William Marsh Rice University

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

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Want to Apply Early to Rice University?

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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.

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More on Rice University Admissions

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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	√	–	–	–

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GPA and Testing

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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

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Rice University Admissions FAQs

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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.

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