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Comparable Schools'
Diversity Grades:
College Prowler Take
Student opinion on diversity at Rice depends largely on previous individual experiences. Students who come from homogenous hometowns or high schools find Rice to be extremely diverse, while students from large cities have felt disappointed by the lack of diversity at Rice. It is true that representatives can be found from nearly any political, social, racial, ethnic, sexual, or religious group, and many of these groups sponsor various clubs and organizations on campus. The level of involvement and visibility of these clubs varies, but some are extremely involved and sponsor study breaks and/or holiday or cultural celebrations with the intent to share their beliefs and culture with the entire student body. Many students would criticize campus diversity, however, in that Hispanics and African Americans seem to be underrepresented, though the University is increasing its efforts to change this. At any rate, Rice is a fairly liberal place despite it’s conservative Texan setting, and any expression of intolerance against any minority group is strongly frowned upon. Students can feel free to speak their mind, express their beliefs, and be proud of who they are and where they come from. Students Speak Out
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Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:
Anonymous says:  |
We’re big on diversity. There are...
We’re big on diversity. There are all sorts of people on campus, and all sorts of racial groups, political groups, and different sexual orientations. There’s plenty to get involved in—Rice is pretty open to anything. You’ll make a lot of diverse friends, but of course, only if you want to. |
Anonymous says: |
Rice is highly diverse, with...
Rice is highly diverse, with significant numbers of nearly every conceivable type of minority. Especially prevalent are those with backgrounds from all corners of Asia. Numerous clubs and associations exist to provide people of all races with a chance to explore other cultures and participate in traditional events. |
Anonymous says: |
It depends on where you are coming...
It depends on where you are coming from. There are definitely representatives from all different cultural groups at Rice and clubs that promote both cultural unity and awareness. I was surprised by how few African American students there were at Rice, but there are a decent number of Asian, Indian, and Hispanic Students. |
Anonymous says: |
Rice is a fairly diverse campus....
Rice is a fairly diverse campus. It’s not as diverse as some schools, but it has its share of different people. And there are definitely people from all kinds of different backgrounds—religions, home state (and country), urban, rural, and more. |
Anonymous says: |
Rice is very sexually diverse,...
Rice is very sexually diverse, which may or may not scare you. We also have lots of minorities, but in Texas there is no affirmative action, so there are no minorities here just because they’re minorities. Although there is often a perception that rich, white, prep-school students make up the student body, I would beg to differ, and say that they are a very small percentage. Rice is made up of mostly middle- to upper-middle class students. |
FactsEconomic Status
There is a stereotype that Rice students come from wealthy families, but this is generally unfounded. Rice is known to be a “best-buy” university, and people from all socio-economic backgrounds attend. Generally, scholarships are generously granted in all areas - athletics, need based, merit, and academics. The student body mixes well enough that economic differences are rarely visible.
Gay Pride
While there are always exceptions, the student body as a whole is very tolerant and usually very accepting of all sexual orientations. There is support provided through organizations such as ALLY, Pride, the Rice Counseling Center, and Minority Affairs. The city of Houston also has a sizeable and very visible gay community.
Minority Clubs
In addition to the Black Student Association (BSA) and the Hispanic Association for Cultural Enrichment at Rice (HACER), Rice offers individual clubs for most Asian minorities (Indian Students at Rice, Korean Student Association, Asian Pacific Americans for Social Action (APASA), South Asian Society, Chinese Student Association, Taiwanese Association, Vietnamese Association), as well as other cultural or minority organizations (Iranian Society, Turkish Student Association, Ruz [which translates into Rice in Arabic], Native American Student Association). The majority of these clubs sponsor social and cultural events throughout the year, most of which are open to the entire student body. These events include holiday festivals, study breaks, fashion shows, and themed dance nights.
Most Common Religions
Organizations or representatives of all major religions can be found at Rice. The most outspoken and visible religious organizations are Christian and include Campus Crusade, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and the Catholic Student Association. The Jewish organization on campus, Hillel, is small but fairly active. The Houston area provides a variety of churches and worship centers for various faiths and denominations.
Political Activity
Rice students and faculty tend to be politically liberal, although there is an outspoken conservative minority. In general, the number of students who are politically active is very small, although there have been a handful of issues at Rice that led to large protests and high student interest. Recent political activity has spiked as a result of the Obama election, green energy campaigns, and student government elections. While the conservative student might feel out of place in the average political discussion, students are respectful of all differing opinions, and intelligent debate is usually welcome and fostered.
Most Recent Contributing Author
Name: Meenakshi Awasthi
Hometown: Arlington, TX
Major: English/Biology Meenakshi made her own dimple?by accident, of course! In Kindergarten, she fell off of the jungle gym and bruised her cheek pretty badly. Today it is a nice little dimple with a great history. Contributing Author Internship  College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating
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