Rice University is one of the prestigious private research institutions in the United States, but its acceptance rate is more of a concern for applicants.
In this article, we have analyzed the admission procedures at Rice University and the requirements for application to this institution.
If you are an intending applicant to Rice University and you have been wondering if your academic record is good enough to get into Rice. At the end of this article, you will discover Rice University’s standard for academic qualifications and the materials to include in your application profile.
Rice University is a prominent research institution that attracts thousands of domestic and international students.
The university is a perfect destination for students who wants to build reputable careers in engineering, business, and music.
One of the interesting facts about Rice University is the student-faculty ratio which allows the students to learn and participate in intensive research.
More about Rice University
Rice University is a private research institution situated in Houston, Texas. The university’s main campus sits on 300 acres close to the Houston Museum District and the Texas Medical Center.
Rice University was established in 1912 and named after its founder William Marsh Rice. The university mainly concentrates on undergraduate studies, and its student’s faculty ratio is the best in Texas.
Rice University offers various degree programs in engineering, business, natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, architecture, and music. The institution is organized into eight distinctive schools, providing top-quality undergraduate and graduate programs.
Rice is an excellent research institution and is well-recognized for its applied science programs that concentrate on artificial heart research, space exploration, structural chemical analysis, and nanotechnology.
Also Read: 20 Best college Dorms in the USA
List of Schools at Rice University
Rice offers its undergraduate and graduate degree programs through these schools.
- School of Architecture
- Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business
- Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies
- George R. Brown School of Engineering
- School of Humanities
- The Shepherd School of Music
- Weiss School of Natural Sciences
- School of Social Sciences
Rankings of Rice University
Below are the state and national rankings of Rice University, according to Niche.com.
- 1st in Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Physical Therapy in America
- 1st in Best Colleges for Sport Management in America
- 1st in Best Colleges for Architecture in America
- 1st in Hardest Colleges to Get Into in Texas
Other Rankings
- #15 in National Universities (U.S. News & World Report)
- #6 in Best Value Schools (U.S. News & World Report)
- #100 Best Universities in the World (QS World University Rankings)
- #147 in World University Rankings (Times Higher Education)
Rice University Acceptance Rate
Rice University is the most selective private research institution in the state of Texas. The university admission statistics in the past few years admitted below one-quarter of the overall applications received annually.
In the last application cycle, Rice University receives 29,544 applications in the Early Decision and Regular Decision plans. The university accepted only 2,802 applications from the two application pools.
The acceptance rate at Rice University is 9.4%, which is highly selective for most applicants.
Currently, Rice University’s admission rate hit a record low of 7.7%. This was announced in a recent article published by the Rice Thresher.
According to the report, Rice received a total of 31,049 applications comprising Regular and Early Decision applications. The number of students who received an admission offer from Rice University was 2,399 out of the 31,049 applications received.
Rice University Acceptance Rate in the Past Few Years
| Admission Year | Admit Rate |
| 2016-2017 | 15.3% |
| 2017-2018 | 15.9% |
| 2018-2019 | 11.1% |
| 2019-2020 | 8.7% |
Early Decision Acceptance Rate at Rice University
Early Decision plans at selective colleges and universities admit more students than the Regular Decision.
Rice University’s Early Decision admission rate was 18% from the admission cycle. Just as the overall acceptance rate at Rice dropped by a few per cent, Early Decision admit rate also dropped by 3%.
A total of 486 students were admitted into Rice University through Early Decision. They were among the 2,743 applicants who applied via Early Decision.
Currently, Rice Early Decision admit rate is at a low 15%.
GPA Requirement
Rice University’s average GPA standard is 4.12.
This is the average high school GPA required at Rice University. You will need to be at the top of your class with more A’s in your high school courses to meet this standard.
SAT Requirement
The average SAT score at Rice University is 1505 on the 1600 SAT scale.
Here are the statistics of the new SAT scores.
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
| Math | 775 | 750 | 800 |
| Reading and Writing | 730 | 700 | 760 |
| Composite | 1505 | 1450 | 1560 |
ACT Requirement
Rice University’s average ACT score is 34.
