Rice University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Rice University is a private institution located in Houston, Texas and one of the most selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Rice University admits fewer than 1 in 10 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 8%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1540 and an ACT composite around 35. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $13,370 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Rice University?

Successful applicants to Rice University typically present unweighted GPAs at or near 4.0 with the most rigorous course load their school offers, including multiple AP, IB, or dual-enrollment courses.

What does Rice University weight in admissions?

Rice University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Rice University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 770–800, with an EBRW midpoint near 745. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 34–35. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Rice University actually cost?

Published tuition is $64,144 for in-state students and $64,144 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $18,100 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $13,370 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 17% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Rice University

Will my child graduate from Rice University?

These predict outcomes at Rice University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Rice University

The most popular undergraduate programs at Rice University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Computer and Information Sciences, General, Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness and Psychology, General. Across all programs, Rice University confers roughly 591 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Computer and Information Sciences, General program report a median income of about $213,603 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Rice University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Rice University disclosed 113 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 23.7 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 4 violent offenses and 29 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Rice University?

About 59% of undergraduates at Rice University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 0% of men join a fraternity and 0% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Texas parents ask about

• University of Texas at Austin
  27% acceptance
• Texas A&M University-College Station
  57% acceptance
• Southern Methodist University
  63% acceptance
• Baylor University
  51% acceptance
• Texas Christian University
  44% acceptance
• University of Houston
  74% acceptance
• Texas State University
  89% acceptance
• University of North Texas
  72% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about Rice University