OVERVIEW

Rice University is an independent, coeducational, nonsectarian, private, research university dedicated to undergraduate teaching and to graduate studies, research, and professional education in selected disciplines. The defining characteristics of Rice are its small size, exceptionally gifted students, low tuition, distinguished faculty, acclaimed research and scholarship, financial stability, and its campus of uncommon beauty.

FACULTY

Rice has 456 full-time, 142 part-time, and 147 adjunct faculty. They teach and conduct research in 8 academic schools: Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Administration, Architecture, Continuing Studies, George R. Brown School of Engineering, Humanities, Shepherd School of Music, Wiess School of Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences. 98% of the faculty hold Ph.D.'s or equivalent terminal desgrees in their fields.

STUDENTS

The fall 1996 student body consisted of 2,640 undergraduates and 1,431 graduate and professional1 students. The male-to-female ratio among undergraduates is approximately 5 to 4, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 9 to 1. 61.8% of the students accepted for undergraduate admisison were in the top 5% of their high school class, and the middle 50% of the entering class had composite SAT I scores between 1,360 and 1,510. 33% of the undergraduate population (870 students) are National Merit Scholars. 48.8% of Rice undergraduates hail from Texas; 48.4% come from elsewhere in the U.S.; and 2.8% are from outside the U.S.

Undergraduate tuition for 1996-97 was $12,800 for entering freshmen, $11,950 for 1995-96 matriculants, $10,950 for 1994-95 matriculants, and $10,800 for other continuing full-time students; graduate tuition was $13,300. Students are admitted without consideration of financial aid circumstances; 86.4% of undergraduates receive financial aid.

ALUMNI

Rice has 38,423 living alumni. Of the 33,717 alumni whose locations are known, 34.4% reside in Houston, 19.2% live elsewhere in Texas, 43.4% live elsewhere in the U.S., and 2.9% live outside the U.S.

FINANCIAL

Rice's FY96 operating budget was approximately $205 million. Rice's endowment on June 30, 1996, was $1.85 billion.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

Spring Semester 1997

January 13

First Day of Classes

January 20

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day

February 21

Majors Day

March 3-7

Midterm Recess

March 27-28

Spring Recess

April 25

Last Day of Classes

April 26-May 1

Final Exams for Degree Candidates

April 30-May 7

Final Exams for Remaining Students

May 10

84th Commencement

 

Fall Semester 1997

August 24-29

Orientation for New Students

September 1 

Labor Day Holiday

September 2

First Day of Classes

October 20-21

Midterm Recess

November 27-28

Thanksgiving Recess

December 10

Last D ay o f Cla sse

December 13-20

Final Exams

 

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICY

It is the policy of Rice University to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons of diverse backgrounds. Rice does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, or veteran status. University employment policy also includes affirmative action in seeking to recruit, hire, and advance women, minority group members, individuals with disabilities, Vietnam Era veterans, and special disabled veterans.      

INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITING AGENCIES & LAST REVIEW

Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET) 1994
National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) 1994 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) 1995 Texas Education Agency (TEA) 1989      

RICE LOGO

The Rice logo was adopted in 1989. The Rice academic seal and Rice logo are protected designs and part of the Rice University identity system. For information about the identity system or permission to use a protected mark, please contact the Office of Public Affairs at 713-831-4700.