Rice University

Houston, TX · Private nonprofit · Large city · Website

Admission rate: 8.0%; Extremely selective
Average net price: $11,164; per year, after aid
Graduation rate: 95%
Median earnings: $90,773; 10 years after enrolling

Rice University is a private nonprofit college in Houston, TX with 4,776 undergraduates. It admits 8.0% of applicants, and admitted students average 1553 on the SAT. The average net price after aid is $11,164 per year ($5,707 for families earning under $30,000). 95% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $90,773 ten years after enrolling.

private nonprofit college

Admissions

Admission rate: 8.0%; Fall 2024
Testing policy: Test optional; Fall 2024
Applicants: 31,059; Fall 2023
Admitted: 2,447; Fall 2023
Yield: 46%; of admitted students enrolled

Middle 50% of admitted students (Fall 2024). A quarter scored below the band and a quarter above.

SAT Reading & Writing740–770

200800

SAT Math770–800

200800

ACT Composite34–35

136

What Rice University looks at

As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).

High school recordRequired
High school GPAConsidered
College-prep courseworkConsidered
Class rankConsidered
Essay or personal statementRequired
RecommendationsRequired
Demonstrated competenciesConsidered
Legacy statusConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
English proficiency testRequired

Cost

Cost of attendance: $87,824; sticker price, per year
Tuition & fees: $67,857

Net price by family income

Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.

$0–30k$5,707
$30–48k$1,524
$48–75k$5,420
$75–110k$14,522
$110k+$40,188

Get a personal estimate with Rice University's net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation rate: 95%
Freshman retention: 97%
Median earnings: $90,773; 10 yrs after enrolling
Median debt: $13,000; at graduation

Students

Undergraduates: 4,776
Student–faculty ratio: 6:1
Receive Pell grants: 22%

White26%
Hispanic17%
Black8%
Asian29%

Rice University FAQ

What is Rice University's acceptance rate?+

Rice University admits 8.0% of applicants, which makes it extremely selective.

What SAT score do you need for Rice University?+

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 740–770 on SAT Reading and Writing and 770–800 on SAT Math; the average total is 1553.

What ACT score do you need for Rice University?+

The middle 50% ACT composite range for admitted students is 34–35.

Is Rice University test optional?+

Test optional (considered if submitted).

How many students apply to Rice University?+

In Fall 2023, 31,059 students applied to Rice University and 2,447 were admitted; 1,125 enrolled.

Does Rice University consider legacy status?+

Yes. Rice University reported that legacy status is considered in admissions (Fall 2023).

Does Rice University require an essay?+

Rice University reported that an essay or personal statement is required for admission (Fall 2023).

How much does Rice University cost?+

The sticker cost of attendance is $87,824 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $11,164.

What is Rice University's graduation rate?+

95% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Sources

Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
IPEDS unit ID 227757 · How we use this data