Rice University vs Wellesley College

Rice University and Wellesley College, two prestigious institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Rice, a coeducational research university in Houston, Texas, boasts a diverse student body and a strong focus on STEM fields. Wellesley, a private women's liberal arts college in Wellesley, Massachusetts, emphasizes interdisciplinary learning and offers a wide range of majors in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. With acceptance rates of 10.1% and 20.3%, respectively, both institutions are highly selective. Rice's student body is more diverse, with 51% female and 49% male students, while Wellesley's student body is predominantly female. Both universities offer excellent graduation rates, with Rice at 94% and Wellesley at 93%. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these two exceptional institutions and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	Rice University	Wellesley College
Overview
Location	Houston, Texas	Wellesley, Massachusetts
Campus setting	City: Large	Suburb: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate
Students retention rate	97.0%	97.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	9.5%	16.2%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $75 Graduate: $85
SAT range	1490 - 1570	1400 - 1540
ACT range	34 - 35	31 - 34
Students submitting SAT score	46.0%	36.0%
Students submitting ACT score	29.0%	23.0%
Total number of applicants	29,544	7,663
Total number of admissions given out	2,802	1,240
Admitted students who chose to enroll	1,226	606
Yield rate	43.8%	48.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Not required	Not required
Recommendation letters	Required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Not required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$71,745	$64,602
Average net price	$18,521	$21,862
Tuition	$52,070	$60,424
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $10,100 Meal plan: $4,700	Room/dormitory: $9,704 Meal plan: $8,584
Available payment plans	Prepaid tuition plan Tuition payment plan	Prepaid tuition plan Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	61.0% Average amount $51,036	60.0% Average amount $55,483
Students receiving federal student loan	9.0% Average amount $4,982	13.0% Average amount $3,993
Students taking out private loans	2.0% Average amount $24,340	13.0% Average amount $5,043

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	4,247 Men 51.5% Women 48.5%	2,461 Men 1.2% Women 98.8%
Graduate students	4,038 Men 63.9% Women 36.1%	N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	56.1%	N/A
International students	25.5%	13.8%
Campus local/setting	City: Large	Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity	3,533	2,211
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	Texas California New York Florida Illinois	N/A

Academics
Popular study areas	Business Engineering Computer and Information Science Social Sciences Physical Science	Ethnic Studies Foreign Languages and Literatures Social Sciences Biological and Biomedical Sciences Physical Science
Students to faculty ratio	6:1	8:1
Institutional accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges	New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	92.3%	92.1%
Dropout rate	6.9%	7.8%
Transferred out	N/A	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $122,770 Year 2: $129,481 Year 3: $145,256 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $128,659 Year 2: $127,993 Year 3: $134,258 Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $78,801 Year 2: $83,915 Year 3: $92,763 Economics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $87,989 Year 2: $72,884 Year 3: $81,590 Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $70,400 Year 2: $68,219 Year 3: $76,594 History (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $49,840 Year 3: $61,295 Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $50,231 Year 3: $59,421 Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $38,232 Year 2: $35,060 Year 3: $52,284 English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $28,009 Year 2: $46,087 Year 3: $46,363 Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $31,474 Year 2: $30,119 Year 3: $45,615	Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $110,380 Year 2: $86,867 Year 3: $124,973 Economics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $70,781 Year 2: $76,460 Year 3: $80,094 Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $38,289 Year 3: $62,505 Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $36,749 Year 2: $34,420 Year 3: $47,043 Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $37,693 Year 2: $36,852 Year 3: $46,471 English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $37,849 Year 2: $31,314 Year 3: $45,061 Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $37,002 Year 2: $33,281 Year 3: $39,658 Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $29,685 Year 3: N/A Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $50,587 Year 2: $33,993 Year 3: N/A Computer Software and Media Applications (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $70,490 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the primary differences between Rice University and Wellesley College?

Rice University is a co-educational, private research university located in Houston, Texas, known for its strong engineering, natural sciences, and architecture programs. Wellesley College, on the other hand, is a highly selective women's liberal arts college located in Wellesley, Massachusetts, renowned for its focus on empowering women and its exceptional humanities and social sciences programs. Rice offers a broader range of graduate programs, while Wellesley focuses exclusively on undergraduate education.
How do the academic environments compare at Rice and Wellesley?

Rice University emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and research opportunities, particularly in STEM fields. The student-to-faculty ratio is low, fostering close relationships with professors. Wellesley College provides a rigorous liberal arts education with a strong emphasis on critical thinking, writing, and discussion-based learning. Its small class sizes and dedicated faculty create a supportive and intellectually stimulating environment for women to excel.
What are the main differences in campus culture and student life?

Rice University has a vibrant residential college system, fostering a strong sense of community and tradition. Student life is active, with numerous clubs, organizations, and athletic events. Wellesley College offers a close-knit community focused on women's leadership and empowerment. The campus culture is supportive and collaborative, with a strong emphasis on social justice and civic engagement. While both offer a strong sense of community, Rice's is centered around its residential colleges, while Wellesley's is defined by its identity as a women's college.
How do the locations of Rice and Wellesley impact the student experience?

Rice University's location in Houston, Texas, provides students with access to a major metropolitan area with diverse cultural attractions, internship opportunities in various industries (especially energy and healthcare), and a vibrant food scene. Wellesley College's location in Wellesley, Massachusetts, offers a more suburban setting with easy access to the cultural and academic resources of Boston. Students can enjoy a quieter campus environment while still being close to a major city.
What are the strengths of Rice University's academic programs?

Rice University excels in engineering, natural sciences, architecture, and music. Its programs in nanotechnology, space science, and artificial intelligence are particularly strong. Rice also offers a highly regarded business school and a growing presence in the humanities and social sciences.
What are the strengths of Wellesley College's academic programs?

Wellesley College is renowned for its programs in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. It has particularly strong programs in economics, political science, English, history, and biology. Wellesley's focus on women's leadership and its interdisciplinary approach to learning make its graduates highly sought after in various fields.
How do the admissions processes compare between Rice and Wellesley?

Both Rice University and Wellesley College have highly selective admissions processes. They both consider academic achievement, standardized test scores (though policies may vary regarding test-optional admissions), extracurricular involvement, essays, and letters of recommendation. Both institutions seek students who are intellectually curious, highly motivated, and committed to making a positive impact on the world. Wellesley specifically seeks students who will thrive in a women's college environment.
What are the career prospects for graduates of Rice and Wellesley?

Graduates of both Rice University and Wellesley College enjoy excellent career prospects. Rice graduates are well-prepared for careers in engineering, science, technology, business, and other fields. Wellesley graduates are highly sought after in fields such as finance, consulting, law, government, education, and non-profit organizations. Both institutions have strong alumni networks that provide valuable support for career development.
What is the cost of attendance and financial aid like at Rice and Wellesley?

Both Rice University and Wellesley College have high tuition costs, but both also offer generous financial aid packages to students with demonstrated need. They both provide need-based scholarships, grants, and loans to help make education affordable. It's important to visit their respective financial aid websites to get a personalized estimate of the cost of attendance based on your family's financial situation.
Are there any specific programs or opportunities unique to each institution?

Rice University offers unique opportunities such as the Rice 360°: Institute for Global Health Technologies, which focuses on developing innovative solutions to global health challenges. Wellesley College offers programs like the Madeleine Korbel Albright Institute for Global Affairs, which provides students with opportunities to engage in international affairs and diplomacy. Wellesley also has cross-registration programs with MIT, Babson, and Olin College, expanding academic options.

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