City: Houston, TX

Category: Education

Telephone: (713) 348-0000

Address: 6100 Main St.

Description: Rice University is one of Houston’s educational gems. Thanks to its large endowment, small classes, and top-­notch professors, the university consistently ranks among the top 15 universities in the country. Rice enrolls just over 3,000 undergrads in six schools—architecture, engineering, humanities, music, natural sciences, and social sciences. About 2,300 graduate students enroll in research-­centered PhD and master’s degree programs, as well as in professional degrees in the sciences and business management. Undergraduate tuition was $34,900 per year in 2011–2012; this price doesn’t include room and board or other fees. Tuition varies for the different graduate programs, but most graduate students receive some sort of fellowship or tuition waver. The Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies offers top-­notch educational opportunities for older adults and professionals, who can take professional development courses, work toward certificates in a wide range of fields, and take enrichment courses on everything from wine to music to personal finance. The school also offers foreign language and English as a Second Language courses for businesspeople and non-­businesspeople, as well as a limited number of classes for high school students. The Glasscock School also offers an evening master of liberal studies degree program, where adults study the humanities, sciences, and social sciences. Tuition and fees vary.