Rice University

Rice University is a private research university located in Houston, Texas. It was founded in 1912 as the William Marsh Rice Institute for the Advancement of Letters, Science, and Art.  The history of the university is closely tied to that of Houston itself. In 1891, oil was discovered near what is now downtown Houston, sparking an economic boom that transformed the city into one of America’s largest metropolitan areas. 

William Marsh Rice was one of the many businessmen who made his fortune during this period. He decided to use his wealth to create an institution dedicated to higher learning. Rice Institute opened its doors in 1912 with just 77 students. However, the numbers began to grow, thanks to its excellent faculty and stringent academic standards. The school came to be known as Rice University in 1965, and today it accepts over 6,000 students from all the 50 states in the US, and from more than 100 countries around the world. 

Let us learn more about Rice University, USA, its programs, and admission requirements. 

Courses and Faculty

Rice offers several undergraduate and postgraduate programs across multiple disciplines such as architecture, engineering, music, and business, among others. With over 3,700 courses and a faculty of 1,200 professors, the university has something for everyone. 

However, what sets Rice apart is its faculty. Being experts of repute in their fields, they are committed to helping students explore their academic passions. Irrespective of what your interests are, be it history, physics, or any other subject, you will find a professor at Rice who can guide you on your academic journey. Also, with a student-to-faculty ratio of just 6:1, you will receive sufficient individual attention from your professors.

Fees and Scholarships 

The school has an annual tuition of over $40,000. However, it offers generous scholarships to deserving candidates. In fact, over 60 percent of the students at Rice receive some form of financial aid.

There are a variety of scholarships that incoming first-year students at Rice University, USA can apply to. Academic scholarships are based on one’s educational achievements and range from $10,000 to full tuition. You do not require to submit any additional materials beyond your admission application: the admissions committee will automatically consider you for these awards. Other scholarship opportunities include music and arts awards, leadership grants, and athletic scholarships.

Careers and Placements 

What makes attending Rice University particularly special is the numerous career paths and placement opportunities available to students after they graduate. In fact, according to PayScale, the average salary for a graduate of Rice University is around $64,600 per year. 

Rice also has an extensive alumni network that can help connect graduates with jobs and internships worldwide. Furthermore, the Career Center at Rice provides resources and workshops to help students prepare for their job search, including resume building, networking skills, and interview tips. 

Admission Requirements

Students must have completed high school or equivalent coursework with excellent grades in order to be eligible for admission. In addition to this, they must also submit SAT or ACT scores, letters of recommendation, and an essay. In case of admission to postgraduate programs, students must present GRE or GMAT scores. The admissions committee carefully evaluates the achievements and interests of every student before making their decision.

Rice University, USA, is an extremely selective school: only around one-third of applicants are accepted every year. However, if you have good grades and test scores along with a compelling application essay, there is a good chance that you will secure admission to this prestigious university. All the best!