Rice University SAT scores & GPA
Admitted students at Rice University cluster around a composite SAT midpoint of about 1540. Here is what that means for your application — honestly.
The numbers
| Measure | Rice University |
|---|---|
| SAT composite midpoint | ~1540 |
| Acceptance rate | 8% |
| Source | U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard · Last verified 2026-06-19 |
We report the composite midpoint (the middle of the admitted range), not a fabricated 25th–75th band or a school-reported average. For the full reported range and ACT equivalents, see Rice University's published Common Data Set.
What score do you actually need?
There is no hard cutoff. The midpoint (~1540) is a reference point, not a promise: landing near or above it makes you competitive on the numbers; landing below it means the rest of your application — rigor, grades, essays — needs to do more work. Because Rice University is extremely selective (8% admit rate), strong scores help but never guarantee admission on their own.
Test-optional?
Test-optional policies change year to year, so check Rice University's official admissions site for the policy that applies to your cycle. Our odds tool handles test-optional applicants either way: if you don't submit scores, we estimate from the rest of your profile rather than penalizing a missing number.
See how your SAT compares — free
Directional estimate, not a guarantee of admission.