Campus Report

Rice Marriage Pact · 2025 ·

The time has come, Rice.

We thought we’d share a bit about Rice’s romantic playing field——just so you know what you’re up against.

Our analysis is built upon anonymized and aggregated data from the Rice Marriage Pact. It will never be sold or shared for commercial purposes. You can read more about our principles and practices here.

The more the major

Your major, your concentration, your greatest disappointment to your parents. And our favorite way to slice and dice the campus. Sit back and enjoy judging all the majors that aren’t your own.

Physics and Astronomy majors would rather fail a test than cheat

And for that, we salute them. Here’s how different majors answered the question: “I would rather fail an exam than cheat on it”

	Strongly disagree Strongly agree
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Physics and Astronomy	0.10	0.13	0.17	0.10	0.15	0.20	0.15	x̄=4.28	n=40
English	0.06	0.26	0.20	0.03	0.09	0.17	0.20	x̄=4.14	n=35
History	0.21	0.08	0.08	0.13	0.25	0.13	0.13	x̄=4.00	n=24
Biosciences	0.09	0.24	0.25	0.10	0.13	0.10	0.09	x̄=3.61	n=194
Mechanical Engineering	0.14	0.16	0.27	0.10	0.18	0.10	0.05	x̄=3.56	n=147
Electrical and Computer Engineering	0.12	0.16	0.28	0.23	0.08	0.07	0.07	x̄=3.47	n=119
Computer Science	0.15	0.26	0.21	0.13	0.12	0.08	0.05	x̄=3.26	n=258
Architecture	0.26	0.23	0.23	0.07	0.05	0.07	0.09	x̄=3.00	n=43
Sport Management	0.24	0.21	0.29	0.12	0.03	0.09	0.03	x̄=2.88	n=34
Business	0.27	0.25	0.17	0.11	0.11	0.06	0.04	x̄=2.87	n=198

Business majors are running for the hills

What’s going on in there? Someone check in on them. Everyone else, read up on what your sane friends are up to.

Sport Management majors might be open to being open

We asked if you were open to nonmonogamous relationships—here’s what you said, by major.

	1 – no way the more the merrier – 7
Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology	1.11	n=53
Neuroscience	1.16	n=88
Biosciences	1.19	n=194
Computer Science	1.28	n=258
Business	1.42	n=198
Civil and Environmental Engineering	1.67	n=42
Sport Management	1.85	n=34

Topics to avoid

at the dinner table

In other words: politics, money, and religion. But really——who are we without them?

Take a look below to gather fodder for your next divisive discussion.

There’s gold in them there hills

Here’s how you answered the question “I can find it within myself to love someone if they’re rich enough.”

	Strongly disagree Strongly agree
Mathematics	2.33	n=30
Operations Research	2.42	n=26
Computer Science	2.53	n=258
Mechanical Engineering	2.54	n=147
Biosciences	2.86	n=194
Business	3.04	n=198
Architecture	3.30	n=43

Protestant students want religious kids

Something to know if you fall in love with them. Here’s how each religion answered: ”It’s important my kids be raised religious.”

	Strongly disagree Strongly agree
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Protestant	0.01	0.05	0.10	0.13	0.22	0.20	0.30	x̄=5.29	n=176
Muslim	0.05	0.08	0.08	0.19	0.20	0.17	0.22	x̄=4.80	n=59
Christian	0.02	0.13	0.10	0.15	0.25	0.11	0.24	x̄=4.76	n=303
Catholic	0.06	0.09	0.13	0.21	0.20	0.13	0.18	x̄=4.50	n=288
Jewish	0.10	0.14	0.11	0.25	0.27	0.09	0.05	x̄=3.91	n=81
Hindu	0.07	0.18	0.15	0.32	0.20	0.05	0.03	x̄=3.70	n=164
Buddhist	0.31	0.26	0.14	0.14	0.12	0.02	0.00	x̄=2.57	n=42
Spiritual	0.33	0.30	0.18	0.12	0.05	0.02	0.01	x̄=2.34	n=169
Agnostic	0.51	0.28	0.11	0.09	0.01	0.00	0.00	x̄=1.81	n=501
Atheist	0.64	0.22	0.08	0.06	0.00	0.00	0.00	x̄=1.57	n=348

72% of socialists wouldn’t date a Republican

Breaking down the biggest political beefs: Each box indicates the percentage of the political identity listed to the left who reported they don’t want their partner to have the political identity listed above.

	Socialist	Liberal	Democrat	Apolitical	Independent	Conservative	Republican
Socialist	0.02	0.04	0.02	0.38	0.12	0.63	0.72
Liberal	0.04	0.01	0.01	0.17	0.03	0.34	0.46
Democrat	0.08	0.02	0.03	0.14	0.05	0.36	0.47
Apolitical	0.01	0.00	0.00	0.01	0.00	0.02	0.07
Independent	0.06	0.01	0.02	0.04	0.00	0.06	0.07
Conservative	0.22	0.16	0.17	0.03	0.01	0.02	0.01
Republican	0.35	0.23	0.28	0.13	0.13	0.04	0.05

Big year for politics

Freshmen are the most conservative

...but sophomores are the most polarized by gender.

Here’s the political ideology of students on campus by class year and gender (measured as % liberal minus % conservative).

