The average acceptance rate at Rice over the past 10 years is 11.14%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 8.00%. Rice is highly selective, and gaining admission is challenging for most applicants.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 40.48%, and the 2025 yield is 44.20%. Overall, the yield has increased by 30.70% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of Rice applicants increased by 4.55% (1,414 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 80.90% overall.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 8.00%, representing an increasingly selective admissions process. This indicates that Rice has become more competitive over the past decade, as the institution receives a growing number of applications while maintaining or reducing the number of admitted students.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 44.20%. This rising yield trend demonstrates that Rice is increasingly successful at converting admitted students into enrolled students. An increasing yield rate suggests stronger student preference for Rice and indicates that the institution's admitted class quality and perceived value continue to improve.
For the 2025 admission cycle, Rice received approximately 32,473 applications, admitted 2,597 students, and enrolled 1,148 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that Rice is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
Rice 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at Rice over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 11.14%, while the most recent rate stands at 8.00%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 8.00%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 10.93% and for women is 11.46%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at Rice have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 15.96% | 16.16% | 15.75% |
| 2016-17 | 15.27% -0.69% |
14.74% -1.42% |
15.84% 0.09% |
| 2017-18 | 15.86% 0.58% |
15.30% 0.57% |
16.45% 0.61% |
| 2018-19 | 11.13% -4.73% |
10.83% -4.47% |
11.45% -5.00% |
| 2019-20 | 8.72% -2.41% |
8.56% -2.27% |
8.89% -2.57% |
| 2020-21 | 10.89% 2.18% |
10.65% 2.09% |
11.15% 2.27% |
| 2021-22 | 9.00% -1.89% |
9.00% -1.65% |
10.00% -1.15% |
| 2022-23 | 8.68% -0.32% |
8.57% -0.43% |
8.80% -1.20% |
| 2023-24 | 7.88% -0.80% |
7.71% -0.85% |
8.05% -0.75% |
| 2024-25 | 8.00% 0.12% |
7.81% 0.09% |
8.21% 0.16% |
| Average | 11.14% | 10.93% | 11.46% |
Rice has demonstrated an improvement in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has increased from 33.82% in 2015 to 44.20% in 2025, representing a 30.70% increase. The 10-year average yield stands at 40.48%, reflecting strengthening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at Rice from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has increased by 30.70% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 33.82% | 33.91% | 33.73% |
| 2016-17 | 35.22% 1.40% |
35.33% 1.43% |
35.12% 1.39% |
| 2017-18 | 36.59% 1.37% |
37.59% 2.25% |
35.59% 0.48% |
| 2018-19 | 41.24% 4.64% |
42.39% 4.80% |
40.02% 4.42% |
| 2019-20 | 40.83% -0.41% |
40.84% -1.55% |
40.82% 0.80% |
| 2020-21 | 38.87% -1.97% |
40.75% -0.09% |
36.97% -3.85% |
| 2021-22 | 44.00% 5.14% |
44.05% 3.30% |
43.98% 7.01% |
| 2022-23 | 44.07% 0.06% |
44.61% 0.56% |
43.53% -0.45% |
| 2023-24 | 45.97% 1.91% |
45.58% 0.97% |
46.38% 2.84% |
| 2024-25 | 44.20% -1.77% |
44.14% -1.44% |
44.28% -2.10% |
| Average | 40.48% | 40.92% | 40.04% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 25,023, the average number of admitted is 2,619, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 1,056.
The number of Rice applicants increased by 4.55% (1,414 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 80.90% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Rice University from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 17,951 | 2,865 | 969 |
| 2016-17 | 18,236 1.59% |
2,785 -2.79% |
981 1.24% |
| 2017-18 | 18,063 -0.95% |
2,864 2.84% |
1,048 6.83% |
| 2018-19 | 20,923 15.83% |
2,328 -18.72% |
960 -8.40% |
| 2019-20 | 27,087 29.46% |
2,361 1.42% |
964 0.42% |
| 2020-21 | 23,455 -13.41% |
2,555 8.22% |
993 3.01% |
| 2021-22 | 29,544 25.96% |
2,659 4.07% |
1,170 17.82% |
| 2022-23 | 31,443 6.43% |
2,730 2.67% |
1,203 2.82% |
| 2023-24 | 31,059 -1.22% |
2,447 -10.37% |
1,125 -6.48% |
| 2024-25 | 32,473 4.55% |
2,597 6.13% |
1,148 2.04% |
| Average | 25,023 | 2,619 | 1,056 |
The following table compares Rice University' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice University | 7.88% | 8.00% | 1.52% |
| Florida International University | 54.66% | 58.84% | -7.10% |
| The University of Texas at San Antonio | 86.79% | 88.46% | -1.89% |
| The University of Texas at El Paso | 99.92% | 99.90% | 0.02% |
| Marshall University | 95.73% | 96.46% | -0.76% |
| Western Kentucky University | 93.87% | 97.05% | -3.28% |
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