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Rice University
With a 8% admission rate, no GPA makes Rice University a safety. The numbers below tell you what the admitted few look like.
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Rice University sits in Houston proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. International students are a visible presence here — 12.8% of undergraduates come from outside the U.S.
Its highest-earning path is Computer and Information Sciences, General, where graduates median $182,443 four years out. 17% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 4,776 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 97.4% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1500 and 1570 — above the TX middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Rice University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Rice University received 31,059 applications and admitted 2,447 (7.9%), with 1,125 enrolling.
Rice University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1500–1570 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Rice University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 730 | 760 | 770 |
| SAT Math | 770 | 790 | 800 |
| ACT Composite | 34 | 35 | 36 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Rice University compares
| Rice University | Texas median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 8% | 84.4% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $64,144 | $13,498 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $89,718 | $54,132 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Rice University: $89,718 median at year ten, versus $54,132 across Texas institutions.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $64,144 regardless of where you're from. At Rice University, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
At 4,776 undergrads, Rice University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
94.6% of Rice University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 39.8 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $64,144 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Rice University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $182,443 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $136,656 |
| Economics | $129,575 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $121,099 |
| Chemical Engineering | $113,605 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $108,970 |
| Political Science and Government | $87,804 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $87,404 |
| Cognitive Science | $66,913 |
Median earnings for these 9 Rice University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $89,718 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 46 additional Rice University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Rice University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1500–1570 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 8% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Rice University's acceptance rate?
7.9% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 2,447 admitted from 31,059 applicants.
How much does Rice University cost?
At Rice University, published tuition is $64,144 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Rice University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Rice University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $89,718 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Texas
- Saint Edward's University — 81.4% admitted
- University of St Thomas — 89.9% admitted
- Sam Houston State University — 90.3% admitted
- Prairie View A & M University — 79.3% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.