Rice University is ranked No. 6 in the nation in WalletHub’s 2025 College and University Rankings released this week, making it the top university in both Texas and the entire Southern region.
The Owls excelled in multiple categories, coming in at No. 9 nationally for education outcomes. Rice also ranked 14th in faculty resources, 17th in student selectivity and 31st in career outcomes, underscoring the university’s commitment to academic excellence and student success.
To identify the top-performing schools with the lowest costs for undergraduates, WalletHub analyzed 822 U.S. higher education institutions using 30 key measures across seven categories: student selectivity, cost and financing, faculty resources, campus safety, campus experience, educational outcomes and career outcomes.
This latest recognition comes at a pivotal time for Rice, which just announced its new 10-year strategic plan, “Momentous: Personalized Scale for Global Impact.” The plan aims to establish Rice as a global leader in teaching and research.
Last month, Rice was ranked No. 18 in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” rankings. The Owls earned impressive placements in the top 10, coming in at No. 6 for best value and No. 7 for undergraduate teaching programs.
Rice climbed 13 spots to enter the top 10 on Forbes’ list of top colleges for the first time this year. Forbes also recognized Rice as the most affordable private institution among its “New Ivies.” Additionally, Rice is ranked 19th for “Best Value” in the latest Wall Street Journal college rankings .
Learn more about WalletHub’s ranking methodology here.