Rice University on Monday announced an expansion of its Rice Investment financial aid program that will offer free tuition to students from families earning up to $200,000 a year, starting with students entering in fall 2027.
Under the expanded program, Rice said students from families earning $100,000 to $200,000 will receive free tuition. Students from families earning less than $100,000 will receive full coverage of tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board. The university said it will continue to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need without requiring student loans.
Recommended Videos
Previously, the Rice Investment covered tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board for students from families earning $75,000 or less and provided free tuition to students from families earning $75,000 to $140,000.
“This is a defining moment for Rice University and for the future of higher education,” President Reginald DesRoches said in a statement, citing alumni and donor support as key to the expansion.
Rice said the program, launched in 2019, has provided more than $1 billion in financial aid, a 75% increase compared with the seven years before the program began. University leaders also pointed to broader growth since 2020, including a roughly 25% increase in undergraduate enrollment and a roughly 20% expansion of the faculty while maintaining a 6-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio.
“As Rice grows, accessibility and excellence must grow together,” Provost Amy Dittmar said in a statement.
Yvonne Romero, vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions and financial aid, said the higher income thresholds are aimed at families who may assume they would not qualify for significant aid.
Rice said the expansion was made possible through university investment and sustained philanthropic support, and that maintaining the program will remain a fundraising priority.