Rice University
- Private
- Research university
Rice University: international tuition 71,140 USD per year, one-year total cost ≈ 79,788 USD, acceptance rate 8%. Need-based aid is open to international students. Published minimum English scores: IELTS 7, TOEFL iBT 5, Duolingo 130.
A Vietnamese international first-year applicant may seek need-based aid at Rice, but availability is limited and financial need affects admission review. Rice does not clearly confirm that merit scholarships are open to international students.
Getting in. The school admits 8% of applicants (2,948 of 36,791). Admitted students scored around Reading and Writing 740–770, Math 760–800, ACT 34–36. The SAT and ACT are optional: a score counts if you send one, and you can still apply without it. For English, the school asks for IELTS 7+, TOEFL iBT 5+ or Duolingo 130+.
Cost for a year. One year comes to about 79,788 USD, before any scholarship. 1 scholarship is confirmed for international students, but nothing is taken off yet because the amount of each one is not clear. According to the Common Data Set 2025-2026, 164 international students got financial aid, 79,444 USD each on average.
Deadline and visa. The application deadline is 1/11. You apply through Common App. How long the visa takes is up to the consulate; see the country note.
Admissions checked 11/10/2026Cost checked 11/10/2026
What is the tuition at Rice University?
International tuition is 71,140 USD per year. The total cost for one year is ≈ 79,788 USD.
Does Rice University offer scholarships for international students?
Need-based aid is open to international students. A Vietnamese international first-year applicant may seek need-based aid at Rice, but availability is limited and financial need affects admission review. Rice does not clearly confirm that merit scholarships are open to international students.
What English scores does Rice University require?
Published minimum English scores: IELTS 7, TOEFL iBT 5, Duolingo 130.
What is the acceptance rate at Rice University?
The acceptance rate is 8%.
- Pay in fullYesPay in fullOnce admitted you can enrol straight away — no scholarship decision to wait for.Your family covers all tuition and living costs for every year of the degree.You will need: your application and proof that your family can pay — the school needs it to issue your visa documents.
- Aid with the offerUnclearAid with the offerThe school decides aid while reviewing your application, so any need-based or merit award arrives with the offer.The school's official pages do not say whether international students get aid at admission — worth asking the admissions office directly.
- Apply separately for scholarshipsUnclearApply separately for scholarshipsOn top of the admission application, you send a separate scholarship application or get nominated.The pages we read mention no scholarship with its own application. Not seeing one does not mean there is none — ask the school.
For Vietnamese students
Vietnamese community nearby
Students on campus lifeiPublic YouTube videos by students and the school, matched to this school's name; Vietnamese videos first. Each reflects its creator's own view.
- Yuen Pan2025Vlog
- Sissi Stahlecker2026Vlog
- marjorie2026Vlog
Contact
Tuition and cost for a year
Compared with 727 private United States schools with published tuition in Duckling's data.
What a year costs
VND converted at Vietcombank's selling rate on 15/10/2026; indicative only — the real amount depends on the rate when you pay.
Scholarships and aid for international students
- Is merit considered automatically with the application?UnclearMerit is automatic for freshmen generally, but the page does not explicitly say that international students are included.
- Is admission need-blind for international applicants?UnclearRice explicitly states that its international need-based aid policy is need-aware, so financial need is considered in admission.
- Is the CSS Profile or a school aid form required?YesRice's official instructions state that international applicants seeking aid use the CSS Profile.
Scholarships at this school
Need-based financial aid for international first-year applicantsNeed-basedNeed-basedAwarded on family financial circumstances, usually via the CSS Profile or the school's own form.Separate application requiredSchool page
Award: 100% of demonstrated need met with institutional grant aid for international students who receive need-based aid.
Need-based aid is available to a limited number of international first-year applicants.
Deadline: CSS Profile due Nov. 15 (ED I), Jan. 4 (ED II), or Feb. 1 (Regular Decision) for 2027-2028.
Merit-based scholarshipsIntl eligibility unclearThe school does not say whether international students can get this scholarship, so “Cost for a year” at the top does not subtract it. Ask the school before counting on it.MeritMeritAwarded on achievement (grades, awards, activities), regardless of family finances.Considered automatically with the admission applicationSchool page
The page says all freshmen are automatically considered, but does not confirm eligibility for international students.
Forms international students file for aid
- CSS Profile
- Other form
U.S. student figures2025–26Financial aid for all first-year studentsMostly U.S. students, who also get U.S. government aid that international students cannot apply for. A picture of the school's overall aid, not what you would receive.
Admission requirements
Compared with 349 United States schools that publish an application fee in Duckling's data.
SAT / ACT of enrolled students
English
Application requirements
- High-school transcriptRequired
- Counselor recommendationRequired
- Teacher recommendationRequired
- English proficiencyRequired
- Proof of fundsRequired
How to apply
Minimum English scores vs other schools
Compared with 25 United States schools admitting under 15% that publish it in Duckling's data.
Compared with 14 United States schools admitting under 15% that publish it in Duckling's data.
Deadlines
- Early Decision I application deadline (ED)Applicationabout17days
- Early Decision I enrollment-deposit deadline (ED)Deposit+81 days
- Early Decision II application deadline (ED2)Application+81 days
- Regular Decision application deadline (RD)Application+81 days
- Early Decision II enrollment-deposit deadline (ED2)Deposit+137 days
- Regular Decision enrollment-deposit deadline (RD)Deposit+198 days
What the school weighs in admission
- Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
- Class rankVery important
- GPAVery important
- SATACTVery important
- Application essayVery important
- RecommendationsVery important
- