The Next Chapter of Access

Expanding The Rice Investment For a New Era

By Sophie Kidd and Sarah Meals

For generations, Rice has believed that talent and potential, not financial circumstances, should determine who has the opportunity to benefit from a Rice education. Now, the university is deepening that commitment through an expansion of The Rice Investment (TRI), its landmark financial aid program.

Since its launch in 2019, TRI has made Rice more accessible and affordable for low- and middle-income families. The expanded program extends support to even more students, including full-tuition scholarships for students from families earning between $100,000 and $200,000 annually and comprehensive grants covering tuition, fees, room and board for students from families earning less than $100,000. Rice will also continue to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need without requiring student loans.

Philanthropic support is essential to sustaining this promise. Together, endowed and current-use gifts help ensure that talented students can choose Rice, thrive during their time on campus and benefit from the opportunities a Rice education provides for generations to come.

Making Rice More Affordable

The expansion comes as Rice continues to grow. Since 2020, the undergraduate population has increased by approximately 25%. Simultaneously expanding financial aid alongside the university creates opportunities for more talented students to benefit from a Rice education.

“At many universities, families with middle or upper-middle incomes often assume they will not qualify for meaningful financial aid,” said Yvonne Romero, vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions and financial aid. “This expansion changes that conversation and simplifies the criteria. We want students and families to know that cost should not discourage them from considering Rice. Thanks to the generosity of the Rice community, we can tell more extraordinary students, ‘Yes, you belong here.’”

For students, that assurance can shape far more than the decision to enroll. It can create room to explore new interests, pursue ambitious projects and make the most of the opportunities that define a college experience.

Sustaining Opportunity

Olutobi and Steven’s experiences demonstrate how access to a Rice education can broaden opportunities and shape the course of a student’s life. For many students, financial aid makes it possible not only to choose Rice, but also to fully engage in the academic, research and co-curricular experiences that prepare them to pursue their ambitions.

More than half of Rice undergraduates receive financial assistance, and the university expects to provide approximately $174 million in undergraduate grant aid in fiscal year 2026, an all-time high. Meeting students’ needs today is only part of the challenge. Ensuring that future generations of talented students can access the same transformative opportunities requires resources built to last.

Endowed scholarships provide that lasting foundation. Invested as part of Rice's endowment, they generate support for students year after year, creating opportunities that extend far beyond a single gift. Current-use scholarships meet immediate needs, helping students right away. Together, these forms of philanthropic support make a Rice education more accessible and affordable for talented students from every background. Rice's more than 600 need-based scholarship endowments reflect a long-standing commitment to expanding opportunity and, alongside current-use giving, help sustain the university's promise to meet demonstrated financial need.

“As Rice grows, accessibility and excellence must grow together,” says Amy Dittmar, the Howard R. Hughes Provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “We are expanding opportunities for more students to benefit from the distinctive education Rice offers while investing in world-class faculty, research and student support. Our alumni and donors are essential partners in that mission and in ensuring that Rice remains both exceptional and broadly accessible.”

The Rice Investment. Affordability Simplified.

Beginning in fall 2027, Rice is expanding The Rice Investment. Endowed scholarships are especially vital to sustaining this commitment for generations to come, creating a permanent source of support for talented students. Together with current-use gifts that address immediate needs, philanthropic support ensures The Rice Investment remains a powerful force for access and excellence.

Accelerate the Vision

A Rice education can change what’s possible for a student. Scholarship support helps make that opportunity accessible to more talented students, regardless of their financial circumstances. Contact Ginny Jones, executive director of development, at gbjones@rice.edu or 713-348-2096 to learn how you make a difference for generations of Owls.