The fourth-largest city in the United States, Houston is a vibrant center for arts, business, culture and education. The downtown theatre district is host to permanent companies in ballet, opera, symphony and theatre. Just three blocks from the Rice University campus is the Museum District which is composed of eleven museums that feature outstanding collections and exhibitions of art, nature, science, medicine and history. The district also encompasses Hermann Park, the Houston Zoo, an ampitheater, a public golf course, a Japanese garden and the Texas Medical Center. Other attractions include the Johnson Space Center, Minute Maid Feld and Reliant Stadium.

Perhaps the most distinctive feature of Rice's campus life is the residential college system. All new students are randomly assigned to one of nine residential colleges. The colleges serve not only as residence halls but also as primary centers for dining, studying, playing, networking, and developing leadership skills.

Located just minutes from downtown, the University of Houston is set on 548 acres of parks, fountains and plazas offering students a well-equipped campus for academic pursuits and research. Gulf coast beaches are easily accesible and the warm climate permits outdoor activity throughout the year. The largest and most comprehensive component of the University of Houston System, the UH main campus serves more than 32,000 students in fourteen colleges and a host of schools and programs offering more than 300 undergraduate, graduate, and special professional degrees. University of Houston public service and community activities, such as cultural offerings, clinical services, policy studies, and small-business initiatives, serve a diverse metropolitan population. Likewise, the resources of the Gulf Coast region complement and enrich the University's academic programs, providing students with professional expertise, practical experience, and career opportunities and allowing them to secure career-level jobs soon after graduation.