Rice University Acceptance Rate
Houston, Texas · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 31,059
- Admitted
- 2,447
- Yield
- 46%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Rice University's acceptance rate has fallen from 15.1% in 2014–15 to 7.9% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 17,728 to 31,059 (+75%) over that period.
Its 7.9% rate makes Rice University more selective than about 98% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 65 tracked Texas schools, it is more selective than about 98%.
Rice University has been test-optional since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 46% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 17,728 | 2,677 | 15.1% | 949 |
| 2015–16 | 17,951 | 2,865 | 16% | 969 |
| 2016–17 | 18,236 | 2,785 | 15.3% | 981 |
| 2017–18 | 18,063 | 2,864 | 15.9% | 1,048 |
| 2018–19 | 20,923 | 2,328 | 11.1% | 960 |
| 2019–20 | 27,087 | 2,361 | 8.7% | 964 |
| 2020–21 | 23,455 | 2,555 | 10.9% | 993 |
| 2021–22 | 29,544 | 2,802 | 9.5% | 1,226 |
| 2022–23 | 31,443 | 2,730 | 8.7% | 1,203 |
| 2023–24 | 31,059 | 2,447 | 7.9% | 1,125 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 15,077 | 1,214 | 8.1% |
| Men | 15,982 | 1,233 | 7.7% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 730–770 | 50% |
| SAT Math | 770–800 | |
| ACT Composite | 34–36 | 22% |
How Rice University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Rice University's acceptance rate?
Rice University's acceptance rate is 7.9% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (2,447 admitted of 31,059 applicants).
Is Rice University test optional?
Rice University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Rice University?
Rice University received 31,059 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 2,447.
What SAT score do you need for Rice University?
Admitted students at Rice University typically scored 730–770 on SAT Reading/Writing and 770–800 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Rice University getting harder to get into?
Rice University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 15.1% in 2014–15 to 7.9% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.rice.edu/.