Rice vs Old Dominion - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Rice admits 8% of applications, Old Dominion admits 90.4%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 13% (Rice) against 1.3% (Old Dominion).
Real money goes to international students at Rice ($76,332 on average), while Old Dominion stops at $16,000.
The tuition gap is $33,612 a year: $33,885 (Old Dominion) against $67,497.
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
Rice is the more selective of the two (8% vs 90.4% acceptance). Rice ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #801-900). Rice graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($90K vs $55K). Old Dominion has lower sticker-price tuition ($33,885 vs $67,497 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, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Old Dominion for: lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Rice is more selective (8% vs 90.4% acceptance); Rice has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1197).
Rice graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($90K vs $55K); Rice has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.6% vs 46.3%).
Old Dominion has lower sticker-price tuition ($33,885 vs $67,497); Rice offers a larger average aid package ($69,040 vs $30,437).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Rice | Old Dominion |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #801-900 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 8% | 90.4% |
| Yield rate | 44.2% | 19.9% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1197 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.45 |
| Number of applications | 32,473 | 15,100 |
| International students | 13% | 1.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $90K | $55K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $63K | $37K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $144K | $80K |
| Graduation rate | 94.6% | 46.3% |
| Retention rate | 97.4% | 77% |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $24,000 |
| Tuition · year | $67,497 | $33,885 |
| Avg. aid package | $69,040 | $30,437 |
| % of need met | 100% | 53% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $28,418 | $32,043 |
| Application fee | $75 | $50 |
| Enrollment | 8,961 | 23,743 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Rice or Old Dominion?
It's harder to get into Rice. Rice accepts 8% of applicants, while Old Dominion accepts 90.4%.
Do Rice or Old Dominion graduates earn more?
Rice graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $90K vs $55K.
How much is tuition at Rice vs Old Dominion?
Sticker-price tuition is $67,497 per year at Rice and $33,885 per year at Old Dominion.
What SAT score do you need for Rice or Old Dominion?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Rice and 1197 at Old Dominion; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Rice or Old Dominion?
Rice ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Rice vs #801-900 for Old Dominion.
Which university offers more financial aid - Rice or Old Dominion?
The average aid package is $69,040 at Rice and $30,437 at Old Dominion.
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