Rice University sits in the heart of Houston, Texas, on a 300-acre, tree-lined campus next to the Texas Medical Center and the Houston Museum District. Rice students are bright, curious, and diverse, with a thirst for knowledge and a desire to shape the world around them. 

Students can choose from more than 50 undergraduate programs of study across seven schools of study: Architecture, Business, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences. New and unique areas of study include African Studies, Architecture, Business, Medical Humanities, Music, and Sport Management. With the goal of giving undergraduates a broad education beyond their major, Rice has established flexible distribution requirements as part of the requirements for graduation. By the time they graduate, students will have taken three classes in each of the humanities, social sciences, and applied sciences. Rice builds flexibility into the requirements so that students have the freedom to select the courses that interest them most. 

Experiential learning is an important part of education at Rice. Starting as early as freshman year, no matter their major, Rice students have the opportunity to conduct research alongside experts. With 45+ research centers, 150 study abroad programs in over 50 countries, and access to a variety of internship-focused resources, students have no shortage of opportunities to explore their interests and develop their passions.

At the core of the Rice undergraduate experience is the residential college system, where students connect with each other and support each other throughout their time at Rice. Students are assigned to one of 11 residential colleges, each with their own unique culture and traditions. One of the longest standing campus traditions, the Honor Code at Rice fosters a spirit of freedom, independence, honesty, and mutual trust. By focusing on a culture of care, students find an environment of collaboration over competition. Beyond the residential college system, students can join more than 300 clubs in anything that interests them, from cultural groups to volunteer organizations.

As the nation’s fourth largest and most culturally diverse city, Houston delivers rich opportunities for Rice students. Every undergraduate student at Rice is given a Passport to Houston, which provides free, unlimited use of the public transportation system and access to many entertainment and cultural venues in Houston. Whether looking to try a new cuisine or spend an afternoon at the museum, students love to venture beyond the hedges to experience all that Houston has to offer. 

Fun Fact: Rice and Houston have significant connections to space and space flight. As early as September 1962, President John F. Kennedy made his famous “Race to the Moon” speech at Rice University. Rice also donated the land upon which the Johnson Space Center currently sits. And on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong spoke these words – “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has Landed,” thereby making “Houston” the first word spoken from the surface of the Moon.