<p>I would like to know what the reputation of Rice University is at a national level, especially in degrees such as economics or business. I know it is pretty high up on the rankings, but then, that doesn't necessarily mean anything...
Thanks :)</p>
<p>I think from the perspective of a northeasterner, Rice is one of those academic islands one hears about west of the Hudson River. It’s highly identified with astrophysics; one hears good things about its house system. Describing it as the “Harvard of the southwest” would probably be an accurate, if somewhat condescending way of putting it.</p>
<p>I’m from Florida, and VERY few people here have heard of it. However, I have heard in that in Texas and much of it’s surrounding states, Rice is viewed definitely viewed as the elite university that it is.</p>
<p>It’s probably the best school in Texas. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any of its alumni in California though, although I have seen alumni from other Southern universities (Duke, Vanderbilt, and even Texas.) Its reputation is probably strongest in its own and surrounding states like New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.</p>
<p>Rice’s national reputation (and financial recruiting)is a bit lacking but the school is trying to work on upping it.</p>
<p>Being from Texas it is considered the top university in the state. I’ve also heard it called “Harvard of the southwest”. It is a very good school, very selective and very strong academics. My neighbor graduated from Rice 2 years ago. He was courted by Microsoft for a couple of years and works there now.</p>
<p>Rice is recognized as a great school throughout most of the south and (somewhat obviously) especially in Texas. I get the sense not many people on the east coast have heard of it. On the west coast people may have heard of it but don’t know much about it. I don’t know about in the midwest. But in what context are you asking this question? In terms of its reputation among the general populace, it’s not well known. But if you’re asking whether employers and graduate schools know about it and whether they hold it in high regard, then the answer is probably somewhat different.</p>
<p>No, I actually mean its reputation among employers, sorry I forgot to precise it in the post!</p>
<p>For me it is part of that ‘second tier’ of Ivies - Along with schools like Northwestern, Wash U in St. Louis and a few others.</p>
<p>Those that matter- employers, grad and prof schools nation-wide, know how strong of a school Rice is. I say this with absolutely no connection.</p>
<p>@wayneandgarth:
Well said… ;)</p>
<p>Ok, thanks everyone!</p>
<p>If you’re talking about undergrad then rice doesn’t even have majors in business other than accounting, managerial studies, and economics. It has pre-business because rice likes its students to receive a broad and diverse education and views business as too professional for undergrad. Rice is ranked pretty high for most national rankings but is generally reputable for its science and engineering programs. It is, however, a great university with a great learning and social environment.</p>