Rice's tree-lined Houston campus is organized around twelve residential colleges, and every new student arrives for a week-long O-Week that starts on move-in morning.
Enrollment
9,200
Total Students
Freshman Class
1,352
Approx.
Move-In Dates
Aug 16, 2026
Fall 2026
Acceptance Rate
8%
Most recent cycle
Move-In
Fall 2026 Move-In Details
Each residential college runs its own move-in time and process. Upperclass O-Week advisers and current students greet new arrivals, help unload cars and get you settled in your room.
Check your assignment in the housing portal for your specific date and time - your exact move-in date is shown above in the Overview.
Move-in day logistics
- Arrival window
- 7-11 a.m. on move-in morning, with a specific time assigned by your residential college.
- Check-in location
- Your residential college.
Move-in day tips
- Arrive during your assigned move-in window - arriving early may mean waiting until your time slot.
- Bring a rolling cart or hand truck - campus carts can run out quickly during busy move-in periods.
- Have a parking backup plan - spaces near residence halls can fill up quickly, so know where you can unload if your preferred area is full.
- Watch the loading-zone time limit - many campuses require you to move your vehicle to longer-term parking after unloading.
Housing & Dorms
- Photo coming soon
Baker College
- Photo coming soon
Brown College
- Photo coming soon
Chao College
- Photo coming soon
Duncan College
- Photo coming soon
Hanszen College
- Photo coming soon
Jones College
- Photo coming soon
Lovett College
- Photo coming soon
Martel College
- Photo coming soon
McMurtry College
- Photo coming soon
Sid Richardson College
- Photo coming soon
Wiess College
- Photo coming soon
Will Rice College
Housing Links
- Housing Portal ↗
- Dining Services ↗
- Bookstore - coming soon
Each available link goes directly to Rice University's own specific page, not just its general homepage.
Orientation
O-Week - Rice's week-long new student orientation
All new students are required to attend one orientation session.
August 16 - August 22, 2026
Orientation tips
- Register as early as your class allows - popular session dates fill up first.
- Bring a parent/guardian if separate family programming is offered.
- Check whether placement testing or advising sign-ups happen the same day.
Costs
Room & Board
$20,530
Estimated / Year
Nearby Essentials
Nearby data coming soon.
More Links
Checklists
Get the Ultimate College Move-In Checklist
A free, printable packing checklist covering everything from bedding to important documents - built for any freshman, including yours at Rice University.
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Send this page to a roommate, a parent, or anyone else helping plan the move.