Rice University continues to stand out for its academic excellence with several graduate programs earning high marks in the latest edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools” rankings.
The George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing maintains its strong position at No. 26 in the nation with several engineering disciplines ranked in the top 30. Among them, two programs are ranked in the top 10: biomedical/bioengineering (No. 10), environmental engineering (No. 10), computer engineering (No. 21), civil engineering (No. 23), chemical engineering (No. 25), computer science (No. 25, climbing two spots from last year, while its specialty in programming languages ranked No. 21), electrical engineering (No. 27), materials engineering (No. 21, a rise of five spots from last year) and mechanical engineering (No. 30).
The Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business also earned recognition, ranked No. 29 nationally. Its entrepreneurship program is ranked No. 9, and the professional MBA program, ranked in the part-time MBA category, has risen two spots to No. 13.
Other Rice programs in the social sciences and humanities also saw impressive rankings, including English (No. 26, a rise of 15 spots), sociology (No. 28, up six spots), political science (No. 33), history (No. 34), economics (No. 46) and psychology (No. 62). U.S. News did not review any natural sciences disciplines this year.
The U.S. News & World Report rankings are one of the most closely watched annual surveys of graduate and professional programs, compiling data from expert opinion surveys about program excellence and statistical indicators that measure the quality of faculty, research, students and their postgraduate outcomes. This year’s rankings reflect data from surveys conducted in fall 2024 and early 2025.
“We are proud to see Rice’s graduate programs consistently recognized among the best in the nation,” Rice President Reginald DesRoches said. “These rankings reflect the dedication and talent of our faculty, staff and graduate students who are committed to advancing knowledge and solving real-world challenges. I’m excited to watch our programs continue to innovate and inspire as they build on their exceptional momentum.”
Amy Dittmar, the Howard R. Hughes Provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, credits the hard work and collaboration of Rice’s faculty, deans and academic leaders, including Seiichi Matsuda and his team in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
“Rice provides a personalized and collaborative learning environment for graduate students, where academic excellence thrives,” Dittmar said. “We nurture individual success and champion interdisciplinary research, and these latest rankings serve as a testament to the impactful work happening here every day.”
Matsuda, dean of graduate and postdoctoral studies, noted, “Our graduate programs excel because of the caliber of our students and their capacity to engage in pathbreaking research and scholarship. As we continue to grow and enhance our offerings, we remain dedicated to providing new opportunities for students to make a global impact and drive positive change.”
Learn more about the U.S. News rankings here.
Peter Rodriguez, the Houston Endowment Dean of the Jones Graduate School of Business and the Virani Undergraduate School of Business at Rice University, has been named the 2025 Poets&Quants Dean of the Year, a national honor recognizing visionary leadership and outstanding contributions to business education.
In less than a decade, Rodriguez has transformed Rice Business in nearly every dimension. Beyond creating a thriving undergraduate offering, he has overseen a 192% increase in student enrollment. The growth stems from a doubling of MBA students and the launch of an online MBA—the university’s first online degree—along with a hybrid MBA option.
Rice University professor Mikki Hebl says job seekers’ willingness to accept lower pay and roles reflects a softer labor market and shifting values toward flexibility, balance, and meaningful work.
