Is Rice test optional?

Yes. You can apply without a score. A common rule is to send it if it's at or above 1540 and hold it if it's under.

What is Rice's acceptance rate?

8.0% of applicants were admitted in 2025–26, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 2,597 of 32,473 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 81%, from 17,951 in 2015 to 32,473 in 2024, and Rice's admit rate went from 16% to 8.0%.

What ACT score do you need for Rice?

24% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 34–36, with a median of 35. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1510–1560 works out to about 34–35.

Does applying early decision help at Rice?

11% of early decision applicants were admitted (647 of 5,748), against 8.0% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

How many students get off the waitlist at Rice?

66 of the 2,204 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 3.0%, per the Common Data Set 2025–26.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Rice? (Middle 50%: 1510–1560)

First-year students at Rice who sent an SAT scored 1510–1560, with a median of 1540 (Common Data Set 2025–26). Rice admits 8.0% of applicants and is test optional.

Rice University · Houston, TX

Where your score lands at Rice

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1510–1560, median 1540

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Rice is for you and whether to send your score.

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Rice by the numbers

Admit rate: 8.0%
Middle 50% SAT: 1510–1560
Median SAT: 1540
About on the ACT: 34–35
Sent an SAT: 59%

Test optional · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Rice admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2025–26; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Rice admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 81%, from 17,951 in 2015 to 32,473 in 2024, and Rice's admit rate went from 16% to 8.0%.

16%
8.0%

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	32,473	2,597	8.0%
2023	31,059	2,447	7.9%
2022	31,443	2,730	8.7%
2021	29,544	2,802	9.5%
2020	23,455	2,555	11%
2019	27,087	2,361	8.7%
2018	20,923	2,328	11%
2017	18,063	2,864	16%
2016	18,236	2,785	15%
2015	17,951	2,865	16%

In fall 2024, 1,148 of the 2,597 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Rice

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1540Far reachHold
1540–1550Far reachSend
1560 and upReachSend

135014001450150015501600

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Rice SAT sections, ACT and class rank

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	760	790	800
SAT Reading and Writing	740	760	770
SAT total	1510	1540	1560
ACT composite	34	35	36

Of enrolled first-year students, 59% sent an SAT and 24% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2025–26.

Top 10% of their class: 90%; of new students who reported a rank

Rice early decision and waitlist

Early decision

647 of 5,748 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision11%
All applicants8.0%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

3,196 applicants were offered a spot, 2,204 took it, and 66 were admitted from it.

3.0%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2025–26.

Rice cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $13,370; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 95%
Median earnings: $89,718; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 5,048

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Sources

Rice Common Data Set 2025–26
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Rice admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Rice website
Rice University

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1510–1560, and the median was 1540. At 1540 or higher you're above half of them. Rice admits 8.0% of applicants, so a top score keeps you in the running but doesn't decide it.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$