Northeastern vs Rice - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Real money goes to international students at Rice ($76,332 on average), while Northeastern stops at $24,539.
Both universities turn away more than nine applicants in ten (5.2% and 8%), so the outcome rests on how well your profile fits, not on the admission rate itself.
Candidates with higher SAT scores go to Rice: a midpoint of 1540 against 1490, a difference of 50 points.
More than twice the application volume goes to Northeastern (98,425 against 32,473), which changes how any single file is read.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
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
Northeastern is the more selective of the two (5.2% vs 8% acceptance). Rice ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#201-300 vs #101-150). Northeastern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($93K vs $90K). Rice has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,497 vs $69,289 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 Northeastern for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Rice for: a higher world ranking, a higher graduation rate, higher retention.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Northeastern is more selective (5.2% vs 8% acceptance); Rice has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1490).
Northeastern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($93K vs $90K); Rice has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.6% vs 90.5%).
Rice has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,497 vs $69,289); Rice offers a larger average aid package ($69,040 vs $46,555).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Northeastern | Rice |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #201-300 | #101-150 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 5.2% | 8% |
| Yield rate | 53.8% | 44.2% |
| Median SAT | 1490 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 98,425 | 32,473 |
| International students | 13.1% | 13% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $93K | $90K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $62K | $63K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $135K | $144K |
| Graduation rate | 90.5% | 94.6% |
| Retention rate | 96.9% | 97.4% |
| Median debt | $24,250 | $11,000 |
| Tuition · year | $69,289 | $67,497 |
| Avg. aid package | $46,555 | $69,040 |
| % of need met | 86.7% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,461 | $28,418 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 39,774 | 8,961 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Northeastern or Rice?
It's harder to get into Northeastern. Northeastern accepts 5.2% of applicants, while Rice accepts 8%.
Do Northeastern or Rice graduates earn more?
Northeastern graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $93K vs $90K.
How much is tuition at Northeastern vs Rice?
Sticker-price tuition is $69,289 per year at Northeastern and $67,497 per year at Rice.
What SAT score do you need for Northeastern or Rice?
The median admitted SAT score is 1490 at Northeastern and 1540 at Rice; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Northeastern or Rice?
Rice ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #201-300 for Northeastern vs #101-150 for Rice.
Which university offers more financial aid - Northeastern or Rice?
The average aid package is $46,555 at Northeastern and $69,040 at Rice.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern