21-04-2025
Rice University expands enrollment and financial aid
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.
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.
