Admissions data checked October 9, 2026 by Florida Test Prep.
Rice University reports a middle 50% SAT of 1510 to 1560 (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025; 59% submitted SAT). We use 1540 as a first planning target, then adjust it to the student's diagnostic and timeline. It is not an admission requirement or a guarantee.
| Middle 50% SAT | 1510 to 1560 (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025; 59% submitted SAT) |
| Acceptance rate | 8.0% (fall 2025, 36,791 applicants) |
| Testing for 2026-27 | Optional but recommended; superscores the SAT and ACT |
| Type | Private university |
Source: Rice official admissions data. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not a cutoff.
Rice recommends but does not require testing for Fall 2027 applicants.
| School | Middle 50% SAT | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| Rice University | 1510 to 1560 | 8.0% |
| University of Texas at Dallas | 1170 to 1390 | 69.1% |
| Texas A&M University | 1160 to 1390 | 51.7% |
| Baylor University | 1190 to 1370 | 52.2% |
| University of Houston | 1140 to 1310 | 75.8% |
| Texas Tech University | 1110 to 1260 | 69.1% |
Cohorts differ by school (admitted vs enrolled, and year). See every school with its cohort and source on SAT Scores for Texas Colleges.
Texas has no statewide SAT-cutoff scholarship; Texas Tech's Presidential Merit Scholarship is the state's clearest guaranteed SAT-tier grid.
Texas Tech Presidential Merit Scholarship (1500-1600 SAT tier): $9,000/year with a 4.0-3.96 unweighted GPA, guaranteed only to freshmen admitted by April 1 for fall entry.
Texas Tech Presidential Merit Scholarship (1200-1290 SAT tier): $6,000/year with a 4.0-3.96 unweighted GPA, guaranteed only to freshmen admitted by April 1 for fall entry.
The full rules, deadlines and class years are on our Texas SAT prep page.
| College | State | Middle 50% SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pennsylvania | 1510 to 1560 |
| Columbia College and Columbia Engineering | New York | 1510 to 1560 |
| Vanderbilt University | Tennessee | 1510 to 1560 |
| Duke University | North Carolina | 1510 to 1570 |
A score that is competitive at Rice lands in the same part of the range at these schools. Cohorts differ by school, so read each page's notes before comparing.
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Find my teen's target scoreThere is no published minimum; the middle half of the reported group scored 1510 to 1560. A score at or above 1560 puts a student in the top quarter of that group. A score near 1510 is within the range, and grades, coursework and the rest of the application still decide the outcome.
Yes. Rice lists its policy as: Optional but recommended; superscores the SAT and ACT. A score inside or above the range can still strengthen an application, and some scholarships and programs use scores separately.
8.0% (fall 2025, 36,791 applicants). Rates vary by program and residency, so read the overall figure as context, not a personal prediction.
No. A middle 50% is a description of last year's group, not a cutoff in either direction. It tells you where a score is competitive, which is the useful part for planning test dates.
Want to know what your teen needs for Rice? Their target, their gap and the weeks to close it are what we map in the free Strategy Session.
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