Head-to-head comparison
Rice University vs Chamberlain University-Texas: which has better ROI?
Option A Houston, TX
Rice University
- Net price / year
- $13,370
- Earnings, 10 years
- $89,718
- Payback
- 1.3 yrs
Option B Houston, TX
Chamberlain University-Texas
- Net price / year
- $32,209
- Earnings, 10 years
- $92,405
- Payback
- 2.9 yrs
Rice University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $53,480 in 1.3 years versus 2.9 years at Chamberlain University-Texas, on median earnings of $89,718 vs $92,405 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rice University | Chamberlain University-Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,370 | $32,209 |
| Total net cost | $53,480 | $128,836 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $89,718 | $92,405 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $20,919 |
| Payback | 1.3 yrs | 2.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $773,680 | $752,064 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Rice University or Chamberlain University-Texas?
Rice University, at $13,370 a year after aid versus $32,209 — a gap of $18,839 a year, or $75,356 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Rice University or Chamberlain University-Texas graduates earn more?
Chamberlain University-Texas graduates report a median $92,405 ten years after entry, $2,687 more than the $89,718 at Rice University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Rice University or Chamberlain University-Texas?
Rice University: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $20,919 at Chamberlain University-Texas, a difference of $9,919. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
95% of students finish at Rice University, against 25% at Chamberlain University-Texas. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.