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The Visiting Owls program offers high school juniors, seniors, and visiting undergraduates a chance to earn college credits online or face-to-face from a top 20 university that’s redefining learning with a wide range of rigorous, engaging, and unique courses.
Summer Semester 2024: Online or On-Campus
Curious about our unique, collaborative and unexpected courses for Summer 2024? Talk to our Student Success team and see how summer plans can transform your students' futures.
- High school students can earn college credits
- Small class sizes with Rice's world-class instructors
- 6 summer blocks to fit a wide range of schedules
- Unique courses, spanning core requirements to high interest topics
- Special Summer Tuition at a top 15 university
Download the Rice Visiting Owls Flyer for High School Students and Families
Stay up to date for
Summer 2024
The Summer 2024 Visiting Students Application is Now Open!
This May - August 2024, Rice University's Visiting Owls summer program will offer 6 summer blocks to fit a range of student schedules. Admission is rolling, however enrollment is limited so early application is encouraged.
Special summer tuition: $1,000 per credit hour
| Block | Application Deadline | Block Dates | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Block B1 | April 29, 2024 | May 6 - June 21, 2024 | 7 weeks |
| Summer Block C1 | May 6, 2024 | May 13 - June 21, 2024 | 6 weeks |
| Summer Block D1 | May 20, 2024 | May 28 - August 2, 2024 | 10 weeks |
| Summer Block E1 | June 3, 2024 | June 10 - July 26, 2024 | 7 weeks |
| Summer Block B2 | June 17, 2024 | June 24 - August 9, 2024 | 7 weeks |
| Summer Block C2 | June 24, 2024 | July 1 - August 9, 2024 | 6 weeks |
Resources & FAQs for High School Counselors
Frequently Asked Questions
There’s no such thing as a typical Visiting Owls applicant. So, while we did our best to answer the more common questions below, please reach out if you have something else to ask or need more information to share for your school.
- Who is eligible to apply?
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All visiting undergraduate students are invited to apply, and high school students in the Classes of 2024, 2025, and 2026. Unfortunately, we are not able to accept applications from high school students graduating in 2027 or later at this time.
Currently enrolled Rice students should register online via ESTHER as per normal registration processes and procedures for courses they wish to register for.
- How do I apply?
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Step 1: Find an online course you want to take for credit by viewing our Summer 2024 Semester course catalog, when it becomes available.
Step 2: Complete the online application and submit it with the $75 application fee.
Step 3: Send your official transcripts for all educational institutions that you have attended to Rice.
- Are non-U.S. (international) students eligible for the Rice Visiting Owls program?
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Yes, we would encourage non-U.S./International students to apply for an eligible online summer course. For the Visiting Owls summer program, Rice University does not sponsor foreign visas for on-campus attendance at this time.
- I'm a Visiting High School student. For which courses am I eligible to apply in Summer 2024?
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Visit the 2024 Course Schedule when it becomes available and look for the "HS Eligible" icon to see which online or face-to-face summer courses will accept current HS seniors (class of '24), HS juniors (class of '25) or sophomores (class of '26).
If you are a Visiting Undergraduate/College Student, HS eligibility rules don't apply.
- I'm a current High School student who has started my Visiting Owls application. Now, where do I send my official transcript?
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Typically, students should contact their High School to request an official version of their transcript. If you're not sure where to start, ask your High School Guidance Counselor. The process for each school can be slightly different, but official transcripts are usually sent directly to Rice by you or your HS Counselor, preferably as an email to visitingstudents@rice.edu.
- Where to email official transcripts (preferred method): visitingstudents@rice.edu
- Where to mail official transcripts:
Rice University - Visiting Student Programs
Office of the Registrar - MS 57
P.O. Box 1892
Houston, TX 77251-1892 - When are the application deadlines?
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The application deadlines are tied to the individual course(s) for which you are applying. If you plan to take courses in multiple sessions, your deadline would be the earliest session’s deadline — you do not need to submit multiple applications.
Block Application Deadline Block Dates Duration Summer Block B1 April 29, 2024 May 6 - June 21, 2024 7 weeks Summer Block C1 May 6, 2024 May 13 - June 21, 2024 6 weeks Summer Block D1 May 20, 2024 May 28 - August 2, 2024 10 weeks Summer Block E1 June 3, 2024 June 10 - July 26, 2024 7 weeks Summer Block B2 June 17, 2024 June 24 - August 9, 2024 7 weeks Summer Block C2 June 24, 2024 July 1 - August 9, 2024 6 weeks - What is the cost of attending?
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Reduced summer tuition: $1,000 per credit hour. For more information, see the Rice Bursar's Visiting Students information.
- Will this help my chances of being accepted as a Rice undergraduate?
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Admission to Rice Summer Sessions does not influence your admission to Rice as an undergraduate.
- Have more questions?
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Contact us at visitingstudents@rice.edu.
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Unconventional Courses, Online or In-Person
Our program focuses on delivering engaging content and a world-class experience for in-person or online learning.
Earn college credits online or face-to-face at a top 20 university
Choose from 6 summer blocks to fit your schedule
High-demand STEM+ courses with special summer tuition of $1,000 per credit hour