Rice vs Notre dame — US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
EXPERT TAKE
Rice is the more selective of the two (8% vs 11.3% acceptance). Rice ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #301-400). Notre dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $90K). Rice has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,144 vs $65,025 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 Rice for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, lower tuition.
Choose Notre dame for: higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate, higher retention.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Rice is more selective (8% vs 11.3% acceptance); Rice has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1520).
Notre dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $90K); Notre dame has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95% vs 94.6%).
Rice has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,144 vs $65,025); Rice offers a larger average aid package ($69,040 vs $67,855).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Rice | Notre dame |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | — | — |
| Acceptance rate | 8% | 11.3% |
| Yield rate | 44.2% | 61.7% |
| Median SAT | 1553 | 1520 |
| Avg. GPA | — | — |
| Number of applications | 32,473 | 29,942 |
| International students | 30% | 13% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $90K | $100K |
| Avg. earnings · 10 yrs | $92K | $98K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $144K | $141K |
| Graduation rate | 94.6% | 95% |
| Retention rate | 97.4% | 99% |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $19,000 |
| Tuition · year | $64,144 | $65,025 |
| Avg. aid package | $69,040 | $67,855 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $28,418 | $30,400 |
| Application fee | $75 | $85 |
| Enrollment | 8,961 | 13,042 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Rice or Notre dame?
It's harder to get into Rice. Rice accepts 8% of applicants, while Notre dame accepts 11.3%.
Do Rice or Notre dame graduates earn more?
Notre dame graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $100K vs $90K.
How much is tuition at Rice vs Notre dame?
Sticker-price tuition is $64,144 per year at Rice and $65,025 per year at Notre dame.
What SAT score do you need for Rice or Notre dame?
The median admitted SAT score is 1553 at Rice and 1520 at Notre dame; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher — Rice or Notre dame?
Rice ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Rice vs #301-400 for Notre dame.
Which university offers more financial aid — Rice or Notre dame?
The average aid package is $69,040 at Rice and $67,855 at Notre dame.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts institute of technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns hopkins
Washington university
Northwestern