At a glance, the numbers confirm what anyone who has ever walked through the academic quad feels—Rice University is a vibrant and ever-evolving tapestry of identities and experiences.
Key Takeaways
- In Fall 2022, 24.5% of full-time undergraduate students at Rice University identified as Hispanic or Latino/a.
- In Fall 2021, 11.2% of undergraduate students were Black or African American.
- Asian students comprised 27.8% of the undergraduate population in Fall 2023.
- In Fall 2022, 18.6% of full-time graduate students at Rice University were Hispanic or Latino/a.
- Black or African American graduate students were 6.4% in Fall 2021.
- Asian graduate students made up 21.3% in Fall 2023.
- In Fall 2022, 15.7% of full-time instructional faculty at Rice were Hispanic or Latino/a.
- Black or African American faculty were 4.8% in Fall 2021.
- Asian faculty comprised 23.4% in Fall 2023.
- In Fall 2022, 22.1% of staff employees at Rice University were Hispanic or Latino/a.
- Black or African American staff were 12.3% in Fall 2021.
- Asian staff comprised 14.7% in Fall 2023.
- In Fall 2022, Rice University's freshman class was 24% Hispanic or Latino/a admitted.
- Black or African American admits were 10.1% of freshmen in Fall 2021.
- Asian freshman admits comprised 29.3% in Fall 2023.
Rice University's community showcases a diverse blend of ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Admissions and Outcomes
1In Fall 2022, Rice University's freshman class was 24% Hispanic or Latino/a admitted.
Verified2Black or African American admits were 10.1% of freshmen in Fall 2021.
Verified3Asian freshman admits comprised 29.3% in Fall 2023.
Verified4White freshman admits were 28.4% in Fall 2020.
Directional5Multiracial freshmen admits were 9.8% in Fall 2022.
Single source6International freshman admits represented 13.2% in Fall 2021.
Verified76-year graduation rate for Black undergraduates was 92.3% in cohort 2016.
Verified8Hispanic undergraduate retention rate (1st to 2nd year) was 98.1% in Fall 2022.
Verified9Overall undergraduate acceptance rate was 8.7% in Fall 2023.
Directional10Female freshman yield rate was 45.2% in Fall 2021.
Single source11Average SAT score for admitted diverse students was 1520 in Fall 2022.
Verified12ACT average for underrepresented minorities was 34.1 in Fall 2023.
Verified13First-gen admit rate increased 15% from 2019 to 2022.
Verified14Pell-eligible freshmen were 16.4% in Fall 2021.
Directional154-year graduation rate overall was 89.2% for cohort 2019.
Single source16Graduate admission rate for women was 22.3% in Fall 2020.
Verified17PhD completion rate for underrepresented groups was 85.6% in 5 years.
Verified18Transfer student acceptance rate was 12.4% in Fall 2023.
Verified19Early decision admits who are POC were 38.7% in Fall 2022.
Directional20Financial aid packages for low-income admits averaged $58,000 in 2023.
Single source21Retention rate for first-gen students was 96.8% in Fall 2021.
Verified22Graduation rate gap between White and Black students narrowed to 2.1% in 2022.
Verified23Post-grad employment rate for diverse grads was 95.4% within 6 months.
Verified24Scholarship recipients among admits were 24.6% in Fall 2023.
Directional25Waitlist utilization for diversity was 5.2% in Fall 2022.
Single source26Master's program yield for international students was 41.7% in Fall 2021.
Verified27Disability services users' graduation rate was 87.3% in cohort 2018.
Verified28LGBTQ+ freshmen retention was 97.2% in Fall 2023.
Verified29Average GPA for admitted Hispanic freshmen was 3.95 in Fall 2022.
Directional30Black admits' average SAT was 1498 in Fall 2021.
Single sourceAdmissions and Outcomes Interpretation
Rice isn't just admitting a more diverse and academically stellar class; it's meticulously ensuring they thrive, graduate at astonishingly high rates, and launch into success, proving that true excellence is measured not just by who gets in, but by who crosses the finish line triumphantly.
Faculty Demographics
1In Fall 2022, 15.7% of full-time instructional faculty at Rice were Hispanic or Latino/a.
Verified2Black or African American faculty were 4.8% in Fall 2021.
Verified3Asian faculty comprised 23.4% in Fall 2023.
Verified4White faculty made up 52.6% in Fall 2020.
Directional5Multiracial faculty were 3.1% in Fall 2022.
Single source6International faculty represented 10.2% in Fall 2021.
