Rice University President Reginald DesRoches hosted the State of the University address Dec. 8 to reflect on the institution’s achievements and to provide a glimpse of its future direction.
DesRoches began by mentioning the uniqueness of the event, which was attended or viewed live online by more than 1,000 employees and is the first time that both faculty and staff have been invited to attend.
“We have a record number of attendees today, and it’s great to be here with you as part of this,” DesRoches said. “It’s been another exciting year full of growth and new programs across the university.”
The steady beat of Rice’s accomplishments served as the throughline interwoven between the people, departments and schools that comprise the university’s academic, social and research enterprises.
New Owls
Rice experienced a record number of new hires, including 92 faculty hired in the last year and more than 270 faculty hired over the past three years. DesRoches recognized the time and dedication put into expanding the faculty’s footprint.
“One of the most important things that we do at the university is to bring talent to the university, and much of this is led by our department chairs and other program directors,” he said. “This really speaks to the commitment of our faculty and the important work that the department chairs have done in bringing exceptional talent to the university.”
Enrollment
Beyond welcoming new faculty, DesRoches recognized the equally impressive student body. “Our students are great, and you saw a little bit of that in the snapshot in the video,” DesRoches said.
The Class of 2029 is the largest in the university's history with 1,263 first time undergraduate students. Thirty-five percent hail from Texas and 51% from other states. International students make up 14% of the class,representing 56 different countries.
Enrollment is not the only record being recalibrated. Rice students continue to produce among the highest SAT scores in the nation, and the campus brings together a student body of international acclaim.
“We have a very diverse and international population,” DesRoches said. “That’s something that we’re very proud of and that we know is an important part of the Rice experience.”
The Class of 2029 also includes the largest number of Pell grant recipients in school history at 20%. Eleven percent of all students are first generation, and the class is evenly split by gender with 50% female and 50% male.
This year also broke records with nearly 37,000 applicants. The acceptance rate hovers near the 8% mark, which speaks not only to the university’s prestige but also to its selectivity when welcoming new students to embark on their academic journey.
Rankings and scholastic achievement
During this time of growth, the university has demonstrated academic distinction on several levels. U.S. News & World Report ranks Rice as No. 17 in the nation and No. 5 for Best Value Schools, while Niche recognizes it as No. 10 for Best Colleges in the Nation and The Princeton Review designated the university as a Best Value College.
The awards are matched by student success. DesRoches mentioned a select group of students who represent scholarly attainment, including Owls who earned top tier accolades like the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship and the Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Awards, among other designations.
The students’ success is equally represented in athletics, where grit and determination in sports are balanced by classroom excellence. Last year’s cumulative student-athlete GPA was 3.43, which stands out above Rice’s academic peers. Student-athletes major in a wide cross section of fields like business, engineering, sports medicine, computer science and psychology — allowing them to make the most of their college experience and enjoy the full complement of Rice’s academic offerings.
The result is borne out by three NCAA Championship qualifiers, three All-American student-athletes, three American Conference team championships, two American Conference coach of the year awards and eight American Conference individual champions along with numerous record-breaking wins.
Graduate growth
DesRoches did not mince words when he emphasized that every student — undergraduate and graduate — will earn a degree of value, and he pointed toward the graduate student enrollment growth as proof that more degree seekers are choosing Rice as the destination to continue their studies.
Doctoral applications have increased by 80% since 2022, followed by a 60% increase in master’s degree applications. During DesRoches’ tenure, the number of Rice’s graduate programs has doubled in the rankings with several programs landing in the top 10 nationally and a 60% increase within the top 25 graduate programs.
“We want the quality of our graduate education and experience to be on par with the quality of our undergraduate education and experience,” he said.
Those numbers are matched across the board with 31 new Fulbright Scholars among a total of 94 now on campus, which places Rice on the same level as Harvard University and Columbia University. The program has extended the Rice experience to 20 countries in total.
To support those students, the university has committed to a stipend of $36,000 annually, expanded meal plans, transportation options, health insurance benefits, additional space to conduct research and learning as well as a newly implemented first-year doctoral student support program.
The teaching enterprise
To educate the influx of students, DesRoches pointed out that the university has matched the demand by hiring full professors, which has also allowed for a broader spectrum of experiences. As of fall 2025, there are more than 1,000 professors who teach at Rice.One special area is the number of faculty who are members of the national academies. Rice employs two faculty who are “trifecta members” of the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine, making Rice the only school in Texas to boast such an accomplishment and one of less than 35 across the globe.
The research enterprise
The teaching endeavor is buttressed by the research initiative, and Rice has made significant strides in this arena as well. Focused on building thriving urban communities, leading innovations in health, creating sustainable futures and pioneering the charge in responsible artificial intelligence, Rice is uniquely positioned.
With an emphasis on institutes, centers and accelerators, the university brings more than 30 operating ventures that bridge the gap between human understanding and the future.
With such proximity to the Texas Medical Center, Rice has been fortunate to take part in a multitude of ways, including the Digital Health Initiative, Synthesis X Center, Rice/MD Anderson Cancer Bioengineering Collaborative and the Institute of Health Resilience and Innovation.
The research is fueled by a mixture of funding generated by state and local entities, nonprofits, industry partners, federal allocations and the university’s own resources. Research funding reached $218 million in fiscal year 2024, indicating a 6.5% increase from 2023.
A notable endowment
One of the natural questions brought up by employees is the university’s financial health, and DesRoches took a moment to speak about its endowment as well as other sources of revenue.
Rice draws from its $8 billion endowment to run operations, which brings renewed interest in fundraising and financial commitments. One of the ways the university has capitalized on its solid financial future is through The Rice Investment. Launched in 2019, the program greatly expands support for families, eliminating tuition for talented students. Since the program’s inception, more than $825 million has been awarded to students, with$174 million awarded last year - a 54% increase compared to the previous five years.
The result is that 87% of Rice students graduated debt free, 45% of all full-time undergraduates received need-based aid, and 54% of all full-time undergraduates received some form of aid.
Capital improvements
The landscape of Rice has changed much in the last year. New buildings like the Ralph S. O’Connor Building for Engineering and Science, the William T. Cannady Hall for Architecture and Susan and Fayez Sarofim Hall are now open for use, while others like the Moody Center Complex for Student Life, Chao College, Lovett College and RiceBusiness are breaking ground and making steady progress.
The Gateway Project is another part of the university’s bold vision for the future that will unify the campus and Rice Village, update Rice Stadium and create more multipurpose spaces to supplement the university.
These facilities bolster Rice’s capital portfolio, which includes other strategic real estate developments such as Helix Park at the Texas Medical District and the Ion District.
Staff investments and closing notes
Just as Rice is investing in its students and its community partners, the same attention is being paid to the university’s staff. DesRoches highlighted reimagined facilities, a commitment to competitive pay and benefits, an emphasis on investing in new AI tools like Gemini and NotebookLM as well as the unwavering community of care.
“Rice is fortunate to have faculty and staff who are extraordinarily talented, dedicated and driven,” he said. “Our staff across every department and division bring diverse perspectives and deep expertise to their roles. Your continued guidance, partnership and collaboration are key to moving Rice to new heights.”
DesRoches capstoned his annual presentation with a nod to the work taking place each day.
“As we close out this semester and the year, I want to thank you for all that you do for Rice and for our community. I have personally worked with many of you and know how much heart, effort and care you pour into this university — and it shows. You are the reason students come to Rice and are inspired to do great things.”