About

The Rice University Aerospace Academy, Fueled by Envision, is an immersive pre-college program for high school students focused on aerospace and aviation exploration. Held on the Rice University campus in Houston, Texas, the academy introduces participants to the technical and career dimensions of aerospace through faculty-led forums, industry site visits, and hands-on workshops. The program is open to students in the graduating classes of 2026–2029.

Daily instruction blends theoretical study with experiential visits to Space Center Houston and the Lone Star Flight Museum. Participants attend forums on aerodynamics and orbital mechanics, and engage in workshops ranging from flight ground school to flight simulation. A hallmark of the session is the atmospheric payload workshop, where teams design, prototype, and launch a payload via weather balloon to analyze real-time atmospheric data.

Admission is handled via the Envision Experience portal on a rolling basis. For the 2026 session, the all-inclusive residential tuition is $6,559. This fee covers housing, meals, and all program-related transportation, though travel to and from Houston is not included. Partial need-based scholarships are available, with the next application round closing on February 25, 2026.

While the academy utilizes Rice University’s facilities and is informed by its Center for Engineering Leadership, it is administered by Envision rather than Rice’s central academic departments. Students leave with a certificate of completion and practical exposure to professional aerospace environments. There are relatively few precollege programs devoted to aerospace, and for those interested in this exciting industry the Rice Aerospace Academy offers a solid introduction to the field.