Rice University
Data sourced from Common Data Set (Institutional), Institutional Website · Last verified 2026-09-15. This provenance applies to the record as a whole — figures marked with a star are sourced separately, as noted at the bottom of the page.
Preparation
This is helpful preparation, not a formal admission requirement.
Admissions
How admission works here
- Where you apply
- The Common App. Common App requirements grid
- Test scores
- Submitting SAT or ACT scores is optional. Rice admission
- Essays
- The Common App personal essay is required. Common App requirements grid
- Recommendations
- 2 teacher recommendations, a counselor recommendation, a mid-year report. Common App requirements grid
- Application fee
- $75. The Common App fee waiver is accepted. Common App requirements grid
- Deadlines
- Early Decision (binding) November 1, Early Decision II (binding) January 4, Regular Decision January 4. Rice admission
My Fit uses this overall rate to classify your chances here.
Applying
Applying through the Common App
- Application fee
- $75
- Common App fee waiver
- Accepted
- Common App personal essay
- Required
- Recommendations
- 2 teacher recommendations, counselor recommendation, mid-year report
Source: Common App requirements grid, updated 2026-09-18. Anything not listed here wasn't stated in the grid, which is not the same as not required.
College-specific prompts can change each application cycle. Check the school's official application page for the latest requirements.
View official application requirementsAcademics
Flagship Programs
Career & Major Pathways
Cost
This is the full yearly cost before any financial aid. What your family would actually pay is in the Financial Aid section. Cost figures are approximate, so confirm current numbers on the college's website.
Financial Aid
What families actually paid, by household income
Average for students who received federal aid. Your own figure depends on your family's finances and the aid this school offers you.
- Under $30,000
- $5,827
- $30,001 – $48,000
- $563
- $48,001 – $75,000
- $3,217
- $75,001 – $110,000
- $17,755
- Over $110,000
- $48,466
College Scorecard (latest.cost.net_price.private.by_income_level.*), 2024
Every school is required to publish a net price calculator. It asks about your family's finances and returns an estimate for you specifically, which is worth more than any average on this page. Your school counselor and the college's financial aid office can also help.
Scholarships and merit aid
Rice is need-blind for domestic applicants and meets 100% of demonstrated need; it offers generous need-based grants (including full-tuition/full-ride grants for lower-income families) but limited traditional merit scholarships.
Campus
Campus Fit
*College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education) · 2024
†Rice admission · 2026-27 · accessed Sep 20, 2026
‡Rice admission · 2026-27 · accessed Sep 22, 2026