Southern California vs Rice - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The data does not settle this one; the gaps on the axes that matter are too small to build anything on.
Average aid for an international student is $76,332 (Rice) and $25,384 (Southern California).
Both universities turn away more than nine applicants in ten (8% and 9.8%), so the outcome rests on how well your profile fits, not on the admission rate itself.
45 points separate the SAT profiles: 1540 (Rice) against 1495.
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 9.81% acceptance). Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#62 vs #101-150). Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $90K). Rice has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,497 vs $68,687 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 Southern California for: a higher world ranking, higher graduate earnings, a larger aid package.
Choose Rice for: higher selectivity, 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 9.81% acceptance); Rice has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1495).
Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $90K); Rice has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.6% vs 91.8%).
Rice has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,497 vs $68,687); Southern California offers a larger average aid package ($71,169 vs $69,040).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Southern California | Rice |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #62 | #101-150 |
| Rank · THE | #72 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 9.81% | 8% |
| Yield rate | 43.3% | 44.2% |
| Median SAT | 1495 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.80 | - |
| Number of applications | 82,027 | 32,473 |
| International students | 13.2% | 13% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $92K | $90K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $59K | $63K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $141K | $144K |
| Graduation rate | 91.8% | 94.6% |
| Retention rate | 95.6% | 97.4% |
| Median debt | $18,000 | $11,000 |
| Tuition · year | $68,687 | $67,497 |
| Avg. aid package | $71,169 | $69,040 |
| % of need met | 99.3% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $27,678 | $28,418 |
| Application fee | $85 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 46,566 | 8,961 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Southern California or Rice?
It's harder to get into Rice. Southern California accepts 9.81% of applicants, while Rice accepts 8%.
Do Southern California or Rice graduates earn more?
Southern California graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $92K vs $90K.
How much is tuition at Southern California vs Rice?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,687 per year at Southern California and $67,497 per year at Rice.
What SAT score do you need for Southern California or Rice?
The median admitted SAT score is 1495 at Southern California and 1540 at Rice; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Southern California or Rice?
Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #62 for Southern California vs #101-150 for Rice.
Which university offers more financial aid - Southern California or Rice?
The average aid package is $71,169 at Southern California and $69,040 at Rice.
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