Bachelor of Science [BS] (Computer Science)
Field of Study:
$71,140 /Yr
Rice University Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS) is a four-year, full-time, on-campus degree in Houston requiring secondary-school completion and an engineering-ready science curriculum. Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished; 2026-27 tuition was US$71,140 (INR 67.61 Lakhs), as a prior-cycle reference.
The BSCS trains students in algorithms, software systems, programming languages and three disciplinary areas through 120 credits, including 68 to 72 major credits. It offers more computing depth than Rice’s Bachelor of Arts (BA), so it suits applicants seeking technical industry preparation or graduate study. The tradeoff is less space for broad study outside computing.
- The required breadth spans systems, application domains and theory, reducing the risk of an overly narrow undergraduate specialization.
- At least 40 to 44 major credits are upper-level, giving prepared students substantial advanced coursework before graduation.
- Rice reports similar internship and entry-level offers for its BA and BSCS graduates, so academic depth should drive the degree choice.
Current Admission Status
Applications for the Fall 2027 intake are Open. Regular Decision international student deadline: 04 January 2027.
Early Decision I closes on 01 November 2026 and is binding. Indian applicants needing comparison flexibility should use Regular Decision and finish their financial statement before submission.
Also Check: Rice University BS Computer Science Admission
Rice University BS Computer Science Fees and Living Costs 2027
Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished, although Rice has published the complete 2026-27 undergraduate budget for students entering during 2024 or later. The figures below are prior-cycle references and must not be treated as confirmed 2027-28 charges.
Prior-cycle cost context: Rice’s 2026-27 on-campus cost of attendance total combines tuition, mandatory fees, housing and food, books and personal expenses. Travel, orientation charges and health insurance sit outside that published total.
| Cost component | 2026-27 amount | INR equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | US$71,140 | INR 67.61 Lakhs |
| Mandatory fees | US$984 | INR 93,515 |
| On-campus living expenses | US$20,530 | INR 19.51 Lakhs |
| Books and supplies | US$1,540 | INR 1.46 Lakhs |
| Personal expenses | US$3,115 | INR 2.96 Lakhs |
| Official on-campus cost of attendance total | US$97,309 | INR 92.48 Lakhs |
| Estimated foreign-country travel | US$3,000 | INR 2.85 Lakhs |
| Orientation Week fee | US$370 | INR 35,163 |
| Orientation housing and meals | US$560 | INR 53,220 |
| Undergraduate International Orientation | US$395 | INR 37,539 |
| Student health insurance annual premium | US$3,523 | INR 3.35 Lakhs |
All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of USD 1 = INR 95.035256 as of 24 October 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.
Source: Rice University 2026-27 Cost of Attendance and Student Health Insurance schedules.
The five standard cost components sum exactly to US$97,309 (INR 92.48 Lakhs), confirming Rice’s published on-campus total. However, an Indian family must separately reserve funds for travel, orientation and insurance unless Rice approves comparable coverage.
Rice has not published the Fall 2027 amount on its checked tuition, attendance-cost and estimator surfaces. Verify the target fee on the official fee page, then replace every prior-cycle figure before arranging education-loan disbursements.
Cost of Living in Houston for Computer Science Students
Rice’s official 2026-27 non-tuition estimates total US$31,708 (INR 30.13 Lakhs) after adding living, books, personal, travel and insurance costs. Monthly values divide each annual amount by 12 and remain a prior-cycle planning illustration.
| Expense | Monthly US$ | Monthly INR equivalent | Annual US$ | Annual INR equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus housing and food | US$1,710.83 | INR 1.63 Lakhs | US$20,530 | INR 19.51 Lakhs |
| Books and supplies | US$128.33 | INR 12,196 | US$1,540 | INR 1.46 Lakhs |
| Personal expenses | US$259.58 | INR 24,669 | US$3,115 | INR 2.96 Lakhs |
| Foreign-country travel | US$250 | INR 23,759 | US$3,000 | INR 2.85 Lakhs |
| Student health insurance | US$293.58 | INR 27,900 | US$3,523 | INR 3.35 Lakhs |
| Calculated total | US$2,642.33 | INR 2.51 Lakhs | US$31,708 | INR 30.13 Lakhs |
Adding Rice’s standard total, travel, insurance and US$1,325 (INR 1.26 Lakhs) in orientation charges gives a calculated first-year baseline. That prior-cycle planning illustration is US$105,157 (INR 99.94 Lakhs), not a university-published 2027-28 budget.