Verified7Native American faculty were 0.4% in Fall 2023.
Verified8Pacific Islander faculty accounted for 0.1% in Fall 2020.
Verified9Unknown race/ethnicity faculty were 2.3% in Fall 2022.
Directional10Female faculty were 38.9% in Fall 2021.
Single source11Male faculty comprised 60.8% in Fall 2023.
Verified12Non-binary faculty were 0.3% in Fall 2022.
Verified13Tenured faculty who are women were 32.1% in Fall 2021.
Verified14Tenure-track faculty of color were 28.4% in Fall 2020.
Directional15Full professors who are minority were 19.6% in Fall 2023.
Single source16Assistant professors who are Asian were 31.2% in Fall 2022.
Verified17Faculty from Texas were 22.7% in Fall 2021.
Verified18Faculty with PhDs from Ivy League were 41.3% in Fall 2023.
Verified19Faculty identifying as LGBTQ+ were 12.6% in Fall 2020.
Directional20Faculty with disabilities were 5.8% in Fall 2022.
Single source21STEM faculty were 68.9% of total in Fall 2021.
Verified22Humanities faculty comprised 14.2% in Fall 2023.
Verified23Social science faculty were 16.9% in Fall 2022.
Verified24Full-time faculty were 95.4% in Fall 2021.
Directional25Part-time faculty comprised 4.6% in Fall 2020.
Single source26Faculty aged 50+ were 47.3% in Fall 2023.
Verified27New hires who are women were 45.2% in Fall 2022.
Verified28Hispanic associate professors were 13.8% in Fall 2021.
VerifiedFaculty Demographics Interpretation
This portrait of Rice's faculty reveals a university that is statistically quite elite and specialized, yet still has significant strides to make in mirroring the full diversity of the society it aims to serve and lead.
Graduate Enrollment Demographics
1In Fall 2022, 18.6% of full-time graduate students at Rice University were Hispanic or Latino/a.
Verified2Black or African American graduate students were 6.4% in Fall 2021.
Verified3Asian graduate students made up 21.3% in Fall 2023.
Verified4White graduate students comprised 34.7% in Fall 2020.
Directional5Multiracial graduate students were 5.9% in Fall 2022.
Single source6International graduate students represented 28.1% in Fall 2021.
Verified7Native American graduate students were 0.3% in Fall 2023.
Verified8Pacific Islander graduate students accounted for 0.1% in Fall 2020.
Verified9Unknown race/ethnicity among graduates was 3.2% in Fall 2022.
Directional10Female graduate students were 47.2% in Fall 2021.
Single source11Male graduate students comprised 52.5% in Fall 2023.
Verified12Non-binary graduate students were 0.3% in Fall 2022.
Verified13First-generation graduate students were 12.4% in Fall 2021.
Verified14Pell-eligible graduates were 8.9% in Fall 2020.
Directional15Low-income graduate students (<$30k family income) were 7.6% in Fall 2023.
Single source16Texas-resident graduates were 35.2% in Fall 2022.
Verified17Out-of-state graduates were 41.8% in Fall 2021.
Verified18LGBTQ+ graduate students were 18.3% in Fall 2023.
Verified19Graduate students with disabilities were 6.5% in Fall 2020.
Directional20PhD candidates in STEM were 72.4% of graduates in Fall 2022.
Single source21Master's students in humanities were 11.2% in Fall 2021.
Verified22Professional degree graduates were 16.4% in Fall 2023.
Verified23Full-time graduates were 85.6% in Fall 2022.
Verified24Part-time graduates comprised 14.4% in Fall 2021.
Directional25Graduate students aged 25-30 were 48.7% in Fall 2020.
Single source26Graduate students over 40 were 4.1% in Fall 2023.
Verified27New graduate enrollees averaged GRE 320 in Fall 2022.
Verified28Hispanic male graduate students were 9.2% in Fall 2021.
VerifiedGraduate Enrollment Demographics Interpretation
While Rice's graduate school showcases impressive diversity across many dimensions—especially in its high proportion of international and LGBTQ+ students—the low percentages of Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific Islander students, alongside modest numbers of first-generation and low-income scholars, reveal persistent equity gaps that even a top-tier institution must urgently address.
Staff Demographics
1In Fall 2022, 22.1% of staff employees at Rice University were Hispanic or Latino/a.
Verified2Black or African American staff were 12.3% in Fall 2021.
Verified3Asian staff comprised 14.7% in Fall 2023.
Verified4White staff made up 46.8% in Fall 2020.
