Rice University, founded in 1891 by William Marsh Rice in Houston, Texas, is a private research university and a member of the Association of American Universities, often referred to as a "New Ivy."

In the 2024 rankings, Rice is ranked 17th by U.S. News, 9th on Forbes' list of U.S. colleges, 9th by Niche, and 145th globally by QS. It is also named one of the top 10 "New Private Ivies" by Forbes.

Located in downtown Houston, the campus spans 300 acres and enrolls over 7,000 students, with a faculty of nearly 1,000, maintaining a student-to-faculty ratio of 1:7.