The I-20 financial-proof amount may differ from this planning baseline because Rice determines visa documentation separately. Treat neither the university living estimate nor this calculation as a substitute for the eventual I-20 amount.
Read More: Cost of Living in USA for International Students
Key insight: Use the US$105,157 (INR 99.94 Lakhs) prior-cycle illustration only as a liquidity stress test, then reprice the budget when Rice publishes Fall 2027 charges.
Rice University BS Computer Science Admission 2027
Rice evaluates BSCS candidates through general first-year admission, with no separate Computer Science cutoff or entrance examination. The programme has one live start, Fall 2027, and applicants later declare their major at Rice.
Fall 2027 Academic Eligibility
International candidates must complete secondary school and present the academic preparation Rice specifies for engineering applicants. Rice publishes no minimum Indian board percentage, so the table separates requirements from contextual selection evidence.
| Admission factor | Rice requirement or evidence | Meaning for an Indian applicant |
|---|---|---|
| School completion | High school diploma or equivalent before enrolment | Complete Class 12 during the current academic year and submit final results before joining. |
| Indian academic records | Grades 9 to 11, Class 12 courses, final examination results and predicted results when available | Submit official Class X results, current Class XII grades and predicted final results through the school. |
| General coursework | 16 credits across English, social studies, mathematics, laboratory science, foreign language and additional academic study | Map the Indian subject record to these areas and explain any curriculum limitations through the counselor. |
| Engineering preparation | Trigonometry or precalculus, chemistry and physics; a second year of chemistry or biology may replace physics | Show mathematics and laboratory depth because BSCS sits within Rice Engineering and Computing. |
| Board score or GPA | No minimum percentage or grade point average (GPA) published for first-year admission | Rice makes the official equivalency decision through contextual review rather than a fixed Indian conversion. |
| SAT or ACT | Recommended when available, but not required for full consideration | Class of 2029 deposited students reported SAT 1510 to 1560 or ACT 34 to 36 as context, not cutoffs. |
The Class of 2029 profile recorded 36,791 applicants, 2,948 admits and an 8.0% overall admission rate. Rice does not publish a BSCS-specific rate, so Indian applicants should not convert the university figure into course-level odds.
Academic preparation should match the degree’s structure because BSCS requires 120 total credits, including 68 to 72 major credits and 40 to 44 upper-level major credits. The curriculum covers systems, application domains and theory, making advanced mathematics and sustained technical work more relevant than an isolated coding credential.
English Language Proficiency
Applicants whose first language is not English must satisfy one current route below. Rice accepts a two-year English-curriculum route or an official test score, and the policy applies to the 2026-27 application cycle.
| Route | Current requirement | Applicant action |
|---|---|---|
| English-curriculum route | At least two years of full-time study in an English language curriculum before applying | Ask the school to make the language of instruction clear in submitted records. |
| TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test) taken on or after 21 January 2026 | Minimum overall score of 5.0 on the updated scale | Use the published 5.0 standard without converting it to the former scale. |
| IELTS (International English Language Testing System) | Minimum overall score of 7 | Send the official result directly from the testing organization. |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | Minimum score of 185 | Use this route only when the examination is accessible through the applicant’s school or test centre. |
| Duolingo English Test | Minimum score of 130 | Choose this online route when test-centre timing would threaten the application deadline. |
- Indian students using the curriculum route should secure school-issued evidence that confirms two complete years of full-time English instruction.
