Office of Financial Aid
Welcome to the Office of Financial Aid website. Our goal is to guide you through the financial aid process at Rice University. We understand that funding your education is a significant financial investment for you and your family. We hope that the information
displayed at this website will ease the process of exploring the different financial aid options available to you.
What
is Financial Aid?
Financial aid comes in the form of federal, state,
institutional, and private fund(s) used to assist eligible students in funding
their education. Financial aid can be a
combination of scholarships, federal work-study, federal and private
loans, and grants. The amount and type of aid you receive will depend upon your
family’s income and assets. We display your most recent application status and
award information in your student portal also known as ESTHER.
Scholarships and grants are considered “free
money” and the student is not required to repay; however, loans and federal
work-study are considered self-help aid and most loans require repayment when a
student becomes enrolled less than half time or graduates. Federal work-study
is student
employment either on or off campus for part-time employment
positions.
Rice is recognized by MONEY’s "Best
Colleges for Your Money" as being the no. 12 best value nationwide.