HOUSTON, TX

CAMBRIDGE, MA

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rice vs Harvard — US university comparison

RICE

Houston, TX

World rank · ARWU#101-150

Acceptance8%

Median SAT1553

Graduation rate94.6%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$90K

HARVARD

Cambridge, MA

World rank · ARWU#1

Acceptance3.6%

Median SAT1553

Graduation rate97.6%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$102K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Rice University Harvard University

#101-150 World rank · ARWU #1

— Rank · THE #3

8% Acceptance rate 3.6%

1553 Median SAT 1553

94.6% Graduation rate 97.6%

8,961 Enrollment 21,189

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

8% Acceptance rate 3.6%

44.2% Yield rate 83.6%

1553 Median SAT 1553

— Avg. GPA 4.20

32,473 Number of applications 54,008

30% Int'l students 25%

At a glance

Harvard leads in 8 of 11 measured metrics

Acceptance8% vs 3.6%

Yield44.2% vs 83.6%

Grad. debt$28,418 vs $22,262

EXPERT TAKE

Harvard is the more selective of the two (3.6% vs 8% acceptance). Harvard ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #1). Harvard graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $90K). Harvard has lower sticker-price tuition ($61,676 vs $64,144 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 Harvard for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Harvard is more selective (3.6% vs 8% acceptance).

Graduate outcomes

Harvard graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $90K); Harvard has a higher 6-year graduation rate (97.6% vs 94.6%).

Cost and aid

Harvard has lower sticker-price tuition ($61,676 vs $64,144); Harvard offers a larger average aid package ($74,387 vs $69,040).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

Each dot is a comparable US university; Rice and Harvard highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Rice	Harvard
World rank · ARWU	#101-150	#1
Rank · THE	—	#3
Acceptance rate	8%	3.6%
Yield rate	44.2%	83.6%
Median SAT	1553	1553
Avg. GPA	—	4.20
Number of applications	32,473	54,008
International students	30%	25%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$90K	$102K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs	$92K	$139K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$144K	$200K
Graduation rate	94.6%	97.6%
Retention rate	97.4%	98%
Median debt	$11,000	$14,000
Tuition · year	$64,144	$61,676
Avg. aid package	$69,040	$74,387
% of need met	100%	100%
Avg. graduate debt	$28,418	$22,262
Application fee	$75	$85
Enrollment	8,961	21,189

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Rice or Harvard?

It's harder to get into Harvard. Rice accepts 8% of applicants, while Harvard accepts 3.6%.

Do Rice or Harvard graduates earn more?

Harvard graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $90K.

How much is tuition at Rice vs Harvard?

Sticker-price tuition is $64,144 per year at Rice and $61,676 per year at Harvard.

What SAT score do you need for Rice or Harvard?

The median admitted SAT score is 1553 at Rice and 1553 at Harvard; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Rice or Harvard?

Harvard ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Rice vs #1 for Harvard.

Which university offers more financial aid — Rice or Harvard?

The average aid package is $69,040 at Rice and $74,387 at Harvard.

Compare Rice with

Stanford

Massachusetts institute of technology

Washington university

Northwestern

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Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).

All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) — admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "—" = not yet in canonical.