Chances of getting into Rice University
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Elite | |
| Applicant Competition | Extreme |
Will you get accepted?
Find out how likely you are to get accepted at Rice based on your GPA, test scores, and even extracurricular activities. Then, get custom recommendations for how to improve your odds - completely for free.
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How hard is it to get into Rice and can I get accepted? The school has a 9% acceptance rate ranking it #1 in Texas for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 2,361 out of 27,087 applicants were admitted making Rice an extremely competitive school to get into with a very low chance of acceptance - even for applicants with the highest scores and grades. Academically, it has exceptionally high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 2 percent. Rice University typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students. Only 41% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top quarter of their high school class.
Test Requirements
You must submit admission test scores with your application. Rice University is not a test optional school. Note: Please consult the school directly to determine if testing requirements are temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rice SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
Applicants Submitting SAT
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 720 |
| SAT Math 25th | 750 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1470 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 770 |
| SAT Math 75th | 800 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1570 |
| Average SAT Score | 1520 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Rice University?
Rice University typically prefers applicants to be in the top 2 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1470 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1420. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1520 out of 1600. The school ranks #1 in Texas for highest average SAT composite score. 46 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2019 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1570 and Above | Good | >14% |
| 1520 to 1570 | Avg + | 9%-14% |
| 1470 to 1520 | Avg - | 5%-9% |
| 1420 to 1470 | Reach | 3%-5% |
| Less than 1420 | Low | <3% |
Rice ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
Applicants Submitting ACT
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 34 |
| ACT Math 25th | 31 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 33 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 36 |
| ACT Math 75th | 36 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 35 |
| Average ACT Score | 34 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Rice?
Admission data indicates that Rice regularly accepts students with ACT's of 33 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 2 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 32 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 34 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 35 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #1 in Texas for highest average ACT composite score. 54 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Rice University.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2019 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 35 and Above | Good | >14% |
| 34 to 35 | Avg + | 9%-14% |
| 33 to 34 | Avg - | 5%-9% |
| 32 to 33 | Reach | 3%-5% |
| Less than 32 | Low | <3% |
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Rice GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
Typical High School Grades
What GPA do you need to get into Rice University?
Applicants require exceptionally good grades to get into Rice. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Rice University was 3.96 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A- students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #1 in Texas for highest average GPA. Given the school's very highly selective admissions, acceptance at Rice extremely difficult and unlikely even with a 3.96 GPA. The school should be considered a reach even if you have a 3.96 GPA.
*This school has not released high school GPA data for its incoming freshmen. In these cases, CollegeSimply employs an artificial intelligence (AI) process to predict GPA based on this school's test scores and a large sample of other colleges' data. 3.96 is an estimate of the school's average incoming freshman GPA.
Similar Requirements
High School Class Rank
87% of Rice University freshman were in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 87% |
| Top 25% of class | 97% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 0% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 0% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 12,873 | 14,214 | 27,087 |
| Accepted | 1,144 | 1,217 | 2,361 |
| Acceptance Rate | 9% | 9% | 9% |
| Enrolled | 467 | 497 | 964 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 41% | 41% | 41% |
Fall 2021 Application Deadline
Applications are Due
Days left to Apply
Applicants have 102 days left until the Fall 2021 term applications are due on Jan 1, 2022.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to Rice University is $75.
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Rice University and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Considered but not required |
| High School Class Rank | Considered but not required |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Considered but not required |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=227757 IPEDS survey data for Rice University.
FAQs
Does Rice University prefer SAT or ACT?
46% of students submit their SAT scores to Rice. 54% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Rice University?
9% of those who apply are granted admission to Rice. Admission competition is extreme and the college has elite admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for Rice University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1470 and 1570. 46% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for Rice University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 33 and 35. 54% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.