	More liberal More conservative
Freshman MAN	-0.31	n=354
Freshman WOMAN	-0.62	n=333
Sophomore MAN	-0.32	n=271
Sophomore WOMAN	-0.66	n=303
Junior MAN	-0.39	n=221
Junior WOMAN	-0.63	n=251
Senior MAN	-0.40	n=213
Senior WOMAN	-0.72	n=236

Socialists claim they always vote

Here’s how we hit the polls. Allegedly.

	Never Even in local elections
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Socialist	0.01	0.01	0.03	0.11	0.19	0.26	0.39	x̄=5.80	n=94
Democrat	0.01	0.03	0.06	0.17	0.30	0.21	0.22	x̄=5.23	n=888
Liberal	0.03	0.04	0.10	0.17	0.30	0.19	0.17	x̄=4.92	n=381
Independent	0.06	0.08	0.19	0.23	0.24	0.13	0.08	x̄=4.21	n=326
Conservative	0.10	0.12	0.22	0.24	0.16	0.09	0.09	x̄=3.83	n=129
Apolitical	0.22	0.17	0.18	0.26	0.12	0.02	0.04	x̄=3.10	n=161

Home is where the heart is

Some of us moved here from a long way away. Does absence make the heart grow fonder? Here’s how we answered “I take pride in where I’m from.”

	Strongly disagree Strongly agree
Apolitical	5.12	n=161
Liberal	5.43	n=381
Democrat	5.54	n=888
Independent	5.55	n=326
Conservative	5.62	n=129
Republican	5.82	n=97

Women vs Men

Ladies and gentlemen——we know you’re curious. We’re here to give you the data on the age-old question: How different are men and women, really?

These analyses focus on respondents that identified as men and women. We support nonbinary students at Rice absolutely, and due to the limited size of our sample we can’t share their insights without compromising their anonymity and safety. If you have questions about this, or ideas about how we can do this better, send us a note at inclusion@marriagepact.com.

Gender and orientation at Rice

About 1 in 4 women at Rice identifies as non-heterosexual.

Of those, 62% identify as bisexual, 15% identify as homosexual, 8% identify as asexual, and 8% identify as pansexual.

About 1 in 7 men at Rice identifies as non-heterosexual.

Of those, 63% identify as homosexual and 27% identify as bisexual.

Points of disagreement

Presenting the questions the women and men of Rice were most misaligned on. If you’re in the mood to pick a fight, have fun.

Q: “I generally like to take control during sex”

36%

25%

17%

men

I'd rather not 🥺

Give me the reins 😈

12%

23%

28%

29%

women

Q: “I want to be worshiped by my partner”

18%

23%

17%

20%

15%

men

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

11%

12%

14%

32%

15%

women

Q: “I would end a friendship over differing political views”

40%

28%

13%

men

Nope

Yes, they're blocked

17%

20%

19%

14%

16%

women

Q: “I find politically incorrect humor funny”

14%

29%

23%

20%

men

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

11%

16%

24%

25%

12%

women

Let’s Talk

About Sex

This year, we’re going out with a bang. Here’s a look at what Rice students are getting up to in the bedroom.

Freshmen are ready to settle down

Meanwhile, seniors like to keep things casual.

Here’s how each year stacks up on sociosexuality (in other words, openness to hooking up without commitment).

	commitment casual sex
Freshman	-0.03	n=692
Sophomore	-0.01	n=578
Junior	0.02	n=481
Senior	0.10	n=461

Bringing politics into the bedroom

...is always a good idea! Here’s how students with different political identities answered the question “I generally like to take control during sex.”

	I’d rather not 🥺 Give me the reins 😈
Socialist	3.47	n=94
Liberal	3.52	n=381
Democrat	3.58	n=888
Independent	3.94	n=326
Apolitical	3.97	n=161
Republican	4.15	n=97
Conservative	4.33	n=129

What’s the easiest major?

No, not that kind of easy. Here’s how the different majors at Rice answered the question “How long do you think it’s appropriate to wait before sex?”

	Zero wait Until marriage
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Mathematics	0.10	0.20	0.37	0.17	0.07	0.10	0.00	x̄=3.20	n=30
History	0.04	0.08	0.46	0.29	0.08	0.00	0.04	x̄=3.46	n=24
Statistics	0.02	0.32	0.24	0.17	0.15	0.02	0.07	x̄=3.46	n=41
Business	0.06	0.15	0.33	0.17	0.16	0.08	0.07	x̄=3.72	n=198
Computer Science	0.04	0.15	0.30	0.24	0.15	0.07	0.05	x̄=3.73	n=258
Mechanical Engineering	0.04	0.13	0.30	0.20	0.14	0.07	0.12	x̄=3.96	n=147
Biosciences	0.04	0.10	0.28	0.22	0.16	0.09	0.12	x̄=4.10	n=194
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering	0.07	0.05	0.22	0.22	0.22	0.09	0.13	x̄=4.24	n=55
Music	0.03	0.06	0.39	0.12	0.12	0.06	0.21	x̄=4.27	n=33
Neuroscience	0.02	0.08	0.25	0.20	0.24	0.08	0.13	x̄=4.30	n=88

We asked: How single are you?

Here’s how each class year responded. If only there were an algorithm to make this easier...

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