Rice University continues to earn national recognition for the strength and breadth of its graduate programs with multiple disciplines ranked among the nation’s best in the 2026 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools.
The George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing is ranked No. 25 overall among the nation’s best engineering schools, with several programs placing in the top 30. Leading the way are environmental engineering (No. 11) and biomedical engineering/bioengineering (No. 12), followed by chemical engineering (No. 21), electrical engineering (No. 22), materials engineering (No. 22), computer engineering (No. 23), biostatistics (No. 25), statistics (No. 27), computer science (No. 27) and civil engineering (No. 28). The mechanical engineering program came in at No. 31.
The Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business is ranked No. 29 among the nation’s best business schools and continues to demonstrate strong momentum with 10 newly ranked programs this year and five in the top 30. Its entrepreneurship program leads at No. 7, followed by part-time MBA (No. 11), executive MBA (No. 19), real estate (No. 27) and management (No. 30). Other ranked specialties include accounting, business analytics, finance, information systems, international, marketing, production-operations and supply chain management.
In the Wiess School of Natural Sciences, several programs also earned national recognition in the top 30, including earth sciences (No. 20), chemistry (No. 22), mathematics (No. 26) and physics (No. 28). The biological sciences program was also ranked.
Rice’s Master of Global Affairs program was also ranked this year. U.S. News did not review any humanities and social science programs this year.
The U.S. News & World Report school rankings are based on a range of indicators, including faculty resources, research activity, student selectivity and employment outcomes, providing prospective students with data to help inform their academic decisions. The program and specialty rankings are based solely on peer assessment.
“These rankings reflect the depth and impact of Rice’s graduate education across disciplines that are shaping the future,” Rice President Reginald DesRoches said. “From engineering and business to the sciences, our programs are preparing students to lead, innovate and address complex global challenges. It’s a testament to the excellence of our faculty and the ambition of our students.”
Amy Dittmar, the Howard R. Hughes Provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, emphasized Rice’s distinctive academic environment.
“At Rice, our strength lies in combining rigorous scholarship with a highly collaborative and personalized experience,” Dittmar said. “These rankings highlight the success of that approach — where students work closely with faculty, engage across disciplines and translate their ideas into meaningful impact.”
Seiichi Matsuda, dean of graduate and postdoctoral studies, pointed to the continued growth and evolution of Rice’s graduate portfolio.
“We are seeing strong momentum across our graduate programs, both in established disciplines and emerging areas of study,” Matsuda said. “Our focus remains on empowering students with the tools, mentorship and opportunities they need to push boundaries in research and make lasting contributions in their fields.”
For more information on the rankings, visit U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools listings.