Rice University
Houston, TX
Rice University admitted 2,948 of 36,791 applicants for the fall 2025 entering class (8%).
Every figure on this page is published by the college or a federal survey, and carries the source it came from. They describe the fall 2025 entering class, a read on the school, not a prediction about any one applicant.
What stands out at Rice University
Three things Rice University published, ranked by how much each could change what you actually do, not by how impressive it looks. Every one describes a class that has already enrolled.
Early Decision admitted 11.3%. The regular round admitted 7.4%.
1.5×
the regular-round rate
A ratio between two rates the school published. Not a change in anyone’s odds.
647 of 5,748 early applicants were admitted, against 2,301 of 31,043 in the regular round. Early Decision is binding, and you can only use it at one school, which is exactly why the gap is worth knowing before you choose where to spend it.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
1.5×
the regular-round rate
A ratio between two rates the school published. Not a change in anyone’s odds.
Rice University files the essay under “very important”.
That is the top of the scale the form offers, and the only other factors this school puts there are Course rigor, GPA, Test scores, Recommendations and Class rank.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
Rice University files test scores under “very important”.
That is the school’s own placement on the grid it publishes every year. 59% of the enrolled class sent an SAT.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
Every figure, in full
The same measured fields on every one of these pages. Nothing is filled in where the school published nothing.
Acceptance rate
8%
2,948 admitted of 36,791 applicants
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
SAT, middle 50%
1510–1560
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
ACT, middle 50%
34–36
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
Enrolled students who sent an SAT
59%
Counted per test: a student may send both.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
Enrolled students who sent an ACT
24%
Counted per test: a student may send both.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
Where do you actually stand at Rice University?
The figures above describe a class that already enrolled. GoodGoblin reads them against your own transcript, scores and activities, then builds the balanced list, the essay plan and the deadline calendar around what it finds.
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What Rice University says it weighs
The school's own words, from the form it fills in every year. Ranked as it ranks them.
- Essayvery important
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Course rigorvery important
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
- GPAvery important
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Test scoresvery important
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Recommendationsvery important
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Class rankvery important
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
The early round, in counts
Two published rates side by side. Early applicants are a different group of students, so the gap is a fact about those pools, not a lever anyone can pull.
Early Decision
1.5× the rateEarly Decision admitted 11.3% (647 of 5,748), against 7.4% in the regular round.
2,301 of 31,043 in the comparison pool.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
The waitlist, as the school reported it
Published counts, including the ones schools rarely lead with.
- Offered a waitlist place
- 3,196
- Accepted the place
- 2,204
- Admitted from the waitlist
- 66
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
What students actually pay
Net price after grants and scholarships: not the sticker price.
Average net price: $13,370 a year.
- Family income under $30k
- $5,827
- $30k–$48k
- $563
- $48k–$75k
- $3,217
- $75k–$110k
- $17,755
- Over $110k
- $48,466
Source: the College Scorecard
Essays on this application
5 essay prompts on the application: 4 you would write.
Published deadlines
Each date is read from the college's own materials and re-checked on a schedule.
Guides for Rice University applicants
More colleges on the record
Every one of these carries the same measured figures, with the same sources.
Other colleges in Texas
The pages nearest this one on acceptance rate, in the same state.
Colleges with a nearby acceptance rate
Anywhere in the country, ordered by how close the published rate is to this one. A selection rule, not a ranking.
Build the list this school belongs on.
The figures above describe a class that already enrolled. GoodGoblin reads them against your own transcript, scores and activities, then builds the balanced list, the essay plan and the deadline calendar around what it finds.
See where I stand ›3 days free · $0 today · cancel anytime