- PTE (Pearson Test of English) is not listed among Rice’s current first-year routes, so applicants needing a test should select a published option.
- Official scores must come directly from the testing body, so complete testing early enough for receipt before the chosen application deadline.
Student perspective
A verified 2021 BSCS alumnus described the curriculum as rigorous and noted research access in student reviews. Use that observation to test readiness for discrete mathematics and advanced coursework, not to infer placement odds.
These comments are anecdotal and do not replace official Rice University data.
Tip for Indian students: Rice publishes no board-score floor, but its engineering prerequisites and 8.0% overall admit rate reward a transcript combining mathematical depth with sustained academic evidence.
Rice University BS Computer Science Application 2027
Fall 2027 applicants can choose Early Decision I, Early Decision II or Regular Decision. Both early plans are binding, while Regular Decision preserves the ability to compare admission, aid and total-cost offers.
Confirmed 2026-27 application cycle: Rice offers only the Fall start for first-year BSCS applicants. The dates below come from its current international application and virtual-interview schedules.
| Decision plan | Application due | Interview request due | Decision release | Enrolment deposit due |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I | 01 November 2026 | 03 November 2026 | Mid-December 2026 | 04 January 2027 |
| Early Decision II | 04 January 2027 | 06 January 2027 | Late January 2027 | 01 March 2027 |
| Regular Decision | 04 January 2027 | 06 January 2027 | 01 April 2027 | 01 May 2027 |
Regular Decision candidates seeking a priority interview must submit by 14 December 2026 and request it by 16 December 2026. Interviews remain optional and unavailable matches do not harm the admission decision, so application quality should remain the priority.
The international application fee is US$75 (INR 7,128) and Rice does not offer international fee waivers. Required materials include the Common Application, Rice writing supplement, school transcript, counselor recommendation, two teacher recommendations, English evidence and the International Student Financial Statement.
How to Build a BSCS-Focused Application
Rice’s supplement includes a 150-word academic-interest response and a 150-word Rice-experience response. A coherent BSCS application should connect prior mathematical or computing work to the programme’s systems, applications and theory structure without restating the activities list.
- Use the academic response to explain which BSCS layer you want to explore and identify evidence showing readiness for its mathematical depth.
- Use the Rice response to connect a specific research, computing or residential-college opportunity with a contribution you can credibly make.
- Submit optional SAT or ACT scores only when they strengthen the broader record, using Rice’s deposited-student range as context rather than a requirement.
- Complete the financial statement with consistent funding evidence because Rice will not finish reviewing an international application without the required documentation.
The BSCS is declared after enrolment rather than admitted through a separate departmental process. Consequently, the application should establish readiness for Rice Engineering and Computing while showing interests broad enough for the university’s first-year academic environment.
Deadline interpretation
Rice publishes these deadlines as dates without a cutoff time or timezone, so an official IST conversion cannot be calculated. Indian applicants should submit one calendar day earlier and treat Rice’s portal date as controlling.
Application tip: Choose an early plan only when Rice is the first choice and the family can accept a binding decision before comparing other aid packages.
Rice University BS Computer Science Scholarships 2027
International first-year applicants can pursue limited need-based grant aid and automatic admission merit consideration. Rice meets 100% of demonstrated need for international students who receive need-based aid, but admission is need-aware and the Rice Investment does not apply.
Funding route context: The first two rows apply during Fall 2027 admission. The remaining rows are current published opportunities for enrolled students and should not be included in a first-year financing plan.
