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Colleges / William Marsh Rice University

William Marsh Rice University

Houston, TX 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate9%

Rice Admissions

Rice University is extremely difficult to get into. Around 9% of applicants get into Rice University each year. Out of 31,443 applications received in 2023, 2,730 students were offered admission.

If you are considering submitting an application to Rice University, the deadline for Fall 2024 admissions is 1/4 and the fee for the application costs $75.

Students who submit their applications to Rice University for the fall semester should anticipate a decision by April 1.

Rice University Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here is an overiew of some of Rice University's admissions stats.

Rice University 2023 Admissions Statistics
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class 89%
Admissions Test Policy Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs 53%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs 23%
Waitlist Yes

Rice University Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Rice University.

Application Type Offered Application Deadline Notification Deadline
Early Decision I Yes November 1 December 15
Early Decision II
Early Action No
Regular Decision Yes 1 4 April 1

Want to Apply Early to Rice University?


Rice University offers early decision but not early action. Early decision is binding, meaning you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.

🗓️ Early Decision I applications are due by November 1 EDI applicants should receive a decision by December 15.

The early decision acceptance rate at Rice University is 19%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 9%. In 2022, Rice University admitted 511 of the 2725 students who applied early decision.

Some students apply to college early to help their chances of being offering admission. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase the chance of being admitted, since it is a way to show your interest in a school.

➡️ Explore a list of some selective colleges that admit significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.


More on Rice University Admissions


Is Rice University Hard To Get Into?

Getting into Rice is extremely difficult. Rice evaluates applicants carefully based on multiple criteria to decide who to admit, and who to deny or waitlist.

In 2022, Rice accepted 9% of students, around 2,730 from 31,443 applicants.

Schools that are extremely difficult to get into, like Rice, accept fewer than 30% of all applicants. At least 75% of admitted students have GPAs in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1310 on the SAT or over 29 on the ACT.

Transferring to Rice University

Transfer student admissions is extremely difficult.

For Students Waitlisted to Rice University

Rice University has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What Does Rice University Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when determining who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college has a different way of determining which factors are they consider most important in the admissions process. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that prioritize the admissions factors where you shine.

Admissions Factors at Rice University

What does Rice University consider during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor Level
Character/Personal Qualities Very Important
Class Rank Very Important
Application Essay Very Important
Extracurricular Activities Very Important
Recommendation(s) Very Important
Standardized Test Scores Very Important
Talent/Ability Very Important
Academic GPA Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record Very Important
Alumni/ae Relations Considered
Geographical Residence Considered
Interview Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status Considered
State Residency Considered
Volunteer Work Considered
Work Experience Considered
Level of Applicant's Interest Considered
First Generation Considered

Make sure to check with Rice University for more information on admission factors.

Rice University Application Requirements

To apply to Rice University, all applicants must submit the following items. Double check with Rice University's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area Required Recommended Required for Some Details (If Any)
Interview
Other Requirements Portfolio for Architecture; Audition for Music
Transcript(S) of College Record
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)
Letter(s) of Recommendation 2
Written Essay or Personal Statement
Transcript of High School Record

GPA and Testing


What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Rice University?

Rice University has not provided an information about GPAs of accepted students. Any questions regarding applicant expectations should be addressed directly with the school.

Out of all students that were admitted, 42% submitted a class rank. At Rice University 89% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 97% were in the top 25% and 100% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At Rice University, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA Percent of Students
4.0 GPA
3.75 and 3.99
3.50 and 3.74
3.25 and 3.49
3.00 and 3.24
2.50 and 2.9
2.00 and 2.49

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Rice University directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Rice University has a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 53% of Rice University's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 23% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for Rice University?

To be competitive with other Rice University applicants, you should aim to earn between 1500 and 1560 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Rice University 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1560 and 25% of scored lower than 1500, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Rice University students scored 800 or higher and 75% of students scored 730 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Rice University students scored 770 or higher, and 75% scored a 730 or higher.

To be most competitive at Rice University, you should strive to earn between 34 and 36 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 36 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Rice University's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 36, and three out of four students scored lower than 36 on the ACT.

A 34 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Rice University students. Only one out of every four students scored below 34.

More Information on Transferring to Rice University

For transfer students, it is extremely difficult to get admitted to Rice University.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is March 15.

Transfer students can enroll in Rice University during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Winter Term

• Spring Term

• Winter Term

• Summer Term


Rice University Admissions FAQs


Can I defer my acceptance to Rice University?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Rice University.

Does Rice University accept transfer credits?

✅ Rice University accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.

Does Rice University accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ Rice University accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to Rice University?

❌ No, Rice University is test optional, so it's up to you if you want to submit test scores or not. If your scores are higher than the school's average, you may want to send them. If your scores are average or below average, you may want not want to include them in your application.

What is Rice University's acceptance rate?

✅ Rice University's acceptance rate is 9%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Rice University?

✅ Rice University's early decision acceptance rate was 19% in 2021.

Want To Learn More About Rice University?

Choose one of the options below to find out more about about Rice University:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about Rice University

Explore other colleges in Texas or use the college admissions predictor to calculate your chances of getting into some of the top colleges and universities in the U.S.

Rice Admissions Requirements

Admission Difficulty

Selective

9%

How hard is it to get into Rice? Rice is a selective institution. The Rice acceptance rate is 9%. This means that the institution accepts 8 out of every 100 applicants.

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Rice Application Deadline

First-Year Applications are Due

Jan 4

Transfer Applications are Due

Mar 15

The deadline for Fall first-year applications to Rice is Jan 4.

The deadline for Fall transfer applications to Rice is Mar 15.

Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs

Rice SAT Scores

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Composite SAT Range

1500 - 1560

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Math SAT Range

760 - 800

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Reading SAT Range

730 - 770

Rice GPA

Avg. High School GPA (non-weighted)

Not available

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

8,672

Campus Setting

Urban

Acceptance Rate

9%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$58,128

Out-of-State

$58,128

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Jan 4
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