Rice University expands enrollment and financial aid
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Soon, more people will be on campus. Photo: Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images
Rice University is launching its largest enrollment expansion to date, aiming to grow its undergraduate population again and invest more than $1.5 billion in financial aid over the next five years.
Why it matters: The move signals a broader push by the elite private university to redefine what it means to be "selective," prioritizing access and affordability without sacrificing academic rigor or its campus culture.
What they're saying: "As we expand access, we are committed to preserving what makes Rice special," university president Reginald DesRoches said in the announcement Monday.
- "It's first and foremost about expanding access, and redefining what it means to be elite, which is not about being exclusive," DesRoches told KHOU-TV during an interview.
State of play: Rice's Board of Trustees approved a plan to grow the undergraduate population to 5,200 by 2028 — a 30% increase since undergrad expansion began in 2020.
- Rice remains committed to preserving its low student-to-faculty ratio, which is 6-to-1. The university hired a record 97 educators in 2024 to maintain the ratio and plans to continue expanding its faculty.
- Two residential colleges are under construction, bringing the campus total to 12 to accommodate the growth, and new graduate housing is being planned in the Rice-owned Ion District in midtown Houston.
Stunning stat: A record 36,700 prospective freshmen applied in the most recent application cycle for the 1,300 available spots.
Context: Rice placed 18th in the U.S. News National Universities ranking.
- Per the university, interest in Rice has increased, driven partly by the Rice Investment, which offers full-tuition scholarships to students from families earning under $140,000, and at least half-tuition for those earning between $140,000 and $200,000.
- Students from families earning less than $75,000 receive full coverage for tuition, fees and living expenses.