| Award or aid route | Published value | INR equivalent | Eligibility and route | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice institutional grant aid | 100% of demonstrated need for recipients; no fixed amount | Percentage-based award | Limited international first-year need-based aid through the CSS Profile (College Scholarship Service Profile) | 15 November 2026, 04 January 2027 or 01 February 2027 by plan |
| Admission merit scholarships | Amount unpublished | Amount unpublished | All admitted first-year applicants receive automatic consideration; about 20% of admitted students receive an offer | No separate application; notification accompanies admission |
| Chevron Scholarships | US$1,000 to US$2,000 | INR 95,035 to INR 1.90 Lakhs | Enrolled sophomore or junior Computer Science majors with Rice GPA 3.3, full-time status and departmental nomination | 15 December at 5:00 PM CST (Central Standard Time), equivalent to 16 December at 4:30 AM IST (India Standard Time) |
| Harrianna Butler Scholarship | US$10,000 | INR 9.50 Lakhs | Married, returning engineering student with financial need; departmental nomination | 03 March at 5:00 PM CST, equivalent to 04 March at 4:30 AM IST |
| Hershel M. Rich Invention Award | US$7,500 | INR 7.13 Lakhs | Enrolled engineering student with an original invention and departmental nomination | 03 March at 5:00 PM CST, equivalent to 04 March at 4:30 AM IST |
The 2027-28 CSS Profile deadline is 15 November 2026 for Early Decision I, 04 January 2027 for Early Decision II and 01 February 2027 for Regular Decision. International families upload translated tax documents through Rice’s applicant portal rather than the domestic Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC).
An applicant must request aid during the initial admission process because an international student admitted without that request cannot seek need-based aid later. Since need is considered in admission, families should report required funding honestly rather than understate need and create an unfunded gap.
Merit review requires no extra form or interview, but Rice publishes neither named incoming awards nor award amounts for this cycle. Treat automatic consideration as an opportunity, not as a financing commitment, and build the initial budget without an assumed merit reduction.
The three engineering awards are conditional continuing-student routes with narrow eligibility and departmental nomination. Their published values are much smaller than the prior-cycle annual budget, so they can reduce incidental costs but cannot anchor first-year affordability.
Read More: Scholarships in USA After Class 12
Funding action
Mark the aid request on the admission application and verify the matching CSS deadline on Rice’s international financial aid page. A late request cannot repair an admission file submitted as fully self-funded.
Scholarship reality: Rice can meet full demonstrated need for selected international recipients, but limited availability and need-aware review make timely, accurate funding disclosure essential.
Rice University BS Computer Science Salary 2027
Rice publishes no BSCS-specific salary, offer rate or placement rate. The closest official evidence combines department-level employer information, school-level starting salary and university-wide undergraduate outcomes, while the labour-market figure remains external.
Evidence scope: The amounts below are not interchangeable, because each describes a different population. Only the first two are Rice graduate outcomes, while the third is a national occupation benchmark covering workers at all experience levels.
| Evidence scope | Published population | Annual US$ figure | INR equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| School-level outcome | Rice Engineering and Computing graduates; cohort not identified on the current facts page | US$106,618 average starting salary | INR 1.01 Crore |
| University-level outcome | Rice’s most recent graduating class cited in its February 2026 tuition announcement | US$91,427 average starting salary | INR 86.89 Lakhs |
| External labour-market benchmark | U.S. software developers across experience levels, May 2025 | US$135,980 median annual wage | INR 1.29 Crore |
Source: Rice Engineering and Computing, Rice News and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Computer Science department reports that BA and BSCS students receive similar internship and entry-level offers. It also identifies employers that hired multiple Rice CS alumni, including Google, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Apple, Bloomberg and Capital One.
Employer presence proves access, not sponsorship volume or a placement guarantee. The department publishes neither the number of BSCS hires nor their compensation, so applicants should not convert the employer list into an employment probability.
Undergraduate Outcome Context
Rice’s latest university-wide dataset covers 3,077 bachelor-level graduates from the Classes of 2023 to 2025 with a knowledge rate above 95%. Its distribution helps frame pathways, but it is not a BSCS cohort report.
| Post-graduation status | Share of reported undergraduate outcomes |
|---|---|
| Working | 53% |
| Continuing education | 33% |
| Seeking employment | 8% |
| Seeking education | 4% |
| Other intentions | 2% |
The 33% continuing-education share supports treating graduate study as a material alternative to immediate employment across Rice’s undergraduate population. However, BSCS applicants need a filtered department report before assuming the same distribution applies to computing graduates.
