included a 2023 dip to #147 before three straight years of recovery.
Ques. What is Rice University’s strongest subject ranking?
Ans. Rice University ranks #24 globally in Mechanical Engineering on ARWU GRAS 2025, its single tightest subject credential. Chemistry follows at #44 globally on the same body.
Ques. How does the Rice University ranking compare to IIT Bombay for Indian students?
Ans. Rice University leads IIT Bombay by 12 positions on QS World 2027 (#122 vs #134) and by 248 positions on THE 2026 (#103 vs #351). The THE gap is the larger signal for Indian applicants weighing teaching and research quality.
Ques. Why does Rice University rank tighter on QS than on U.S. News Best Global?
Ans. QS weights academic and employer reputation surveys more heavily, while U.S. News Best Global leans on raw research citation count. This explains the 79-position gap between Rice’s QS rank of #122 and Best Global rank of #201.
Ques. What is the Collegedunia Study Abroad ranking of Rice University for 2026?
Ans. Rice University ranks #79 globally and #34 in the USA on Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026. CD ranks Rice 122 positions tighter than U.S. News Best Global because it weights Indian-applicant factors more heavily.
Ques. Where does the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University rank in Financial Times MBA?
Ans. The Jones Graduate School ranks #38 globally, #16 in the US and #1 in Texas on the FT Global MBA 2026. The Online MBA debuted in the same edition at #13 globally and #6 in the US.
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