Chances of getting into Rice University
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Elite | |
| Applicant Competition | Very High |
How hard is it to get into Rice and can I get accepted?
The acceptance rate at Rice is 11%. It ranks #1 in Texas and #25 in the nation for lowest rate of acceptance. Rice is a very highly competitive school to get into with a low chance of acceptance for typical applicants. Last year, 2,555 out of 23,455 applicants were admitted.
The school has exceptionally high admission requirements for SAT and ACT scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 2 percent (SAT 1460/1570 ACT 34/36). Rice University typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.96. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class. 39% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
The Rice application fee is $75 and applications are due by Jan 1.
Test Optional
Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Rice University. If you submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 46% of students submitted SAT scores and 54% submitted ACT scores for admission for the 2021/2022 academic year..
Rice SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
Applicants Submitting SAT
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 710 |
| SAT Math 25th | 750 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1460 |
| 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 1460 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 1400. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1520 out of 1600. Rice ranks #1 in Texas and #13 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score. 46 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1570 and Above | Good | >17% |
| 1515 to 1570 | Avg + | 11%-17% |
| 1460 to 1515 | Avg - | 7%-11% |
| 1405 to 1460 | Reach | 4%-7% |
| Less than 1405 | Low | <4% |
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 | 32 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 34 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 36 |
| ACT Math 75th | 35 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 36 |
| Average ACT Score | 35 |
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 34 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 1 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 33 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 35 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 36 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #1 in Texas and #4 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score. 54 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Rice University.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 36 and Above | Good | >17% |
| 35 to 36 | Avg + | 11%-17% |
| 34 to 35 | Avg - | 7%-11% |
| 33 to 34 | Reach | 4%-7% |
| Less than 33 | Low | <4% |
Explore Rice University
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. Meeting these GPA requirements alone is not enough to gain admission as Rice is a very selective school.
*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
92% 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 | 92% |
| Top 25% of class | 98% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 11,424 | 12,031 | 23,455 |
| Accepted | 1,274 | 1,281 | 2,555 |
| Acceptance Rate | 11% | 11% | 11% |
| Enrolled | 471 | 522 | 993 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 37% | 41% | 39% |
Fall 2022 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Days left to Apply
The application deadline for Fall 2022 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 1, 2022.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to Rice University is $75.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Rice University and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Considered but not 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?
11% of those who apply are granted admission to Rice. Admission competition is very high 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 1460 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 34 and 36. 54% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.