Get ready for one of the most unique college experiences in the country! At Rice University, you’ll be welcomed for who you are and the person you want to be. Rice students are challenged and motivated through small class sizes and an unforgettable learning experience.
In the heart of Houston, this school comes with a decorated academic history full of accomplished alumni, passionate students, and dedicated faculty. Only a 12-minute walk from Lovett Hall to Herman Park, this urban campus landscape comes with so much more than meets the eye.
Rice University consistently ranks as one of the top 20 universities in the country, and for good reason. With more than 50 undergraduate programs, over 1000 full and part-time faculty, and a 6-1 student ratio, your time at Rice will be unparalleled.
Students at Rice University take a page out of John F Kennedy’s “We choose to go to the Moon” speech, addressed at Rice University, and achieve things not because they are easy, but because they are hard. This school is home to some of the best engineering, business, and social sciences programs in the country.
Get Ready to Move to Rice University
Moving to Rice University, or any university, can be a challenge. But with Collegeboxes, it can be as quick and quiet as an owl. One thing that can keep you organized is lists! Collegeboxes offers tons of resources on packing, checklists, tips on what items to bring, buy, and leave, packing your clothes, and how to make your college move easier.
Rice University is also a great place to look for all your post-enrollment resources. They have new student checklists, orientation FAQ sections, and student life information at Rice.
If you don’t know where to start when moving to Rice, don’t worry! With the Collegeboxes Supply Kit, you’ll be set. This kit comes with 5 boxes, 1 bonus box, 10 shipping label pouches, 1 roll of tape, 5 zip ties, and 1 marker. If you need more boxes, you can order as many as you need!
Collegeboxes offers Ship to School service at Rice University and convenient summer storage. This means that your packed belongings will arrive at your school when you do.
When you’re planning your summer vacation, pack up your belongings and they’ll be picked up from your dorm and stored at a local U-Haul climate-controlled storage center just three miles away from Rice University!
Know the Rice Traditions
With over 110 years of history, Rice University is home to some extremely wild traditions. One of the most iconic events during the year is Beer Bike. When this athletic event started between the colleges, students would chug the required amount of beer while racing on bikes around a track. Now, contestants drink water to make the race safer and more inclusive for those under 21.
Also, a part of the Beer Bike celebrations is a campus-wide water balloon fight and a color festival!
Another famous tradition is walking through the Sallyport at Lovett Hall when you first get to campus and only walking back through on graduation day.
The mascot, and a center for Rice pride, is Sammy the Owl! This mascot was created in 1912 and gained the “Sammy” moniker due to pure shenanigans.
In 1917, Texas A&M stole the canvas and wood mascot from Rice and put it in the U.S. Armory. 17 Rice students attempted to steal the mascot back after hiring a private detective.
“Sammy is better and would like to see his parents at 11 o’clock.” Telegrammed the directive to 17 Rice students when he found the location of the mascot at A&M.
While only partially successful, the rescue led to 13 Rice students being detained at A&M. Four Rice men cut the canvas off the mascot and returned to campus the next morning. This story remains one of the wildest and most hilarious in all of Rice history.
The Colleges
One of the most distinctive features of Rice University is its student housing system. There are no sororities or fraternities at Rice; this is because all students are randomly assigned to a different student housing building (residential college system), where, if they choose to live on campus, is where they will live until graduation.
The reason? Rice feels it creates a bigger sense of community in a more diverse space while also creating great rivalries and competition between the colleges. Intramural sports, student government, and plays are all college staples at Rice due to the mixing of majors, class year, and all dorms being co-ed. There are 11 total residential colleges, with one opening in Fall 2026.
O-Week
After accepting your enrollment at Rice University (crazy congratulations by the way), get ready for orientation week! O-Week is one of the most memorable times you’ll have during your time at Rice.
You literally arrive on campus with the advisors of your college screaming your name and cheering while everyone introduces themselves!
This week is for incoming freshmen and transfer students to get a one-of-a-kind college orientation that is unforgettable.
This entire week is packed to the brim with things to do, people to meet, and fun to have. There are parties, presentations, rallies, events, and a festival!
Finding Your Path at Rice
With the small class sizes, countless clubs, and a fantastic student culture, it is easy to find your groove at Rice University.
Most residential housing at Rice features 2-4 bedrooms with matching bathrooms, which means large central living areas to facilitate socializing and connecting with those around you.
Moving to Rice University is now easier than ever with Collegeboxes. Thanks to services like Ship to School, the Collegeboxes Supply Kit, and simple summer storage, you can focus on bringing new and exciting discoveries to the world at Rice University!