Cost of Study

Tuition

The tuition for full-time graduate students entering in the 2009-10 academic year is $31,430. For students enrolling in Architecture, Shepherd School of Music, and Professional Master's programs, tuition for the 2009-10 academic year is $25,900-26,750.

Annual fees are approximately $615 for 2009-10. In addition, all graduate students are required to have health insurance. All students are required to maintain continuous enrollment unless an official leave of absence has been granted.

After six semesters of full-time study in 1 degree program (excluding the summer semesters), continuing students are eligible for a reduced tuition rate. A semester of full-time study is defined as a fall or spring semester in which at least 9 hours of credit are earned. The reduced rate, like standard rate, varies by department/program. For Architecture, Shepherd School , and Professional Masters in Natural Science students, reduced rate is $1,440 per year ($720 per semester). For Professional Masters in Engineering students, the reduced rate is $1,490 per year (($745 per semester). For all other graduate students, the rate is $1,750 per year ($875 per semester). Students who are admitted with a relevant master's degree, i.e. a master's degree that counts toward a doctoral program at Rice, may become eligible for reduced tuition earlier than those entering a doctoral program without a relevant master's degree.

Living and Housing Costs

As mentioned recently in Forbes Magazine, Houston has a reasonable cost of living for a major city. The Graduate Apartments, which opened in the summer of 1999, offers housing at moderate cost and is close to campus. Also available as housing options exclusively to Rice graduate students are the Morningside Square Apartments and the Rice Village apartments.  Visit the Graduate Student Association  website for information regarding other housing options.

Financial Aid

Most thesis students at Rice are supported by fellowships or research assistantships, and a few teaching assistantships are awarded. In addition to the merit-based aid described above, the Office of Financial Aid  offers need-based aid in the form of loans and College Work Study to graduate students who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or refugees.