Baker College
Floors: 5
Number of Occupants: 250–499
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen and upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Named for Captain James Addison Baker, attorney for William Marsh Rice and first chair of the Rice Board of Trustees, this hall was the first of the residential colleges, and has a strong tradition of fall musicals and spring Shakespeare productions.
Brown College
Floors: 8
Number of Occupants: 250–499
Bathrooms: Communal, suite
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen and upperclassmen
Room Types: Doubles, suites (singles)
Special Features: Named for Margarett Root Brown, wife of Rice benefactor Herman Brown, this hall is attached to one of the serveries, has student parking directly behind the building, and a few good parties.
Duncan College
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 250–499
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen and upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Named for Charles Duncan '47, the former US Secretary of Energy, Duncan College was built to be one of the most environmentally-friendly buildings in the United States.
Hanszen College
Floors: 5
Number of Occupants: 250–499
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen and upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Named for Harry Clay Hanszen, benefactor and former chair of the Rice Board of Trustees, this hall was the first residential college to have its own crest.
Jones College
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 250–499
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen and upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Named for Mary Gibbs Jones, wife of Rice benefactor Jesse H. Jones, this hall is attached to a servery, has a strong Beer Bike and IM sports tradition, and is known for throwing some of the best private parties on campus.
Lovett College
Floors: 6
Number of Occupants: 250–499
Bathrooms: Private, suite
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen and upperclassmen
Room Types: Doubles, suites (singles, doubles)
Special Features: Named for Edgar Odell Lovett, first president of The Rice Institute, Lovett looks like a toaster—really (it was built to be riot-proof)! Lovett has a strong tradition of fall and spring theater, formerly had the dirtiest cheers on campus, is home to The Undergrounds (a cool, cozy, free student music venue), and throws “Casino Night” every year.
Martel College
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 100–249
Bathrooms: Suite
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen and upperclassmen
Room Types: Suites (singles, doubles)
Special Features: This hall was named for Marian and Speros Martel, whose foundation has a tradition of philanthropy to the University.
McMurtry College
Floors: 5
Number of Occupants: 250–499
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen and upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Named for Burt and Deedee McMurtry '56, McMurtry College is a LEED Gold-rated building with a distinctively Scottish flair.
Sid Richardson College
Floors: 7
Number of Occupants: 100–249
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen and upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Named for Sidney Williams Richardson, this dorm is the tallest building on campus and throws some of the most well-attended parties on campus ("‘80s Party" and "Tower Party").
Wiess College
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 100–249
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen and upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Named for Harry Carothers Wiess, this hall has a strong IM sports and theater tradition, prides itself in doing things differently from the other colleges (O-week and Beer Bike never have themes, only one college cheer), owns a huge flying pig, and is home to NOD (Night of Decadence).
Will Rice College
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 250–499
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen and upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Named for William M. Rice, Jr., Rice benefactor and trustee and nephew of founder William Marsh Rice, Will Rice Hall has a strong Beer Bike tradition (they have taken home the men’s, women’s, and alumni race on more than one occasion, leading to the cheer “Will Rice will sweep!”), almost always wins the alumni race, and has a strong tradition of fall musicals.