Rice University acceptance rate, scores and deadlines
Source: Common Data Set 2025–26 · deadlines from Rice's admissions site.
Acceptance rate
Rice acceptance rate by year
2,948 of 36,791 applicants admitted for Fall 2025, against 8.0% for Fall 2024.
Show the numbers
| Entering class | Applied | Admitted | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | 36,791 | 2,948 | 8.0% | Common Data Set |
| Fall 2024 | 32,473 | 2,597 | 8.0% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2023 | 31,059 | 2,447 | 7.9% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2022 | 31,443 | 2,730 | 8.7% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2021 | 29,544 | 2,802 | 9.5% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2020 | 23,455 | 2,555 | 10.9% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2019 | 27,087 | 2,361 | 8.7% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2018 | 20,923 | 2,328 | 11.1% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2017 | 18,063 | 2,864 | 15.9% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2016 | 18,236 | 2,785 | 15.3% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2015 | 17,951 | 2,865 | 16.0% | IPEDS |
2026–27 applications
Rice deadlines for 2026–27
Apply with Common App or QuestBridge. Checked October 24, 2026 on Rice's admissions site. Dates can change; confirm them there before you submit.
- Early decision Apply by Decisions By mid-December
- Early decision II Apply by Decisions By late January
- Regular decision Apply by Decisions By April 1
Early rounds
Early decision and early action at Rice
Early pools include recruited athletes and other special cases, so the gap overstates the boost for a typical applicant. Early decision is binding: apply only if you would enroll.
Scores and GPA
Test scores and GPA at Rice
Scores are for enrolled students who sent them, not for everyone admitted.
What counts
What Rice weighs
From section C7 of Rice's Common Data Set 2025–26.
Very important
- Course rigor
- Class rank
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essays
- Recommendations
- Activities
- Talent or ability
- Character
Considered
- Interview
- First-generation status
- Alumni relation
- Where you live
- State residency
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Demonstrated interest
Not considered
- Religious affiliation
Waitlist
Rice waitlist
3,196 students were offered a place on the waitlist for Fall 2025, 2,204 accepted it, and 66 were admitted from it (3.0% of those who stayed on).
Cost
What Rice costs
From the College Scorecard. For your own estimate, use Rice's net price calculator.
Compare
Colleges with a similar acceptance rate
Close to Rice's 8.0%, from the same official data.
FAQ
Questions about Rice admissions
What is Rice's acceptance rate?
Rice admitted 2,948 of 36,791 first-year applicants for Fall 2025, an acceptance rate of 8.0%. That is up from 8.0% for Fall 2024. Source: Common Data Set 2025–26.
Is Rice test-optional for 2026–27?
Rice recommends, but does not require, SAT or ACT scores for 2026–27.
When are Rice's application deadlines for 2026–27?
Early decision: November 1, 2026; Early decision II: January 4, 2027; Regular decision: January 4, 2027. Check Rice's admissions site before you apply, as dates can change.
What SAT score do you need for Rice?
There is no cutoff. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1510–1560 on the SAT (Fall 2025), and 59% of them sent a score. A score at or above 1560 is in the top quarter of enrolled students.
Does applying early decision help at Rice?
For Fall 2025, Rice admitted 11.3% of 5,748 early decision applicants, compared with 8.0% overall. Early pools include recruited athletes and other special cases, so the gap overstates the boost for a typical applicant.
Where the numbers come from
Sources
- Rice University Common Data Set 2025–26
- College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), IPEDS admissions 2015–2024
- Rice first-year admissions, checked October 24, 2026
Odds are estimates from public data, shown as a range. An estimate, not a guarantee.
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