Rice University vs University of Maryland-College Park (UMD)

Rice University and University of Maryland-College Park, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Rice, a private research university in Houston, Texas, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 10.1%, while Maryland, a public research university in College Park, Maryland, is more accessible with an acceptance rate of 43.4%. Rice's student body is smaller and more diverse, with 4,048 undergraduate students representing over 80 countries, while Maryland's student body is larger and more regionally diverse, with over 29,000 undergraduate students. Both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors at Rice including engineering, natural sciences, and social sciences, and popular majors at Maryland including engineering, business, and social sciences. With graduation rates of 94% and 83% respectively, both Rice and Maryland provide students with the resources and support they need to succeed. Explore

	Rice University	University of Maryland-College Park
Overview
Location	Houston, Texas	College Park, Maryland
Campus setting	City: Large	Suburb: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Public
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	97.0%	95.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	9.5%	52.0%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $75 Graduate: $85	Undergraduate: $75 Graduate: $75
SAT range	1490 - 1570	1330 - 1510
ACT range	34 - 35	30 - 34
Students submitting SAT score	46.0%	34.0%
Students submitting ACT score	29.0%	9.0%
Total number of applicants	29,544	50,183
Total number of admissions given out	2,802	26,109
Admitted students who chose to enroll	1,226	6,072
Yield rate	43.8%	23.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Not required	Required
Recommendation letters	Required	Not required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$71,745	In state: $30,997 Out of state: $58,678
Average net price	$18,521	$17,146
Tuition	$52,070	In state: $9,000 Out of state: $36,681
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $10,100 Meal plan: $4,700	Room/dormitory: $8,072 Meal plan: $5,578
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	56.0% Average amount $10,645
Students receiving federal student loan	9.0% Average amount $4,982	20.0% Average amount $5,065
Students taking out private loans	2.0% Average amount $24,340	4.0% Average amount $22,924

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	4,247 Men 51.5% Women 48.5%	30,922 Men 50.8% Women 49.2%
Graduate students	4,038 Men 63.9% Women 36.1%	10,350 Men 50.7% Women 49.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	56.1%	29.5%
International students	25.5%	10.3%
Campus local/setting	City: Large	Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity	3,533	11,846
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	Maryland New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Virginia

Academics
Popular study areas	Business Engineering Computer and Information Science Social Sciences Physical Science	Engineering Business Education Computer and Information Science Social Sciences
Students to faculty ratio	6:1	18:1
Institutional accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges	Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	92.3%	87.7%
Dropout rate	6.9%	4.0%
Transferred out	N/A	7.7%
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	Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $108,765 Year 2: $106,102 Year 3: $116,295 Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $125,155 Year 2: $112,923 Year 3: $112,074 Engineering, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $86,533 Year 2: $94,112 Year 3: $102,555 Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $93,018 Year 2: $94,408 Year 3: $101,716 Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $84,727 Year 2: $84,653 Year 3: $99,501 Physics (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $72,899 Year 3: $92,830 Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $88,418 Year 2: $80,466 Year 3: $92,230 Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $67,675 Year 2: $72,762 Year 3: $83,667 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $74,798 Year 2: $71,761 Year 3: $82,867 Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $67,391 Year 2: $66,485 Year 3: $82,784

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between Rice University and the University of Maryland-College Park (UMD)?

Rice University is a private research university known for its small size, strong focus on undergraduate education, and close-knit community. It's located in Houston, Texas. UMD, on the other hand, is a large public research university with a broader range of programs and a more diverse student body. It's located in College Park, Maryland, near Washington, D.C.
How do the academic reputations of Rice and UMD compare?

Rice University consistently ranks among the top 20 universities nationally, renowned for its engineering, natural sciences, architecture, and music programs. UMD is also a highly regarded public university, particularly strong in computer science, engineering, business, and public policy. While both are excellent, Rice generally has a slightly higher overall ranking.
What is the cost of attendance at Rice versus UMD?

Rice University, as a private institution, typically has a higher sticker price for tuition and fees than UMD, which is a public university. However, Rice is known for its generous financial aid packages, potentially making it more affordable for some students. UMD offers lower tuition rates for in-state Maryland residents. It's crucial to compare the net cost (after financial aid) for both institutions based on your individual circumstances.
How do the campus environments and student life differ?

Rice University fosters a close-knit community due to its smaller size and residential college system. Student life is characterized by strong traditions and a collaborative atmosphere. UMD, being a larger university, offers a more diverse range of extracurricular activities and a more vibrant social scene. Its proximity to Washington, D.C., provides unique opportunities for internships and cultural experiences.
What are the strengths of Rice University?

Rice excels in undergraduate education, offering a low student-to-faculty ratio and opportunities for research even at the undergraduate level. Its strengths lie in engineering, natural sciences, architecture, music (Shepherd School of Music), and humanities. The residential college system promotes a strong sense of community and belonging.
What are the strengths of the University of Maryland-College Park?

UMD is a powerhouse in computer science, engineering, business, and public policy. Its location near Washington, D.C., provides unparalleled access to internships and career opportunities in government and related fields. As a large public university, it offers a wide array of academic programs and research opportunities.
How do the locations of Rice and UMD impact student life and opportunities?

Rice University is located in the heart of Houston, Texas, a major metropolitan area with a thriving energy industry and a diverse cultural scene. UMD's location in College Park, Maryland, places it in close proximity to Washington, D.C., offering students access to government agencies, museums, and a wide range of cultural and political events. The D.C. area also provides numerous internship and job opportunities.
What is the student-faculty ratio at each university?

Rice University boasts a very low student-to-faculty ratio, typically around 6:1, allowing for more personalized attention and interaction with professors. UMD has a higher student-to-faculty ratio, generally around 18:1, which is typical for a large public university.
What types of students thrive at Rice versus UMD?

Rice tends to attract academically driven students who value a close-knit community and a strong focus on undergraduate education. Students who thrive at Rice are often independent thinkers and enjoy a collaborative learning environment. UMD attracts a diverse range of students with varying interests and backgrounds. Students who thrive at UMD are often self-motivated, enjoy a vibrant social scene, and appreciate the opportunities that come with attending a large public university.
How do the career services and alumni networks compare?

Both Rice and UMD have strong career services departments that provide students with resources for internships, job searches, and career counseling. Rice's alumni network, while smaller, is very active and supportive. UMD's alumni network is vast and well-connected, particularly in the Mid-Atlantic region and in fields related to government and technology.
What are the popular majors at Rice and UMD?

At Rice, popular majors include engineering (especially bioengineering and mechanical engineering), natural sciences (biology, chemistry), architecture, economics, and music. At UMD, popular majors include computer science, engineering (especially electrical and computer engineering), business, biology, and government and politics.
How does the research environment differ between Rice and UMD?

Both Rice and UMD are Carnegie R1 research universities, meaning they have very high research activity. Rice is known for its interdisciplinary research centers and its focus on nanotechnology, materials science, and energy. UMD has a broader research portfolio, with strengths in areas such as computer science, engineering, atmospheric science, and public health. UMD also benefits from its proximity to federal research institutions.

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