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Academics

Rice University
Academics

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How strong are the academics at Rice University?

Let's cover class sizes, graduation rates, and outcomes.

6:1
Student to faculty ratio
24
Average class size
86%
4-year grad rate

Class Sizes

Class sizes likely stayed the same for you through high school. You'll find that college is much different. Some of the largest universities have classes that can seat hundreds of students in giant lecture halls. Conversely, as they progress and their focus narrows, higher-level courses can sometimes have just a handful of students.

Rice has an average student-to-faculty ratio of 6:1. The typical school is 14:1. While this ratio is important, what’s more important is how big a typical class is.

Class Sizes
2-9
297
10-19
427
20-29
153
30-39
86
40-49
59
50-99
89
100+
28

Honors Programs

Rice University has an honors program and/or honors college. Specifics of these programs vary, but benefits of being in an Honors Program might include priority registration, being part of a tight-knit community, and accessing unique learning opportunities.

Learn more about honors options on Rice's website.

Outcomes

It’s critical to understand a school’s outcomes to understand if your four (or more) years at the school will be worth it. Here are some key statistics about the outcomes of students who enroll at Rice University:

97%
First-year retention rate
86%
4-year grad rate
95%
6-year grad rate

Majors

Many students choose a school largely based on the what they want to study. The are Rice University's most popular majors, ranked by how many people graduated with the concentration in the most recent year:

Computer and Information Sciences, General
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Mechanical Engineering
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
19
47.8
76.6
105.4
134.2
163

The Full List

Major Graduates
Architecture And Related Services
  • Architecture 22
  • Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology 16
  • Architectural Studies 0
Area
  • Asian Studies/Civilization 5
  • Latin American Studies 4
  • Latin American Studies 2
  • Women's Studies 1
  • Asian Studies/Civilization 1
  • European Studies/Civilization 0
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 106
  • Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology 37
  • Neuroscience 31
  • Neuroscience 2
  • Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology 2
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 1
  • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 0
  • Biochemistry 0
Business
  • Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other 53
  • Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other 12
  • Business Administration and Management, General 2
  • Business Administration and Management, General 0
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
  • Computer and Information Sciences, General 163
  • Computer and Information Sciences, General 3
Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering 60
  • Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering 43
  • Chemical Engineering 22
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering 20
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering 16
  • Civil Engineering, General 14
  • Operations Research 11
  • Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering 0
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
  • Nanotechnology 10
English Language And Literature/Letters
  • English Language and Literature, General 14
  • English Language and Literature, General 10
Foreign Languages
  • Linguistics 8
  • Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other 6
  • French Language and Literature 5
  • Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other 3
  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General 2
  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 2
  • Linguistics 2
  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General 1
  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 1
  • German Language and Literature 1
  • French Language and Literature 1
  • German Language and Literature 0
Health Professions And Related Programs
  • Health and Wellness, General 26
  • Health and Wellness, General 4
History
  • History, General 14
  • History, General 10
Mathematics And Statistics
  • Statistics, General 26
  • Mathematics, General 25
  • Computational and Applied Mathematics 13
  • Statistics, General 5
  • Mathematics, General 4
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Cognitive Science, General 32
  • Cognitive Science, General 4
  • Classical, Ancient Mediterranean, and Near Eastern Studies and Archaeology 2
  • Medieval and Renaissance Studies 2
  • Data Analytics, Other 0
  • Medieval and Renaissance Studies 0
  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 0
Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Environmental Science 5
Parks
  • Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 24
  • Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 8
Philosophy And Religious Studies
  • Philosophy 10
  • Philosophy 5
  • Religion/Religious Studies 1
  • Religion/Religious Studies 1
Physical Sciences
  • Chemistry, General 26
  • Physics, General 14
  • Astrophysics 3
  • Geology/Earth Science, General 2
  • Geology/Earth Science, General 1
  • Physics, General 1
  • Chemistry, General 1
  • Chemical Physics 0
  • Astronomy 0
Psychology
  • Psychology, General 38
  • Psychology, General 11
Public Administration And Social Service Professions
  • Public Policy Analysis, General 25
  • Public Policy Analysis, General 8
Social Sciences
  • Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 24
  • Political Science and Government, General 24
  • Economics, General 24
  • Economics, General 15
  • Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 9
  • Sociology, General 9
  • Sociology, General 8
  • Anthropology, General 6
  • Political Science and Government, General 6
  • Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods 4
  • Anthropology, General 3
  • Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods 1
Visual And Performing Arts
  • Stringed Instruments 15
  • Visual and Performing Arts, General 14
  • Visual and Performing Arts, General 13
  • Art History, Criticism and Conservation 8
  • Art History, Criticism and Conservation 4
  • Music Theory and Composition 3
  • Voice and Opera 2
  • Keyboard Instruments 2
  • Woodwind Instruments 2
  • Music, General 1
  • Brass Instruments 1
  • Music History, Literature, and Theory 0
  • Percussion Instruments 0
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