Texas Rio Grande Valley vs Rice - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Texas Rio Grande Valley accepts most of the applications it receives (94.2%), while Rice turns away the overwhelming majority (8%).
The more international environment is at Rice (13% international students) than Texas Rio Grande Valley (1.7%).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Rice awards international students $76,332 on average, Texas Rio Grande Valley awards $6,258.
The tuition gap is $45,210 a year: $22,287 (Texas Rio Grande Valley) against $67,497.
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
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 94.2% acceptance). Rice ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#801-900 vs #101-150). Rice graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($90K vs $50K). Texas Rio Grande Valley has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,287 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 Texas Rio Grande Valley for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
Choose Rice 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
Rice is more selective (8% vs 94.2% acceptance); Rice has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 985).
Rice graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($90K vs $50K); Rice has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.6% vs 50.9%).
Texas Rio Grande Valley has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,287 vs $67,497); Rice offers a larger average aid package ($69,040 vs $11,242).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Texas Rio Grande Valley | Rice |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #801-900 | #101-150 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 94.2% | 8% |
| Yield rate | 55.4% | 44.2% |
| Median SAT | 985 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 12,137 | 32,473 |
| International students | 1.7% | 13% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $50K | $90K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $29K | $63K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $67K | $144K |
| Graduation rate | 50.9% | 94.6% |
| Retention rate | 78.9% | 97.4% |
| Median debt | $12,950 | $11,000 |
| Tuition · year | $22,287 | $67,497 |
| Avg. aid package | $11,242 | $69,040 |
| % of need met | 72% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $14,589 | $28,418 |
| Application fee | - | $75 |
| Enrollment | 31,864 | 8,961 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Texas Rio Grande Valley or Rice?
It's harder to get into Rice. Texas Rio Grande Valley accepts 94.2% of applicants, while Rice accepts 8%.
Do Texas Rio Grande Valley or Rice graduates earn more?
Rice graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $90K vs $50K.
How much is tuition at Texas Rio Grande Valley vs Rice?
Sticker-price tuition is $22,287 per year at Texas Rio Grande Valley and $67,497 per year at Rice.
What SAT score do you need for Texas Rio Grande Valley or Rice?
The median admitted SAT score is 985 at Texas Rio Grande Valley and 1540 at Rice; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Texas Rio Grande Valley or Rice?
Rice ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #801-900 for Texas Rio Grande Valley vs #101-150 for Rice.
Which university offers more financial aid - Texas Rio Grande Valley or Rice?
The average aid package is $11,242 at Texas Rio Grande Valley and $69,040 at Rice.
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