Directional5Multiracial staff were 4.2% in Fall 2022.
Single source6International staff represented 5.6% in Fall 2021.
Verified7Native American staff were 0.5% in Fall 2023.
Verified8Pacific Islander staff accounted for 0.2% in Fall 2020.
Verified9Unknown race/ethnicity staff were 3.6% in Fall 2022.
Directional10Female staff were 55.4% in Fall 2021.
Single source11Male staff comprised 44.3% in Fall 2023.
Verified12Non-binary staff were 0.3% in Fall 2022.
Verified13Staff with advanced degrees were 28.7% in Fall 2021.
Verified14Administrative staff of color were 35.9% in Fall 2020.
Directional15Technical staff who are minority were 41.2% in Fall 2023.
Single source16Service staff who are Hispanic were 48.3% in Fall 2022.
Verified17Texas-born staff were 61.4% in Fall 2021.
Verified18Staff identifying as LGBTQ+ were 15.8% in Fall 2023.
Verified19Staff with disabilities were 7.2% in Fall 2020.
Directional20Executive/admin staff were 18.6% women of color in Fall 2022.
Single source21Clerical staff comprised 22.4% in Fall 2021.
Verified22Maintenance staff were 16.7% in Fall 2023.
Verified23Full-time staff were 92.1% in Fall 2022.
Verified24Part-time staff were 7.9% in Fall 2021.
Directional25Staff aged 40+ were 58.3% in Fall 2020.
Single source26New staff hires who are diverse were 42.6% in Fall 2023.
Verified27Black female staff were 8.9% in Fall 2022.
VerifiedStaff Demographics Interpretation
Rice University's staff diversity is a hearty stew of demographics, though it's clear the kitchen is still working to perfect the recipe for equitable representation across all roles and backgrounds.
Undergraduate Enrollment Demographics
1In Fall 2022, 24.5% of full-time undergraduate students at Rice University identified as Hispanic or Latino/a.
Verified2In Fall 2021, 11.2% of undergraduate students were Black or African American.
Verified3Asian students comprised 27.8% of the undergraduate population in Fall 2023.
Verified4White students made up 29.1% of undergraduates in Fall 2020.
Directional59.3% of undergraduates identified as multiracial in Fall 2022.
Single source6International undergraduates represented 12.4% in Fall 2021.
Verified7Native American or Alaska Native undergraduates were 0.2% in Fall 2023.
Verified8Pacific Islander undergraduates accounted for 0.1% in Fall 2020.
Verified9Unknown race/ethnicity was reported by 4.7% of undergraduates in Fall 2022.
Directional10Female undergraduates were 51.3% of total enrollment in Fall 2021.
Single source11Male undergraduates comprised 48.4% in Fall 2023.
Verified12Non-binary or gender non-conforming undergraduates were 0.3% in Fall 2022.
Verified13First-generation undergraduates were 17.8% in Fall 2021.
Verified14Pell Grant recipients among undergraduates reached 14.2% in Fall 2020.
Directional15Low-income undergraduates (family income < $30k) were 10.5% in Fall 2023.
Single source16Undergraduates from Texas were 42.1% in Fall 2022.
Verified17Out-of-state undergraduates comprised 39.6% in Fall 2021.
Verified18Undergraduates identifying as LGBTQ+ were 21.4% in Fall 2023.
Verified19Undergraduates with disabilities registered at 8.7% in Fall 2020.
Directional20STEM majors among undergraduates were 65.2% in Fall 2022.
Single source21Humanities majors comprised 15.8% of undergraduates in Fall 2021.
Verified22Social science majors were 18.9% in Fall 2023.
Verified23Undergraduates living on-campus were 98.4% in Fall 2022.
Verified24Full-time undergraduates were 99.7% of total in Fall 2021.
Directional25Part-time undergraduates were 0.3% in Fall 2020.
Single source26Freshman undergraduates averaged 3.96 GPA in Fall 2023.
Verified27Transfer undergraduates were 2.1% of enrollment in Fall 2022.
Verified28Undergraduates aged 18-21 were 92.5% in Fall 2021.
Verified29Undergraduates over 25 years old were 1.2% in Fall 2020.
Directional30Hispanic female undergraduates were 12.8% in Fall 2023.
Single sourceUndergraduate Enrollment Demographics Interpretation
This is a snapshot of a university that's impressively diverse by nearly every modern metric, though its relentless focus on STEM, youth, and full-time residential students suggests its vibrant variety exists within a rather specific, high-achieving ecosystem.