Below are the ACT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile.
| ACT | Score Range |
| English | 34-36 |
| Math | 31-36 |
| Composite | 33-35 |
Also Read: Best Schools for Biomedical Engineering
Application Requirements and Processing at Rice University
Rice University reviews thousands of applications each year during admission. Those who applied to Rice in the previous application year provided essential academic materials which enabled the university to evaluate their applications.
First-Year Application Requirement
Rice University considers the following as first-year domestic applicants;
- Applicants who are United States citizens
- Applicants with permanent residency
- Undocumented applicants who do not hold DACA but live in the U.S.
- DACA
- Applicants who are refugees or asylum seekers
Application Fee
Pay a non-refundable application fee of $75.
If you are requesting a fee waiver, you can respond to the fee waiver prompts provided in the Common Application or the Coalition Application.
Students partaking in the QuestBridge program are eligible for the Rice application fee waiver.
Rice University Supplement
Rice supplement presents an opportunity for you to explain and express yourself to admissions and why you want to study at the university.
High School Materials
Rice University requires that you submit an official secondary/high school transcript. The transcript should include grades obtained from 9th through 11th grade. Courses taken in your 12th grade should also be included in your official transcript.
Standardized Tests
Rice University allows all first-year and transfer applicants applying in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 admission cycle to submit SAT or ACT scores.
If you are unable to submit test scores, you will not be at a disadvantage in the admission process.
Recommendation Letter
Your application to Rice University is incomplete without recommendation letters from your school counsellor and teachers.
Counsellor recommendation letter
Ask your school counsellor to write and submit a letter of recommendation.
Two teacher recommendation letters
Ask two teachers who have taught you in academic core subjects to write and submit a letter of recommendation.
Interview
Rice University recommends interviews for first-year applicants. They are optional and not required.
AP or IB International Exams/ Dual Enrollment Credits
If you are an applicant that has taken college-level courses such as the Advanced Placement Program (average score of 4 or 5) or International Baccalaureate (average score of 6 or 7).
Rice University will award transfer credits to you once you have completed any of the international exams and obtained the required average score.
Rice also transfers credits to applicants who have completed international examinations such as A-level, CAPE, CEGEP, the Abitur, etc.
Dual Credit
Rice University Office of Registrar assesses courses taken at regionally approved colleges or universities that meet the standard of the Rice curriculum for potential credit transfer.
Application Requirements for International Applicants
Rice University’s first-year application requirements for international and domestic applicants are similar.
As an international applicant, you are required to;
- To pay an application fee of $75. You are not eligible to request a fee waiver.
- Provide letters of recommendation, secondary/high school materials, and standardized test scores.
English Proficiency
International applicants who are non-native speakers of English are required to demonstrate English proficiency by;
- Completing a minimum of 2 years of full-time study in an English language curriculum before applying to Rice University.
Here are the English proficiency tests and average scores required from international applicants.
| Test | Average Score |
| TOEFL | 100 (Internet-based test) 75 (Paper delivered test) |
| IELTS | 7 |
| Duolingo | 120 |
Application Requirements for Transfer Students
Transfer students to Rice University are required to;
- Pay the application fee of $75
- Respond to the Rice supplements essay prompts
- Standardized testing requirements are the same for all applicants
Academic Requirements
Below are the academic requirements for transfer applicants to Rice University.
- All transfer applicants to Rice must hold a minimum GPA of 3.2 in their recent college coursework.
Official College Transcripts
Your official college transcripts must be submitted through your institution’s online ordering system (eTranscript service) or via postal mail.
Rice University will not accept official transcripts sent through fax or email.
Secondary/High School Transcripts
Rice University requires that you submit your secondary/high school official transcripts. The transcript must include your coursework and grades from 9th through 12th grade.
Your official secondary/high school transcript must be submitted by your school counsellor through the Common Application or Coalition Application.
Colleges Recommendations and College Report
Transfer applicants are required to submit college instructor recommendations and a college report.
