Boston University vs Rice - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Rice admits 8%, Boston University admits 12.8%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Boston University: 20.1% of students against 13% (Rice).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Rice awards international students $76,332 on average, Boston University awards $56,639.
The higher mid-range SAT belongs to Rice: 1540 against 1470, a gap of 70 points.
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Rice is the more selective of the two (8% vs 12.83% acceptance). Rice graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($90K vs $83K). Rice has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,497 vs $71,372 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Boston University for: a larger aid package.
Choose Rice for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Rice is more selective (8% vs 12.83% acceptance); Rice has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1470).
Rice graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($90K vs $83K); Rice has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.6% vs 88.7%).
Rice has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,497 vs $71,372); Boston University offers a larger average aid package ($69,396 vs $69,040).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Boston University | Rice |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #101-150 |
| Rank · THE | #75 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 12.83% | 8% |
| Yield rate | 35% | 44.2% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.86 | - |
| Number of applications | 76,776 | 32,473 |
| International students | 20.1% | 13% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $83K | $90K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $57K | $63K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $122K | $144K |
| Graduation rate | 88.7% | 94.6% |
| Retention rate | 94.2% | 97.4% |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $11,000 |
| Tuition · year | $71,372 | $67,497 |
| Avg. aid package | $69,396 | $69,040 |
| % of need met | 92% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $36,774 | $28,418 |
| Application fee | $80 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 36,977 | 8,961 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Boston University or Rice?
It's harder to get into Rice. Boston University accepts 12.83% of applicants, while Rice accepts 8%.
Do Boston University or Rice graduates earn more?
Rice graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $90K vs $83K.
How much is tuition at Boston University vs Rice?
Sticker-price tuition is $71,372 per year at Boston University and $67,497 per year at Rice.
What SAT score do you need for Boston University or Rice?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Boston University and 1540 at Rice; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university offers more financial aid - Boston University or Rice?
The average aid package is $69,396 at Boston University and $69,040 at Rice.
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