Houston
A whole lotta history, culture, cuisine, science and industry packed into one place. We couldn’t be happier to call Houston home. As the nation’s fourth largest and most culturally diverse city, Houston delivers rich opportunities for Rice students — research, internships and outreach, as well as convenient off-campus excursions.
Media Gallery
Explore Houston
Houston Neighborhoods: Texas Medical Center
Houston Museum District
Historic Midtown Sears building to anchor Houston innovation district
Passport to Houston
Most Diverse City in the Country
Houston Museum District and Greenery Beyond the Hedges
NASA Space Center
⭐ Passport to Houston
Passport to Houston is a program designed to engage the Rice community with the city of Houston in order to encourage students to be more community-oriented, socially-engaged, and culturally-aware. The Passport program promotes and highlights these organizations by providing free or discounted admission to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Museum of Natural Science and Houston Zoo.
Through this program, Rice undergraduate students can also obtain a METRO Q Card for unlimited use on regularly scheduled METRO transportation systems, including the light rail.
⭐ Most Diverse City in the Country
Houston is the most culturally and ethnically diverse city in the U.S. As a matter of fact, over 145 languages are spoken here in Houston and Houston boasts an unbelievably diverse culinary scene. Home to 11,000 restaurants that represent over 70 countries and American regions! One of the best places in the country to connect to culture through food.
⭐ Houston Museum District and Greenery Beyond the Hedges
Rice is nestled in the culturally vibrant museum district of the nation’s fourth largest city. Start planning now - you’ll want to visit the 19 museums in this district while you're at Rice. Whether you’re into contemporary art or want to learn about natural science or the African American experience, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Students also have free access to some of the museums through our Passport to Houston program.
With 80 parks and over 167 green spaces are overseen by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, Houston is a large city full of outdoor areas to exploregreen spaces. Located near campus, Hermann Park is home to the Houston Zoo, a lake, a Japanese Garden, an outdoor theater, and more!
⭐ NASA Space Center
Houston, we have liftoff! While the Johnson Space Center may be famous for its historic missions to space, it's also a great way for students to connect with the thriving aerospace industry in Houston.Thanks to the reputation of Rice University faculty researchers, “Houston” became the first word broadcast from the surface of the moon.
When in Houston, be sure to visit the Rice Stuff exhibit in Rice’s Fondren Library. In addition, at Rice Stadium, a plaque commemorating president Kennedy’s 1962 speech may be seen, along with a next generation moon tree, cloned from a seed that flew to the moon aboard Apollo 14.