College instructor’s recommendations
Obtain two college recommendation letters either from an instructor or a professor. One of the recommendation letters should relate to your field of study.
College report
The college report must be completed and submitted to Rice University by the dean of students or dean of colleges or universities.
Also Read: List of Top-Rated Cheapest Universities in Texas for International Students
How to Increase Your Admission Chances at Rice University
The acceptance rate at Rice University is very selective and challenging for most applicants.
Getting into Rice will require the best high school grades and test scores. However, you can enhance your chances of admission by applying these few academic strategies.
#1. Apply Early Decision
The Early Decision acceptance rate at Rice University is 18%.
An application to Rice in the Early Decision will boost your admission chances, and if you are admitted, you will be committed to attending Rice University.
Rice University Early Decision plan is not without a few restrictions.
#2. Write Interesting Essays
Academic excellence is not a guarantee of getting into Rice University. If you have the best academic record from high school, it might not be enough to get you into Rice.
Essays are very important when it comes to evaluating an applicant’s application profile.
The admission committee at Rice University is interested in how you write your essay that defines your personality and academic goals.
#3. Aim for an average GPA of 4.12 While Taking Hard Classes
Rice University considers an applicant’s high school GPA during its admission process. Those who were admitted to the university in the previous application cycle had an average high school GPA of 4.0.
Besides high school GPA, Rice is also interested in applicants who have taken rigorous coursework (AP or IB courses) while still in high school.
Also Read: 15 Best Schools for Business in Texas
Is Rice University a Good School?
Rice University is one of the most prestigious private research institutions in the United States. The university has built a reputation for providing top-level education, and its academic research is cutting-edge.
Some of the programs offered at Rice University are in America’s top 10 rankings and the institution has the best student-faculty ratio in Texas.
Campus Life at Rice University
The Rice community is diverse, serene, and interactive for students to get along with faculty members.
There are student organizations and clubs, Rice recreation and fitness, athletics, art and events that showcase the rich heritage at Rice University.
Rice University Tuition and Fees
Here is the estimated cost of attendance for first-year students at Rice University.
| COST | |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $54,100 |
| Fees | $860 |
| Room & Board | $15,000 |
| Books | $1,350 |
| Personal Expenses | $2,800 |
| Total | $74,110 |
| Average Freshman Aid Package | $53,688 |
| Average Responsibility for Families Receiving Aid | $18,057 |
Also Read: 20 Best Dental Hygienist Schools In Texas
Rice University Contact Address
- School Address: 6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005, United
- Phone: +1 713-348-0000
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251-1892
For more information, kindly visit the official website of Rice University.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Acceptance Rate at Rice University
Here are some of the frequently asked questions regarding the acceptance at Rice University.
What is the average GPA at Rice University?
The average high school GPA required at Rice University is 4.12. To obtain this standard, you will need a near-distinction academic record.
What is the acceptance rate at Rice University?
Currently, the acceptance rate at Rice University is 9.4%. Rice admits 9 applicants out of every 100.
Is it hard to get into Rice or Harvard University?
Harvard University has a more selective acceptance rate than Rice. It is more difficult to get into Harvard University than to get into Rice University.
Conclusion
Rice University is a mid-sized private research institution in the city of Houston and a well recognized among the top 10 universities in America.
Since its inception, Rice has been offering decorative degree programs and intensive research at undergraduate and graduate levels.
The selectivity at Rice University searches for the best applicants deemed worthy of a place in the institution.
Recommendations:
- University of Oklahoma Acceptance Rate, Admissions. SAT/ACT, GPA, Tuition
- Drexel University Acceptance Rate, Admissions, SAT/ACT, GPA, Tuition
- University of Phoenix Login Ecampus.phoenix.edu
- Free Online Courses at Harvard University with Certificate
- List of Top-Rated Cheapest Universities in Texas for International Students
References
- Rice University: A Brief History of Rice University
- U.S.News & World Reports: Rice University
- Top Universities: Rice University
- Times Higher Education: Rice University
