College Profiles/ Rice University
College Profile · Fall 2027 Entry
Rice University Admissions: Acceptance Rate, Cost, Financial Aid and Deadlines
Houston, TX · 4,807 undergraduates. Everything families need to apply to Rice University for fall 2027, verified against the school’s own Common Data Set, cost of attendance and admissions pages, with ConnectPrep’s strategic read.
By Jeremy Fine, Founder of ConnectPrep
Updated October 11, 2026 · Data verified against official sources
✓ Every figure cited
Quick answer
Rice University admitted 8.0% of 36,791 first-year applicants in the 2025-2026 Common Data Set.[1] Early Decision applicants were admitted at 11.3%.[1] The middle 50% SAT range for enrolled first-years is 1510 to 1560.[1] The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $97,309.[2] First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $73,663.[1] For fall 2027 entry, deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 1, Early Decision II Jan 4, Regular Decision Jan 4.[3]
8.0%
Overall admit rate[1]
11.3%
Early Decision admit rate[1]
1510 to 1560
Middle 50% SAT[1]
$97,309
Cost of attendance, 2026-2027[2]
$73,663
Average need-based grant[1]
$8.5B
Endowment, FY2025[4]
Rice University at a Glance
- Location
- Houston, TX
- Type
- Private nonprofit
- Student to faculty ratio
- 5.6:1[1]
- Endowment
- $8.5 billion (FY2025)[4]
- SAT/ACT, fall 2027
- Optional (recommended but not required)[3]
- Application
- Common App, QuestBridge[3]
- First-year retention
- 96.8%[1]
The ConnectPrep Take on Rice University
The ConnectPrep take
Rice looks for intellectual vitality shown through rigorous course selection and grade performance, and it reviews every file holistically. Early Decision helps modestly: 11.3% of 5,748 ED applicants were admitted against 8.0% overall, about 1.4 times the overall rate. Because early pools are self-selected and often include recruited athletes and legacies, the edge for most students is thin, though ED II on Jan 4 gives a second binding chance. Rice recommends submitting the SAT or ACT if available, though it is optional. With a middle 50% SAT of 1510 to 1560, we say submit at 1535 or above and aim for 1560. Architecture needs a portfolio and two extra essays. The trap is the interview: Regular Decision applicants get priority interviews only if they apply by Dec 14 and request one by Dec 16.
What to do this fall
- Request an interview by Nov 3 for ED I. RD applicants should apply by Dec 14 for a priority slot.
- Music applicants: all Shepherd School materials are due Dec 1, and music is not eligible for ED I or ED II.
- Send the SAT if it is 1535 or higher; Rice recommends scores when available.
- Architecture applicants should upload the portfolio to the Rice portal by the application deadline.
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Rice University Admissions Statistics
| Applicant pool |
Applied |
Admitted |
Admit rate |
| All first-year applicants[1] |
36,791 |
2,948 |
8.0% |
| Early Decision[1] |
5,748 |
647 |
11.3% |
- Early Decision admits made up about 22% of all admitted students, so a large part of the class is filled before Regular Decision applications are read (ConnectPrep calculation from the figures above).
- The Early Decision admit rate is about 1.4 times the overall rate. Early pools are self-selected and often include recruited athletes and legacy applicants, so the true advantage for a typical applicant is smaller.
- Yield, the share of admitted students who enrolled, was 42.8%.[1]
- 3,196 students were offered a waitlist spot, 2,204 accepted one, and 66 were admitted from it.[1]
Testing and academic profile
| Academic profile of enrolled first-years |
Middle 50% or share |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing[1] |
740 to 770 |
| SAT Math[1] |
760 to 800 |
| SAT composite[1] |
1510 to 1560 |
| ACT composite[1] |
34 to 36 |
| Enrolled students who submitted the SAT[1] |
59% |
| Enrolled students who submitted the ACT[1] |
24% |
| Ranked in top 10% of high school class[1] |
90% |
ConnectPrep score target
Aim for 1560 on the SAT, the 75th percentile here, or 36 on the ACT. When testing is optional, we generally advise submitting scores at or above about 1540, the middle of the range. A higher score is always better, and the test can be retaken. Not there yet? Take a free practice test and we will build the plan to close the gap.
What Rice University looks for
In its own words: Rice uses holistic review and looks for intellectual vitality shown through rigorous course selection and grade performance, and says it values a diverse community of scholars.[5]
Rice University Application Deadlines 2026-2027
| Round |
Deadline |
Decision |
| Early Decision I |
Nov 1 |
mid-Dec (ED I); late Jan (ED II) |
| Early Decision II |
Jan 4 |
|
| Regular Decision |
Jan 4 |
Apr 1 |
Insider deadlines families miss
These scholarship, honors, program, interview and aid deadlines come from Rice University’s own pages. Anything tagged Before RD is due before the Regular Decision deadline.
| Program or rule |
Deadline |
What to know |
Shepherd School of Music
Before RD |
Dec 1 |
All Shepherd materials, including the preliminary submission or audition profile form, are due Dec 1, earlier than the Jan 4 RD deadline.[3] |
Interview request
Before RD |
Nov 3 (ED I); Dec 16 (RD priority, application by Dec 14); Jan 6 (ED II and RD) |
Optional interviews must be requested by plan deadlines; RD applicants get priority interviews only if they apply by Dec 14 and request by Dec 16.[3] |
| Glimpse video |
Nov 10 (ED I); Jan 12 (ED II and RD) |
Optional Glimpse video deadlines.[3] |
| Architecture portfolio |
Nov 1 (ED I); Jan 4 (ED II and RD) |
Architecture portfolio is uploaded to the Rice Admission Student Portal and due with the application.[3] |
| Rice merit scholarships |
See note |
No separate application or interview; students are notified at admission.[3] |
See how Rice University compares with other colleges in the South deadlines database or the full 2026-2027 college application deadlines hub.
