Academics at Rice University

The Academic Picture

Heres a high-level look at academic life at Rice University, covering the student-to-faculty ratio, the majors and degrees offered, and what online and distance learning is available.

Each topic below links to a dedicated page with the full detail:

• Faculty Resources
• Most Popular Majors
• Additional Questions to Ask
• Continue Your Research

Faculty Resources

At a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, Rice University offers far more individual attention than the national average of 15 to 1. With 84% of instructors full time, Rice University is above the national average of 47%.

For the full breakdown — tenure status, part-time and adjunct share, and how the faculty compares with the national average — see the faculty composition report.

Majors and Fields of Study

Students at Rice University can choose from 65 majors with reported graduates spanning 24 broad fields of study.

The degree levels available at Rice University are shown below:

Ranked by number of graduates, these are the most popular majors at Rice University.

For the complete list of majors, concentrations and graduation numbers, see the academic majors page.

Additional Questions to Ask

Before you decide, here are a few more questions to consider about academics at Rice University:

• Looking for flexibility? Rice University may offer online or summer classes that can help you finish your degree — 83 undergraduates take at least some classes online. See distance learning options.
• Interested in outcomes? Look at how well Rice University retains and graduates its students — 97% of full-time freshmen return). Explore graduation rates.
• Will a degree land you a job? Ask how many graduates were employed full time a year after finishing.

Explore Further on Rice University

Each page below covers one part of academic life at Rice University in more detail:

• Academic Majors at Rice University — the full list of majors, concentrations and graduation numbers
• Faculty & Class Sizes at Rice University — student-faculty ratio, full-time vs adjunct, and tenure detail
• Graduation & Retention at Rice University — how well the school retains and graduates students
• Distance Learning at Rice University — distance-learning enrollment detail
• Accreditation Detail at Rice University — regional and program accreditation status