Rice University
Houston, TX · Large city
Admissions
- Acceptance rate (most recent year)
- 8.0%
- Applicants (fall 2023)
- 31,059
- Admitted (fall 2023)
- 2,447
- Enrolled freshmen (fall 2023)
- 1,125
- Yield (admitted who enroll)
- 46%
- Acceptance rate – women (fall 2023)
- 8.1%
- Acceptance rate – men (fall 2023)
- 7.7%
- SAT reading, middle 50%
- 740–770
- SAT math, middle 50%
- 770–800
- ACT composite, middle 50%
- 34–35
- Enrollees who sent SAT / ACT
- 50% / 22%
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey, fall 2023 entering class; test ranges and rate from U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
What they look at
- High school GPA
- considered
- High school class rank
- considered
- High school record (transcript)
- required
- College-prep program completed
- considered
- Recommendations
- required
- Demonstration of competencies
- considered
- SAT/ACT scores
- considered
- English proficiency test (TOEFL etc.)
- required
- Other test
- not considered
- Work experience
- considered
- Personal statement or essay
- required
- Legacy status
- considered
“Considered” means the college uses it if you submit it, but it isn’t required.
What families actually pay
Average yearly net price (after grants and scholarships) for first-time, full-time students who got aid, by family income.
- Full sticker price (per year)
- $79,788
- Tuition & fees – in-state
- $64,144
- Tuition & fees – out-of-state
- $64,144
- Median debt at graduation
- $11,000
- Students with federal loans
- 6.5%
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
Outcomes
- Graduate within 6 years
- 95%
- Freshmen who return for year 2
- 97%
- Median earnings, 1 year after graduating
- $71,544
- Median earnings, 10 years after starting
- $89,718
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
Students & campus
- Undergraduates
- 4,776
- Graduate students
- 4,172
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- 6 : 1
- Women
- 50%
- Students receiving Pell grants
- 17%
- Full-time faculty
- 84%
Undergraduate diversity
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
Most popular majors
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release) (share of bachelor’s degrees awarded)
Contacts & links
- President
- Reginald DesRoches
- Main phone
- (713) 348-0000
- Address
- 6100 S Main St, Houston, TX 77005-1827
How to apply (2026–27)
| Plan | Apply by | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Early Decision (binding) | November 1 | mid-December |
| Early Decision II (binding) | January 4 | late January |
| Regular Decision | January 4 | April 1 |
- Apply with
- Common App, QuestBridge
- Application fee
- $75 (waivers available)
- SAT/ACT
- Optional
- Essays
- 2 short essays (150 words) + 1 essay (500 words) from 2 prompts + Rice Box image
- Recommendations
- 1 counselor + 2 teachers
- Interview
- evaluative optional
Testing: SAT/ACT recommended but not required
Financial aid policies
- Need-blind for U.S. applicants
- Meets 100% of demonstrated need
- No-loan financial aid
- CSS Profile required (plus FAFSA)
- Merit scholarships: Merit scholarships offered
- Rice Investment: full tuition, fees and living grant under $100K; full tuition $100K–200K
Early rounds & waitlist (2025-2026)
- Early Decision admit rate
- 11.3% (647 of 5,748)
- Waitlist: offered / accepted / admitted
- 3,196 / 2,204 / 66
Source: the college’s official website and Common Data Set 2025-2026: admission.rice.edu, financialaid.rice.edu, financialaid.rice.edu, financialaid.rice.edu. Dates can change, so always confirm on the college’s site.