Rice University is located in Houston, Texas. It ranked #17 in the category of Best National Universities on the U.S. News and World Report education rankings. This private university was founded in 1912, and today it serves a community of 3,300 undergraduate students and 2,300 graduate students. Rice University is competitive, and gaining admission isn't easy. For the class that matriculated in the fall of 2009, 72% of students graduated in the top 5% of their high school classes. The top 25% of the incoming 2009 class scored higher than 1500 on the SAT, with 75% scoring higher than 1340. Rice University has many attractive features: Students here enjoy a low student-to-faculty ratio (5:1) which gives undergraduates attention that they might not find at other, comparable schools. In terms of diversity, 41% of students come from outside of Texas, and 13% of students come from other countries. Rice offers dozens of majors, concentrations and degree programs. Only 23% of undergraduate applicants are accepted, making Rice University one of the most selective schools in the country.
Rice University
6100 Main Street
Houston, TX 77030
713-348-0000
rice.edu
Southwestern University is located in Georgetown, TX, and it ranked #61 in U.S. News and World's education rankings for top liberal arts colleges. The student body comprises 1,300 undergraduate and graduate students who come from all over the world. In the 2009 incoming class, 49% ranked in the top 10% of their high school classes. The incoming class also had an average SAT score of 1235. The student-to-faculty ratio is 10:1, and students enjoy smaller classes, with an average of just 14 students per class. There are 27 majors from which to choose, and Southwestern specializes in the arts. More than 50% of students participate in a study abroad or other off-campus program, while more than 60% of the student body volunteers in the community. Sixty-three percent of 2009 applicants were admitted, making Southwestern University one of the more selective schools in the state.
Southwestern University
1001 East University Avenue
Georgetown, TX 78626
512-863-6511
southwestern.edu
McMurry University is located in Abilene, TX, and it ranked #8 in U.S. News and World's education rankings for best baccalaureate colleges in the West. The university comprises six different schools, including a business school, education school, and nursing school. With 1,400 students, 75% participate in extracurricular activities and volunteer an average of 24,500 hours annually. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, but faculty and students come from a variety of religious backgrounds and affiliations. The student-to-faculty ration is 14:1, and students can choose from 35 majors and 9 pre-professional programs.
McMurry University
14th & Sayles Blvd
Abilene, TX
325-793-3800
mcm.edu