Ranking It

An Owls Hoot: Rice University dominates prestigious best college rankings, including a huge No. 1 spot

There must be something in the water at Rice University or maybe the Owls have discovered the key to happiness and just haven't shared it yet. Yes, Houston's version of an Ivy League-level school is once again dominating Princeton Review's prestigious college rankings.

The Princeton Review surveyed students at the 378 top colleges about the quality of the academics, students and teachers at their school as well as the campus life and the social scene.

Rice ranked in nine out of the 62 categories. After losing the No. 1 spot for "Best Quality of Life" to Bowdoin College last year, Rice reclaimed its recently customary top position. The school also took second in the "Happiest Students" rankings, a slight slip from the No. 1 spot the university held in the category the last two years.

Houston's version of an Ivy League-level school is once again dominating the rankings.

Following Claremont McKenna College and Bowdoin College, Rice is No. 3 in the "Best-Run Colleges" ratings. The school is No. 5 in the "Great Financial Aid" category.

Rice also ranked among the Top 20 schools for "Best Health Services," "Lots of Race/Class Interaction," "Town-Gown Relations are Great" and "Best Athletic Facilities."

Princeton Review ranked the University of Texas among the Top 20 party schools.

Rice University was ranked in nine out of the 62 categories in The 2014 edition of The Princeton Review's 378 Best Colleges.

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Photo by Jeff Fitlow Rice University

Rice University was ranked in nine out of the 62 categories in The 2014 edition of The Princeton Review's 378 Best Colleges.

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This Week's Hot Headlines

Austin restaurant chain bowls over River Oaks and more popular stories

Photo by Becca Wright

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Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, including restaurant openings and a major acquisition for MFAH. Plus, where to celebrate New Year's Eve in Houston. Catch up on our most popular stories below, then visit this guide to the best Christmas weekend events.

1. Meet the men behind River Oaks' new destination for bowls and broth. On this episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” Honest Mary’s founder Nelson Monteith and COO Andrew Wiseheart joined CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss the Austin-based restaurant that just opened its first Houston location in the River Oaks Shopping Center.

2. Houston's only Michelin-recognized Tex-Mex restaurant now open in Bellaire. It didn’t take Sambrooks Hospitality Group long to turn Mandito’s into Candente. First announced in September, the restaurant’s second location officially opened December 22.

3. 25 Houston restaurants celebrating New Year's Eve with caviar, bubbles, and more. Houston restaurants are ringing in the new year with indulgent menus featuring caviar, lobster, and steak, along with plenty of bubbly.

4. Houston museum acquires historic Masonic lodge property for new greenspace. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston has acquired a prime parcel to expand its campus in the Museum District.

Holland Lodge masonic building The building at 4911 will be torn down for the new greenspace. Holland Lodge No. 1, A.F. & A.M./Facebook

5. Houston's richest residents, best suburbs, and more top city news in 2025. As 2025 comes to a close, we're looking back at the stories that defined Houston this year. These are the City Life stories that captured Houston's attention.