BSCS Return on Investment
Fall 2027 cost is unpublished, so a defensible payback period cannot be calculated. The verified reference is a US$105,157 (INR 99.94 Lakhs) prior-cycle first-year illustration before any aid.
- Rice names repeated CS alumni employers but publishes no BSCS offer rate, so request filtered outcomes before using employment probability in a loan case.
- The school-level US$106,618 (INR 1.01 Crore) average is gross and cross-programme, so model repayment from a conservative after-tax salary scenario.
- The US$135,980 (INR 1.29 Crore) national median covers experienced software developers, so never substitute it for a new-graduate starting offer.
- Rice’s 53% working share covers all bachelor-level respondents, so obtain Computer Science-specific status data before deciding against graduate study.
- Potential Optional Practical Training (OPT) reaches 36 months only after STEM eligibility and employer conditions, so verify the I-20 code before valuing that work window.
For an India-return plan, Rice publishes no India salary or country-level BSCS outcome. Build repayment from a verified Indian offer, rupee loan terms and the unfunded balance after Rice aid instead of translating U.S. salaries.
Published salaries are gross and take-home pay varies by location, filing status and deductions. Use the Internal Revenue Service Tax Withholding Estimator after receiving an actual offer, not during admission-stage forecasting.
Read More: Post-Study Work Options in USA
ROI reality: The BSCS can support technical careers, but its unpublished target cost and missing course-level salary data make aid size the decisive financial variable.
USA Visa for Rice University BS Computer Science Students 2027
Admitted Indian students generally use the F-1 route, with a US$185 (INR 17,582) visa fee and US$350 (INR 33,262) SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) fee. Confirm the visa charge on the official visa fee page before payment. Post-completion OPT offers 12 months, while a qualifying STEM degree can add 24 months under separate conditions.
- Confirm the BSCS Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code because the 24-month Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) extension requires an E-Verify employer.
- H-1B has no single course-specific salary threshold because the employer must pay the higher applicable actual or prevailing wage.
- Permanent residence has no BSCS-linked timeline, so continued American residence depends on a separate eligible immigration route and employer decisions.
- A spouse or unmarried child under 21 may seek F-2 status, but an F-2 dependant cannot work in the United States.
Check Out: F-1 Student Visa Process for Indian Students
Visa reality: The potential 36-month OPT window supports U.S. career exploration, but it does not guarantee employment, sponsorship or permanent residence.
Rice University BS Computer Science Ranking 2027
Rice Computer Science holds position 25 in the 2027 U.S. News undergraduate Computer Science ranking. This subject-level position applies to the undergraduate programme, but it does not measure BSCS salary, internship access or international sponsorship.
Current programme ranking: Rice’s official Engineering and Computing facts page publishes the following undergraduate subject result. It does not provide the previous undergraduate Computer Science position, so no trend is inferred.
| Ranking publisher | Edition | Position | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. News & World Report | 2027 | 25 | Undergraduate Computer Science programme |
The ranking supports broad programme recognition, while the 68 to 72 major-credit structure provides the more useful fit test. Applicants should inspect systems, applications and theory requirements before treating one position as a decision rule.
Check Out: Rice University Rankings
Honest take: Position 25 provides programme context, but curriculum depth, final aid and verified BSCS outcomes should carry greater weight in an enrolment decision.
Rice BSCS fits mathematically prepared students seeking deeper computing study across systems, applications and theory. Its advanced-credit load supports that goal, while the BA preserves more room outside Computer Science. The material tradeoff is an unpublished target price combined with no course-specific salary or offer rate. An Indian applicant should decide only after Rice confirms 2027-28 charges and returns the complete aid package.
Rice University BS Computer Science FAQs
Ques. Is Rice BS Computer Science worth the cost for an Indian student?
