Rice

Rice SAT and ACT Requirements

Rice is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. The middle 50% of enrolled first-year students scored 1510 to 1570 on the SAT and 34 to 35 on the ACT.

2026-27 policy

Test-Optional

SAT middle 50%

1510–1570

ACT middle 50%

34–35

Acceptance rate

Rice SAT scores by section

Section	25th percentile	75th percentile
Reading and Writing	740	770
Math	770	800
Total	1510	1570
ACT Composite	34	35

The total is the sum of the section percentiles, the standard way to estimate a middle 50% for the combined score.

Where your score puts you

Below 1510: lower than three quarters of enrolled students. A retake has the most upside here, and at a test-optional school you can also leave the score off.
1510 to 1570: in line with the class. The rest of your application decides it.
Above 1570: higher than three quarters of enrolled students. Testing is no longer what holds the application back.

Other colleges where a 1510 is in range Other colleges where a 1570 is in range Convert an ACT score

Keep these numbers

Email me Rice's score ranges

The ranges on this page, plus a link to compare them with every other college we track.

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Frequently asked questions

Does Rice require the SAT or ACT?

Rice is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. Rice's official first-year applicant page states Rice 'recommends' but does not require SAT/ACT submission; applicants without scores receive full consideration. No future required-testing change found.

What SAT score do you need for Rice?

The published range is not a cutoff. Among enrolled first-year students, a quarter scored below 1510, half scored between 1510 and 1570, and a quarter scored above 1570. A score at or above 1570 puts you ahead of most of the class on testing; a score below 1510 works against you.

What ACT score do you need for Rice?

The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 34 to 35 on the ACT. On the official conversion table that is an SAT 1500 to 1540.

Score ranges: College Scorecard API — U.S. Department of Education (api.data.gov) and Editorial overrides layer (overrides.json) — Common Data Set & institutional sources. They describe students who enrolled, not everyone admitted. Test policy: Rice admissions, verified for 2026-27.