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Rice University
Admission Chances & Acceptance Rate

📍 Houston, TX🏛️ Private university📝 Test-optional

Rice is a small private university in Houston with 8,672 students and an 8% acceptance rate. Applicants typically score 1510–1570 on the SAT. Engineering, biology, and computer science are the most popular majors. Graduates earn a median of $89,718 ten years after entry, and the 95% six-year graduation rate is notably high.

Acceptance rate
8.0%
Enrollment
8,672
Test policy
optional
Grad rate (6-yr)
95%

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Admitted Student Profile

The middle 50% of admitted students (25th–75th percentile), self-reported by the school.

SAT (combined)
1510 – 1570
ACT (composite)
34 – 35
GPA
Not published

$ What You'll Actually Pay

Average yearly net price after grants & scholarships, by family income (federal cohort averages — not a personal quote).

$0–30k
$5,827
family income
$30–48k
$563
family income
$48–75k
$3,217
family income
$75–110k
$17,755
family income
$110k+
$48,466
family income
17% receive Pell grants
6% take federal loans

Strongest Programs

The fields Rice University graduates the most students in — a signal of depth, faculty, and alumni networks.

Engineering
17.4%
Biology
16.3%
Computer Science
15.3%
Social Sciences
8.2%
Mathematics
6.0%

Outcomes

School-level averages across all students who enrolled (College Scorecard). Not a personal forecast.

Earnings (10 yr)
$89,718
Earnings (6 yr)
$79,751
Completion
95%
Retention
97%
Median debt
$11,000

? Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Rice University?

Rice University has an acceptance rate of 8.0%, making it highly selective.

What SAT score do you need for Rice University?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored between 1510 and 1570 on the SAT. The ACT range is 34–35.

How much does Rice University actually cost?

After grants and scholarships, the average net price for the lowest income band is $5,827 per year, rising to $48,466 for families earning $110k+. These are federal cohort averages, not a personal quote.

What are my chances of getting into Rice University?

Your odds depend on how your GPA and test scores compare to admitted students, plus factors like major, residency, and early decision. UniversityOdds calculates a personalized probability for free — enter your stats to see yours.

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Data sourced from IPEDS, the Common Data Set, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Acceptance probabilities calculated by UniversityOdds are estimates based on published academic data and are not a guarantee of admission. Net price figures are federal cohort averages, not personalized quotes — run the school's official net price calculator for your own estimate.