Rice University Cost and Financial Aid
| Cost and aid |
Figure |
| Cost of attendance (2026-2027)[2] |
$97,309 |
| Tuition[2] |
$71,140 |
| First-years awarded need-based aid[1] |
45.1% |
| Average need-based scholarship or grant[1] |
$73,663 |
| Average total financial aid package[1] |
$75,643 |
| Average share of need met[1] |
100.0% |
| Merit (non-need) awards to first-years[1] |
74 students, average $34,586 |
Undergraduates entering 2024 and later, on campus: tuition $71,140, mandatory fees $984, housing and food $20,530, books $1,540, personal $3,115. Travel estimated separately ($300 in-state, $700 out-of-state, $3,000 international).[2]
- For a family that qualifies for need-based aid, the average grant would bring the $97,309 cost of attendance down to roughly $23,646 before loans and work-study. This is a ConnectPrep calculation for illustration; your student’s number depends on your family’s finances, so run the school’s net price calculator.
- Rice University states that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.[6]
- Aid packages are loan-free.[6]
- The Rice Investment: families below $100,000 receive a full tuition, fees and living expenses grant; families earning $100,000 to $200,000 receive a full tuition grant (typical assets).[6]
- International students: Need-blind for domestic students only; international students are not eligible for The Rice Investment but can apply for need-based aid. and.[5][6]
What families actually pay: net price by income
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus the average grants and scholarships for first-year students receiving aid, by family income. It comes from federal data, which runs a year or two behind the school’s current cost figures.[7]
| Family income |
Average net price per year |
| $0 to $30,000 |
$5,827 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 |
$563 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 |
$3,217 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 |
$17,755 |
| Over $110,000 |
$48,466 |
| All aided students |
$13,370 |
Academics and Majors at Rice University
Most popular fields by share of bachelor’s degrees awarded[1]
- Biological/life sciences14%
- Engineering13%
- Computer and information sciences12%
- Social sciences11%
- Business/marketing7%
Signature programs
The Rice Investment
Loan-free aid that covers full tuition for families earning up to $200,000 and full costs below $100,000.[6]
Rice School of Architecture
Portfolio-based admission with its own essays for architecture applicants.[5]
Shepherd School of Music
Conservatory-level music school with audition materials due December 1; not available through ED or QuestBridge.[5]
Choosing a major and getting in
Rice admits through one holistic process; Architecture requires a portfolio and two extra essays, Shepherd School of Music requires area-specific materials by December 1 (no ED I, ED II or QuestBridge for music), and the Department of Art accepts an optional portfolio.[5]
Special admission paths
- Early Decision I and Early Decision II (binding).
- QuestBridge partner (QuestBridge applicants page).
- Shepherd School of Music audition track.
- Architecture portfolio track.
Rice University Retention and Graduation Rates
| Outcome |
Figure |
| First-year students who returned for sophomore year[1] |
96.8% |
| Graduated within four years[1] |
88.4% |
| Graduated within six years[1] |
95.3% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting college[7] |
$89,718 |
| Median federal loan debt of graduates[7] |
$11,000 |
| Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants[7] |
17% |
Make Rice University a realistic goal
ConnectPrep builds the full plan: the right round, a score target and test schedule, essays that sound like your student, and every scholarship and program deadline on one calendar. Start with a free consultation or a free practice test.
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Rice University FAQs
What is the Rice University acceptance rate?
Rice University admitted 8.0% of first-year applicants (2,948 of 36,791), according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set. The Early Decision admit rate was 11.3%.
When are the Rice University application deadlines for 2026-27?
For students entering in fall 2027: Early Decision I Nov 1; Early Decision II Jan 4; Regular Decision Jan 4. 2 scholarship, honors or program deadlines come before Regular Decision; see the insider deadlines table on this page.
How much does Rice University cost?
The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $97,309. First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $73,663. The school states it meets 100% of demonstrated need.
What SAT score do you need for Rice University?
The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1510 to 1560 on the SAT and 34 to 36 on the ACT. ConnectPrep advises aiming for 1560, the 75th percentile. Testing policy for fall 2027 entry: Optional (recommended but not required).
Is Rice test optional?
Rice is test optional but recommends that first-year applicants submit SAT or ACT scores if available, and students who do not submit still receive full review. The middle 50% is 1510 to 1560 on the SAT and 34 to 36 on the ACT. We advise submitting at or above the midpoint, about 1535 on the SAT or 35 on the ACT.
Does Rice offer merit scholarships?
Yes. Rice merit scholarships need no separate application or interview, and students are notified at admission. Through The Rice Investment, families below $100,000 receive a grant for full tuition, fees, and living expenses, and families earning $100,000 to $200,000 receive full tuition. International students are not eligible for The Rice Investment but can apply for need-based aid.
About the author
Jeremy Fine
Jeremy Fine founded ConnectPrep in 2013 and brings more than 20 years of experience in education, spanning test preparation, college advising and academic program management. He holds a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh.
ConnectPrep is based in Westport, Connecticut, and works with students from kindergarten through graduate school, in person and online. Meet the team.
This profile is an independent ConnectPrep resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Rice University. Figures come from the sources listed above as published when checked in October 2026; the Common Data Set year is noted where used. Policies and costs change, so confirm with the school before applying.
