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Rice University
Admissions

Interested in attending Rice University?

On this page, you'll learn how difficult it is to get into Rice University, we'll dig into high school grades and test scores, and you'll find out the factors the school considers when reviewing applications.

8
%
Acceptance rate
January 4
Regular admission deadline
Test Optional
Testing

Admission Rates

Is it difficult to get into Rice University?

8%

Using the most up-to-date data on record, Rice accepted 8% of applicants. We classify this as most selective.

In the most recent year, 31,059 people applied and 2,447 were accepted.

Applied/Accepted
Women
1214 / 15077 (8%)
Men
1233 / 15982 (8%)

Acceptance rates at colleges can change over time, with some becoming more competitive and others accepting more students. Here’s a look at the acceptance rate trend for the past 3 years at Rice University:

100%
80.0
60.0
40.0
20.0
0.0
2022
2023
2024

Acceptance rates at schools can vary depending on if the student is in-state, out-of-state, or international.

46%
Enrollment of those accepted
High
Yield rate

Of those accepted, 46% ended up enrolling at Rice University, making their yield rate High. The yield rate is the percentage of accepted students who enroll at the school. You can use the yield rate to find out how coveted a school is for the students who apply to it.

Application Factors

You can increase your chances of getting into Rice University by looking at what the school considers during the application process.

Here are the things Rice considers:

Very Important

  • Academic GPA
  • Application Essay
  • Character/Personal Qualities
  • Extracurricular Activities
  • Recommendation(s)
  • Rigor of Secondary School Record
  • Talent/Ability

Considered

  • Alumni/AE Relation
  • Class Rank
  • First Generation
  • Geographical Residence
  • Interview
  • Level of Applicant's Interest
  • Standardized Test Scores
  • State Residency
  • Volunteer Work
  • Work Experience

Not Considered

  • Religious Affiliation/Commitment

Grades & Testing

Do you have the grades and test scores to get into Rice University?

Test Optional
Testing

Grades

91% of freshmen who attended Rice were in the top 10% of their graduating high school class, and 98% were in the top 25% of their graduating high school class.

Rice is Test Optional. This means scores are considered if they are submitted, but applicants do not need to submit scores.

Applicants submitting SAT Scores

50%

Applicants submitting ACT Scores

22%
SAT Math Scores
25th Percentile
770
75th Percentile
800
SAT Verb Scores
25th Percentile
730
75th Percentile
770
SAT Composite Scores
25th Percentile
1500
75th Percentile
1560

Application Deadlines

These are the deadlines for applying to Rice University. Application deadlines are subject to change, so please verify all deadlines with the school.

Regular Admissions

January 4
Regular admission deadline
April 1
Application notification

Early Decision

Early Decision is a program in which students commit to attend a school if they are accepted. Some schools have a higher acceptance rate for Early Decision than regular decision. Rice's Early Decision acceptance rate is 16%, compared to 8% overall. If you’re sure you want to attend Rice University, you might consider applying Early Decision.

November 1
Applications Due
December 15
Notification Date
16%
Early Decision Acceptance Rate

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