Rice University SAT & ACT Score Requirements: What You Need to Get In (2026)

Rice University in Houston, Texas is one of the most selective private universities in the country, with an admit rate of around 8 percent and a residential college system that draws applicants away from the Northeast Ivies every year. Admitted students score in the 1500 to 1570 range on the SAT and 34 to 36 on the ACT. If you are aiming for Rice, this guide walks you through the score ranges, the binding ED rounds, the Rice Investment aid program, and the Glimpse video that catches a lot of applicants off guard.

Rice University SAT Score Requirements

The middle 50 percent SAT range for admitted Rice students is 1500 to 1570, with an average composite around 1550. A 1500 puts you at the 25th percentile and a 1570 lands in the top quartile. Rice considers the highest section scores across all administrations when it reviews scores, which is effectively super-scoring.

Rice is test-optional for the 2025 to 2026 admissions cycle. That said, the students who choose to submit scores cluster in this range, and the engineering, computer science, and natural sciences applicant pools skew higher. If your composite is below 1480, applying without a score is usually the better play. If it is 1500 or higher, submit.

Our SAT Math practice drills the algebra, advanced math, and problem-solving content that Rice STEM applicants need to be sharp on, and our SAT score calculator shows how many additional questions stand between you and 1500 or 1550.

Rice University ACT Score Requirements

The middle 50 percent ACT range is 34 to 36, with an average composite around 35. That puts the bar slightly higher than the SAT range when comparing percentile to percentile. Rice does not have a preference between the SAT and ACT; if you submit both, the committee considers whichever score helps your application most.

If you have not committed to one test yet, our SAT vs ACT comparison walks through how the two tests differ and which one tends to suit different student profiles.

Test-Optional, but Submit If You Have a Strong Score

Rice's exact wording: scores are "recommended but not required." Practical translation:

• If you can submit a score in or above the 25th percentile (1500 SAT or 34 ACT), do it. Rice's admit-pool data shows admitted submitters cluster at or above this line.
• If your highest score sits below 1480 SAT or 33 ACT, withholding is usually the better strategic call. The rest of your file does the work.
• Strong AP or IB scores can help compensate for not submitting an SAT or ACT, and Rice will accept them as additional evidence of academic readiness.
• Rice uses the highest score from each section across all administrations. If you have multiple sittings, send them all and let Rice combine.

Rice Application Deadlines

Rice offers two binding Early Decision rounds and one Regular Decision round.

A few quirks to flag:

• The Glimpse video. Rice requires a two-minute self-recorded video introducing yourself. ED I deadline is November 10; ED II and RD share a January 12 deadline. It is unscripted but reviewed: be prepared, but not over-rehearsed. Generic answers read worse here than they do in essays.
• ED II is for applicants who do not get into their other ED I school. Rice ED II is a real strategic option if you were deferred or denied at another binding-early school.
• The Common Application is what Rice uses. No Coalition or institution-specific path.

The Rice Investment: Need-Based Aid That Matters

Rice meets 100 percent of demonstrated financial need with grants and work-study, no loans required. The headline program is the Rice Investment, which sets income-band-based aid floors:

• Family income under $75,000: Rice covers full tuition, mandatory fees, room, and board.
• Family income $75,000 to $140,000: Rice covers full tuition; room and board may have remaining costs based on the financial review.
• Family income $140,000 to $200,000: Rice covers at least half of tuition.

Rice requires both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile, so the financial review is more thorough than a FAFSA-only school. For high-asset families with moderate income, the CSS Profile can produce a different aid number than you might expect from income alone.

Rice Merit Scholarships

All admitted first-year applicants are automatically considered for Rice's merit scholarships. There is no separate application, no extra essay, no interview. That said, merit aid at Rice is competitive and selective: among admitted students with no financial need, only about 7 percent receive a merit scholarship, with an average award of around $22,944. Treat merit aid as a possible bonus, not a planned-on factor.

