Head-to-head comparison
Rice University vs West Coast 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 Richardson, TX
West Coast University-Texas
- Net price / year
- $53,020
- Earnings, 10 years
- $102,672
- Payback
- 3.9 yrs
Rice University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $53,480 in 1.3 years versus 3.9 years at West Coast University-Texas, on median earnings of $89,718 vs $102,672 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rice University | West Coast University-Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,370 | $53,020 |
| Total net cost | $53,480 | $212,080 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $89,718 | $102,672 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $32,946 |
| Payback | 1.3 yrs | 3.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $773,680 | $874,160 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Rice University or West Coast University-Texas?
Rice University, at $13,370 a year after aid versus $53,020 — a gap of $39,650 a year, or $158,600 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 West Coast University-Texas graduates earn more?
West Coast University-Texas graduates report a median $102,672 ten years after entry, $12,954 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 West Coast University-Texas?
Rice University: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $32,946 at West Coast University-Texas, a difference of $21,946. 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 31% at West Coast 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.