Rice ranks No. 18 in U.S. News
Rice ranks No. 18 in the U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 national university rankings, tied with Vanderbilt University and the University of Notre Dame. Rice has also placed No. 8, 9 and 29 in the Niche, Forbes and Wall Street Journal rankings, respectively.
USNWR placed Rice No. 17 last year, and No. 15 in 2023. This year’s methodology no longer accounts for first-generation graduation rates and performance, instead weighing the outcomes of Pell Grant — federal financial aid — recipients more heavily.
While Rice has been dipping in the USNWR rankings, every other ranking is higher than last year’s. Rice placed No. 9, 22 and 64 for Niche, Forbes and the WSJ.
Rice’s 13-spot ascent in the Forbes rankings — marking its first time in the list’s top 10 — was largely due to low student debt for graduates, Forbes wrote. Meanwhile, the WSJ said Rice’s 35-spot rise is partially owed to its expanding operations research major.
The WSJ hone their methodology, which was brand-new last year. The 2025 rankings reflect how surveyed universities “develop character strengths that help students make a meaningful contribution to society,” the WSJ wrote, and fine-tuned its model for weighing graduation rates and salary.
Hanszen College sophomore Rachel Huber said that while attending a prestigious school was important to her, the community at Rice drew her to the school.
“I definitely wanted a prestigious school, but I think that after a certain level they are all about the same, so it’s just what you’re looking for in terms of environment and community,” Huber said. “It’s more than just a ranking in a list; it’s the community that we have here.”
Huber also said that Rice has a strong academic profile, regardless of yearly changes in rankings.
“If you’re really concerned about it, I think companies that hire students right out of college also know the value of a Rice education or a degree from here,” Huber said.
Destinie Sharp, a Baker College junior, said that the rankings did not matter to her as much as Rice’s academics.
“I’m a QuestBridge student so I had ranked Rice [higher] because it’s an amazing school, but it’s also close to home,” Sharp said. “So its location that dictated [my choice], not really the ranking. But I heard all good things – it is a really good academic school.”
Benjamin Viafore, a Lovett College freshman, said that Rice’s ranking did not greatly affect his decision to attend.
“I think they are subjective, and I don’t put a large emphasis on them,” Viafore said.
Victoria Appel, a Baker sophomore, also said she believed the rankings were largely subjective and are not very important to her.
“There is no other place that I’d rather be than Rice,” Appel said. “It is the best in terms of my values and what I look for in an institution, and that doesn’t necessarily align with a bunch of people from U.S. News and their values and opinions.”
More from The Rice Thresher

O’Rourke rallies students in Academic Quad
Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke of El Paso, Texas spoke in front of the Sallyport to a sea of sunglasses and “end gun violence” signs April 17. The rally, organized by Rice Young Democrats, took place in the academic quad from noon to 2 p.m.

Uncertainty, fear and isolation loom over international students after visa revocations
With the wave of international student visa revocations across the country, including three students at Rice and two recent graduates, international students have expressed fears that their visas will soon be terminated without warning.

All bike no beer: bikers race remaining heats without spectators
Modified Beer Bike races, dubbed “Bike Bike,” were held at the track April 18 from 5-8 p.m. Results were released by email April 21.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication by The Rice Thresher.