William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a 295-acre (119-hectare) campus in Houston, Texas, United States. The university is situated near the Houston Museum District and is adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. Rice is generally considered the top university and the most selective institute of higher education in the state of Texas. Opened in 1912 after the murder of its namesake William Marsh Rice, Rice is now a research university with an undergraduate focus. Its emphasis on education is demonstrated by a small student body and 6:1 student-faculty ratio. The university has a very high level of research activity for its size, with $115.3 million in sponsored research funding in 2011.[12] Rice is noted for its applied science programs in the fields of artificial heart research, structural chemical analysis, signal processing, space science, and nanotechnology. It was ranked first in the world in materials science research by the Times Higher Education (THE) in 2010.
Rice competes in 14 NCAA Division I varsity sports and is a part of Conference USA.
The majority of enrollments are in the full-time, four-year undergraduate program emphasizing arts & sciences and professions. There is a high graduate coexistence with the comprehensive graduate program and a very high level of research activity. t is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as well as the professional accreditation agencies for engineering, management, and architecture.
In 2016, Rice was ranked 87th in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. In 2016, Rice was ranked tied for 72nd internationally (38th nationally) by the Academic Ranking of World Universities. Rice University was also ranked 90th globally in 2016 by QS World University Rankings. Rice is noted for its entrepreneurial activity, and has been recognized as the top ranked business incubator in the world by the Stockholm-based UBI Index for both 2013 and 2014.
Forbes magazine ranked Rice University at 30th nationally among both liberal arts colleges and universities in 2016.