Admissions · United States
Rice University Acceptance Rate: Admissions Statistics and TOEFL & IELTS Requirements
Rice admitted 8.0% of first-year applicants for fall 2025: 2,948 of 36,791, according to its Common Data Set.
Rice University TOEFL and IELTS requirements at a glance
| Applying for | TOEFL iBT | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate (first-year) | TOEFL iBT5.0 overall on the updated 1–6 scale (exams taken on or after 21 January 2026); 100 on the 0–120 scale for exams taken before that date. | IELTS Academic7 |
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Rice publishes its admissions figures in the Common Data Set, released by its Institutional Data, Evaluation, Analysis, and Strategy office; the newest covers fall 2025. Below are the last three cycles, the early decision, residency, wait-list and transfer figures Rice has published, and the TOEFL and IELTS scores it requires.
Figures read from official sources on · English requirements updated · LingoLeap Admissions Research
Rice University acceptance rate by year
Rice acceptance rate by round and applicant group
| Group | Cycle | Rate | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision | Fall 2025 entering class | 11.3% | 647 admitted of 5,748 ED applicants; 629 of them enrolled source |
| Early Decision | Fall 2024 entering class | 16.8% | 519 admitted of 3,087 ED applicants; 505 of them enrolled source |
| Early Decision | Fall 2023 entering class | 16.5% | 486 admitted of 2,953 ED applicants; 470 of them enrolled source |
| Texas residents | Fall 2025 entering class | 8.0% | 847 admitted of 10,610 source |
| Out-of-state (US) | Fall 2025 entering class | 10.2% | 1,767 admitted of 17,388 source |
| International | Fall 2025 entering class | 3.8% | 334 admitted of 8,793 source |
| Texas residents | Fall 2024 entering class | 8.3% | 762 admitted of 9,164 source |
| Out-of-state (US) | Fall 2024 entering class | 9.9% | 1,519 admitted of 15,314 source |
| International | Fall 2024 entering class | 4.0% | 316 admitted of 7,995 source |
| Wait list (admitted of those who accepted a place) | Fall 2025 entering class | 3.0% | 66 admitted of 2,204 who accepted a place; 3,196 were offered one source |
| Wait list (admitted of those who accepted a place) | Fall 2024 entering class | 4.4% | 122 admitted of 2,794 who accepted a place; 3,920 were offered one source |
| Wait list (admitted of those who accepted a place) | Fall 2023 entering class | 0.2% | 7 admitted of 2,802 who accepted a place; 3,935 were offered one source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2025 entering class | 42.8% | 1,263 enrolled of 2,948 admitted source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2024 entering class | 44.2% | 1,148 enrolled of 2,597 admitted source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2023 entering class | 46.0% | 1,125 enrolled of 2,447 admitted source |
| Transfer | Fall 2025 | 7.5% | 125 admitted of 1,675 source |
| Transfer | Fall 2024 | 6.9% | 102 admitted of 1,473 source |
| Transfer | Fall 2023 | 4.5% | 61 admitted of 1,370 source |
What the numbers mean
Rice's acceptance rate has been nearly flat at about 8%: 7.9% for fall 2023 (31,059 applicants), 8.0% for fall 2024 and 8.0% for fall 2025 (36,791). Applications grew by about 5,700 over the two years, and Rice admitted about 500 more students, from 2,447 to 2,948. Yield, the share of admits who enrolled, fell from 46.0% to 42.8%.
Early Decision is binding, and the 2025-26 Common Data Set lists two early decision plans, closing 1 November and 4 January. Rice reported 11.3% admitted for fall 2025 (647 of 5,748 applicants), down from 16.8% for fall 2024 (519 of 3,087) and 16.5% for fall 2023 (486 of 2,953). The fall 2025 applicant count nearly doubled from fall 2024 while admits rose only about a quarter, so the early rate fell. Almost every early admit enrolled: 629 of 647 for fall 2025.
International applicants were admitted at 3.8% for fall 2025 (334 of 8,793) and 4.0% for fall 2024 (316 of 7,995), against 8.0% for Texas residents (847 of 10,610) and 10.2% for out-of-state US applicants (1,767 of 17,388) for fall 2025. The wait list is rarely used: 66 admitted for fall 2025 and 7 for fall 2023. Transfer admission is selective, at 7.5% for fall 2025 (125 of 1,675).
Rice requires applicants whose first language is not English to show proficiency, either through at least two years of full-time study in an English-language curriculum or an accepted test: TOEFL 100, or 5.0 on the updated scale for exams taken on or after 21 January 2026; IELTS 7; Duolingo 130; or Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 185. During the transition Rice also considers the comparable 0–120 score ETS reports.
Rice University TOEFL and IELTS requirements
Minimums for international applicants from the university's own pages. Since 21 January 2026 TOEFL iBT reports a 1–6 band score; the notes give the older 0–120 equivalent where the university states one. Convert TOEFL and IELTS scores.
Undergraduate (first-year)
TOEFL iBT: 5.0 overall on the updated 1–6 scale (exams taken on or after 21 January 2026); 100 on the 0–120 scale for exams taken before that date.
IELTS Academic: 7
Required if your first language is not English, unless you completed at least two years of full-time study in an English-language curriculum. Also accepted: Duolingo 130, Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 185. During the transition Rice also considers the comparable 0–120 score reported by ETS. TOEFL iBT Home Edition is accepted.
Rice Undergraduate Admission: International students (English proficiency) · checked 13 October 2026
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FAQ
What is Rice's acceptance rate?
Rice admitted 2,948 of 36,791 first-year applicants for fall 2025, an acceptance rate of 8.0%, according to its Common Data Set. The rate was 8.0% for fall 2024 and 7.9% for fall 2023.
What is Rice's early decision acceptance rate?
Rice admitted 647 of 5,748 early decision applicants for fall 2025 (11.3%), 519 of 3,087 for fall 2024 (16.8%) and 486 of 2,953 for fall 2023 (16.5%).
What is Rice's international acceptance rate?
Rice admitted 334 of 8,793 international first-year applicants for fall 2025 (3.8%) and 316 of 7,995 for fall 2024 (4.0%).
What is Rice's transfer acceptance rate?
Rice admitted 125 of 1,675 transfer applicants for fall 2025 (7.5%), 102 of 1,473 for fall 2024 (6.9%) and 61 of 1,370 for fall 2023 (4.5%).
What is Rice's waitlist acceptance rate?
For fall 2025, Rice offered 3,196 applicants a place on its wait list, 2,204 accepted, and 66 were admitted: 3.0% of those who accepted. The fall 2024 figure was 4.4% (122 of 2,794) and fall 2023 was 0.2% (7 of 2,802).
What is Rice's yield?
For fall 2025, 1,263 of 2,948 admitted students enrolled, a yield of 42.8%. It was 44.2% for fall 2024 and 46.0% for fall 2023.
What TOEFL score does Rice require?
Rice asks for a TOEFL score of 100 on the 0–120 scale for exams taken before 21 January 2026, and a minimum overall score of 5.0 on the updated scale for exams taken on or after that date. Other accepted tests are IELTS 7, Duolingo 130 and Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 185.
What IELTS score does Rice University require?
Undergraduate (first-year): IELTS Academic 7. Check your programme page, as some courses set higher scores.