Cost of Attendance

For the 2025 to 2026 academic year:

• Tuition: $66,540 (first and second year), $62,474 (junior and senior year)
• Room and board: $19,550
• Total sticker price: approximately $86,090 to $86,565 with mandatory fees

Roughly two-thirds of Rice students receive some form of financial aid, so most families do not pay the sticker price. The Rice Investment, combined with the no-loan policy and merit considerations, often makes Rice the cheapest option on a high-stat applicant's list.

What Else Matters Beyond the Score

At an 8 percent admit rate, the score is necessary but not sufficient. The application elements that move the needle:

• Course rigor. Admitted students typically take the most demanding course load their high school offers, with most subjects at AP or IB level by senior year.
• The "Why Rice" supplement and the residential college fit. Rice has 11 residential colleges (with a 12th, Chao College, opening for Fall 2026), and the application asks you to engage with the system. Generic answers stand out (negatively); specific reflection on what Rice's academic and residential structure offers reads as authentic.
• The Glimpse video. Rare among peer schools and treated as a real signal. Be yourself, but be prepared.
• Demonstrated focus, not breadth. Rice tends to admit students with deep engagement in two or three areas rather than shallow involvement in many.

For a wider view of similarly selective schools, see our guides on Vanderbilt SAT and ACT requirements, Northwestern SAT and ACT requirements, and Cornell SAT and ACT requirements. The score thresholds and ED dynamics overlap heavily.

If Your Score Is Below the 25th Percentile

If your composite is below 1500 SAT or 34 ACT, the strongest move is usually to apply test-optional and let your transcript, course rigor, supplements, recommendations, and Glimpse video do the work. Rice's holistic review is genuine: students get full consideration without scores. Submitting a sub-1500 score does not help your case; it just confirms a number that was otherwise out of view.

If you have time before applying, sitting one more test under timed conditions and doing focused prep on your weakest section is almost always worth it. Most Rice admits did not hit their best score on the first attempt.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rice University SAT and ACT Requirements

What is the average SAT score at Rice?

The average SAT composite at Rice is around 1550, with the middle 50 percent of admitted students scoring between 1500 and 1570.

What is the average ACT score at Rice?

The middle 50 percent of admitted students scored between 34 and 36 on the ACT, with an average of around 35.

Does Rice require the SAT or ACT?

No, Rice is test-optional for the 2025 to 2026 admissions cycle. Test scores are recommended but not required. Students who do not submit scores get full consideration in the admission review.

What is Rice's acceptance rate?

Rice's overall acceptance rate is around 8 percent. Early Decision tends to admit at a meaningfully higher rate than Regular Decision, though the gap is partly explained by the strength of the ED applicant pool.

Does Rice super-score the SAT and ACT?

Effectively yes. Rice considers the highest section scores across all administrations when reviewing your scores, and encourages applicants with multiple sittings to send them all.

What is the Glimpse video?

The Glimpse video is a two-minute self-recorded video that Rice requires from all applicants. It is your unscripted introduction to the admissions committee. The deadline is November 10 for ED I and January 12 for ED II and Regular Decision applicants.

What is the Rice Investment?

The Rice Investment is Rice's flagship need-based aid program. Families with income under $75,000 pay no tuition, fees, room, or board. Families earning $75,000 to $140,000 pay no tuition. Families earning $140,000 to $200,000 have at least half of tuition covered. Rice meets 100 percent of demonstrated need with no loans regardless of income band.

Does Rice offer merit scholarships?

Yes, but they are highly selective. All admitted first-year applicants are automatically considered, no separate application required. Among admitted students with no financial need, about 7 percent receive a merit scholarship, with an average award of about $22,944. Treat merit aid as a bonus, not a plan.

What GPA do I need for Rice?

Rice does not publish an official cutoff, but admitted students average around a 3.96 unweighted GPA in the most rigorous course load their school offers.

When are Rice's application deadlines?

Early Decision I is November 1 with decisions in mid-December. Early Decision II and Regular Decision are both due January 4, with ED II decisions in late January and RD decisions by April 1.