Ans. The answer depends mainly on final aid because Fall 2027 tuition and BSCS salary outcomes remain unpublished. The US$105,157 (INR 99.94 Lakhs) prior-cycle first-year illustration creates substantial self-funding risk. The degree is most defensible when aid closes that gap and its deeper curriculum matches the intended technical pathway.
Ques. Can I enter Rice BSCS without submitting SAT or ACT scores?
Ans. Yes, Rice recommends SAT or ACT scores but gives full consideration without them. However, the 8.0% Class of 2029 overall admit rate signals intense university-level selection. A test-optional applicant needs sustained course rigor, strong school evidence and specific academic reasoning rather than a substitute score claim.
Ques. Should I choose Rice’s BSCS or BA in Computer Science?
Ans. Choose BSCS for 68 to 72 major credits and deeper advanced computing study. Choose the BA when significant study outside computing matters more. Rice reports similar internship and entry-level offers across both degrees, so curriculum fit should outweigh assumptions about the title.
Ques. Can an Indian first-year applicant receive full financial aid at Rice?
Ans. Selected international recipients can receive institutional grants meeting 100% of demonstrated need. Aid is limited and admission is need-aware, so requesting support may affect selection. Declare the request initially and meet the CSS deadline attached to the chosen decision plan.
Ques. How long can a Rice BSCS graduate work in the United States?
Ans. Standard post-completion OPT can provide 12 months of work authorization related to the major. A qualifying I-20 code and compliant E-Verify employer can support another 24 months. H-1B sponsorship and permanent residence remain separate employer-dependent processes rather than automatic degree benefits.
Important Alert
- Early Decision I Application Deadline for 2027 Intake - Nov 1, 2026
Tuition Fees
| Year | 1st Year Fees |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fees | $71140 |
Other Expenses
| Head | Avg Cost Per Year |
|---|---|
| Room | $9700 |
| Books and supply | $1540 |
Previous Year Tuition Fees
| Year | 1st Year Fees |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $57210 |
| 2023 | $54100 |
| 2021 | $50310 |
Important Dates
| Event | Application Date |
|---|---|
| Early Decision I Application Deadline for 2027 Intake | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Early Decision II Application Deadline for 2027 Intake | Jan 4, 2027 |
| Regular Decision Application Deadline for 2027 Intake | Jan 4, 2027 |
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Required Document List
- Common Application and Rice writing supplement
- $75 nonrefundable application fee (must be paid online)
- Official high school transcript in English (or a certified English translation)
- Recommendation Letters (School Counselor, Teacher 1, Teacher 2)
- Demonstration of English proficiency
- International Student Financial Statement
- Architecture portfolio (Architecture applicants only)

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Scholarship Grants & Financial Aids
| Name | Scholarship Per Student | Level of Study | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BL Mandhana Scholarships | Scholarship per student$ 10,000/Yr$10,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Go Clean Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 3,500/Yr$3,500 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Business Administration Scholarships | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Novus Biological Scholarship Program | Scholarship per student$ 1,500/Yr$1,500 | Level Of StudyAssociate | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Washington DC Scholarships | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| TEC Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 1,000/Yr$1,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based |
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| Program | Important Date | Total Fees | Median Exams Score | Action |
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-- | USD 51,610 /Yr | |||
Early Action Application Deadline for Fall Intake (1st Nov 2026) Early Action Decision Deadline for Fall Intake (1st Feb 2027) Regular Application Deadline for Fall Intake (15th Feb 2027) Regular Decision Deadline for Fall Intake (10th Apr 2027) Application Deadline for Spring Intake (15th Nov 2027) | USD 67,756 /Yr |
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Priority Application Deadline For Fall Intake (1st Dec 2026) | USD 40,164 /Yr |
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Priority Application Deadline for Spring 2027 Intake (1st Nov 2026) Priority Scholarship Deadline for Fall 2027 Intake (1st Dec 2026) | USD 24,451 /Yr |
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