If you go to UT, it sounds like you’ll stick with your current friend group. At Rice, you’d need to make new friends. I know that sounds scary or like something you don’t want to do again, but the smaller campus, smaller classes, residential college system will help with that process. Plus most people at Rice won’t arrive with their friend group in tow, so they will all be looking to make new friends. As far as the sorting hat placing you in Lovett, you used to be able to request one college that you NOT be assigned to – you might ask in the Rice forum if this is still the case.
Rice sounds like the smart choice financially. Don’t let your anxiety over being farther from home keep you from considering the advantages of graduating without loans.