Quad

Rice University

Houston, TXQuad's selectivityUltra selective
Known forUltra-selectiveTop test scoresBig endowment per studentVery diverseHigh earnersFew students borrowHigh graduation ratePell students graduate at the same rate
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 10, 2026

  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Math 760–800 (fall 2024: 770–800)Rice University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% ACT composite 34–36 (fall 2024: 34–35)Rice University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Entered fall 2024: 96.8% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 97.4%)Rice University Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:Rice University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Rice University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

1 in 13 applicants admitted

Rice admits about 1 in 13 applicants (8.0%). That puts it in the "Ultra selective" tier, more selective than 99% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

8.0%

8.0%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityUltra selective

Applied

36,791

Admitted

2,948

Yield

43%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1510–1560

10001600
ACT middle 50%

34–36

1836
Applications +83% since fall 2014 · admit rate 15% → 8.0%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 4,776 undergrads, where 17% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

4.8K

undergrads · larger than 77% of colleges

Diversity index

0.80

Pell Grant

17%

below the median

First generation

14%

below the median

Large cityNCAA D-I FBS · American Athletic ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.76 → 0.80 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Computer and Information Sciences, General (15% of graduates). 6 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 95% of colleges. 84% of faculty are full-time. Spends $47,816 a year on instruction per student.

6 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 95% of colleges

Most popular major

Computer and Information Sciences, General

15% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer and Information Sciences, General

$182.4K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

84%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$47.8K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $46,794 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $22.5K more than the national median. The 56% who received grants paid $23,589 on average; the other 44% paid the full sticker price of $78,278.

40%

$46.8K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $22.5K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$78,278 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Aid generosity

Generous

grants cover 40% of full price

Federal loans

6%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · +3% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $89,718 ten years after enrolling, more than at 95% of colleges; 94% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.1 years of that salary.

94%

94%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$89.7K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$11K

≈ $117/month for 10 years

Retention

97%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 93% → 95% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 9% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid rose 3%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 83% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 15% to 8.0%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    +3% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +83%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 15% → 8% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.76 → 0.80

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

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Johns Hopkins University

6.4% admit · SAT 1545 · 5.7K undergrads

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Barnard College

8.8% admit · SAT 1515 · 3.3K undergrads

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Rice University (Fall 2025)

    Rice University · Fall 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-03

  4. 4
    Rice University Common Data Set 2025–26

    Rice University · Fall 2025; Entered fall 2024; 2024–25; Fall 2026 entrants; Entered fall 2019; 2025–26; Fall 2026 cycle; Fall 2024; 2026–27; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-05

  5. 5
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    Rice University (2025–26)

    Rice University · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  14. 14
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  20. 20
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  21. 21
    Rice University (2026)

    Rice University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 227757 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything