<p>Just wondering since it is most likely that I will not qualify for need-based aid and my dad has told me that he would only let me go to Rice if it was cheaper than UCs (even though Rice in my opinion is like 100x better than any UC).</p>
<p>We went to a college program with Rice 2 years ago, at a local hotel. Maybe 250 parents and students there. The Admission counselor certainly gave the impression that merit money was there for the very top performers. Unfortunately, Rice chooses to not post their common data set, so there are few actual numbers for comparison.</p>
<p>In this case, the student is correct, and the parent is not. Rice is superior to any UC. After decades of financially hollowing out the UCs, they are now a crumbling shell, at the undergraduate level. However, native Californians will be the last ones to see/admit it – they are absolutely stuck in the 1970s time machine of the glory days of the UCs. Expect giant classes and 5 years+ to graduate (which increases the cost).</p>
<p>Merit aid is not uncommon, but I don’t have much data on it either. I would just apply and hope for the best. Good luck!</p>
<p>You could try applying for third party scholarships too.</p>
<p>It was about 30-35%, but I think that includes the smaller NM scholarships, too-- :)</p>
<p>Wow that’s pretty high! Thanks for the help everyone! And hopefully if the decision comes down between Rice and UCs I can convince my dad to let me go to Rice :)</p>
<p>I also seem to recall a communication from Rice in the past year or so that said that they awarded merit aid to one-third of accepted students.</p>
<p>Is it one-third of accepted students, or one-third of students who matriculate that have merit aid? And, as AnxiousMom mentioned, that merit aid includes the small NM scholarships. The large merit awards are a wonderful surprise if they offer you one, but no one should count on getting one.</p>
<p>I think that 20% of the freshmen this year are NMFs. That’s worth $1000/year. Also OP should be aware that Rice is cheaper than most privates, so with UCs going up in cost it may be less of a gap than you’d imagine. GL</p>
<p>Wow-- NMS was only $750/yr when my s had it, not all that long ago. Glad to hear it is rising with inflation :)</p>
<p>Looks like between 20 -30% of accepted Rice applicants also get great news about merit scholarships – according to what I could find in a February, 2010 thread. And, I remember seeing a press release about this … it might be in the archives right around the time I mentioned. Along with the upcoming crepes at East Servery, generous merit aid is yet another reason to love Rice. Hasn’t it been a while since we added more reasons to the what makes Rice great list …</p>
<p>"Glad to hear it is rising with inflation "</p>
<p>Not quite ;)</p>
<p>Unless they have changed the procedure in the last few years, notification of Distinguished Trustees Scholarships is included with the acceptance letter (no application for Rice merit scholarships). If you receive a merit scholarship you will know the details long before you will have to make a decision.</p>