Excluding architecture and music, in what fields is Rice university most respected?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
1

Hi!
I applied to Rice under the impression that it was a school heavily focused on STEM. Not to say it isn’t strong in other things, but when I visited and spoke with some students, the general consensus was that the sciences and engineering departments were better funded and more popular. They felt the humanities were lacking in various ways.

Now, I have seen people say that historically Rice has been known for engineering, some say that their premed program is what Rice is most famous for, and others say physical sciences. I’ve even heard people say it’s a more humanities-focused, liberal artsy school, and that UT Austin is far more prestigious for its STEM.

Now I don’t know what to think. I plan to double major pure/applied math, and I plan to work for a masters degree, so obviously I would like to attend a school that has a big name in STEM among grad school admissions officers. Can someone tell me what Rice University is most well known for?

Thanks!

(I excluded architecture and music, because those who have visited Rice know that those two schools are kind of in their own world and somewhat distinct from the rest of Rice)

2

For the Fall of 2017, 67% of first years intended to study Engineering and Natural Sciences. That appears to change a little before graduation as Eng/NS make up about 50% of all majors/degrees awarded in recent years. Rice does seem to give off more of a pre professional vibe than most small universities. Humanities degrees awarded have dropped quite a bit in the past few years.

Lots of good data here:

http://oir.rice.edu

http://oir.rice.edu/At_a_Glance/Undergraduate_Majors___Minors_Completed/

http://oir.rice.edu/Factbook/Students/Outcomes/Majors_Completed/

3

When people hear Rice, they hear STEM. It may not be quite as strong a vibe as MIT (which, in my mind at least, is strictly science), but it’s definitely more so than UT Austin (which, aside from business, is known as a good school in a more general sense)

4

Umm, UT-Austin is very highly ranked in engineering.

5

@nonewusernames UT Austin’s engineering is well respected. On at least one ranking, UT Austin is #25 while Rice is #49. See this world ranking of engineering programs: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2017/subject-ranking/engineering-and-IT#!/page/1/length/25/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats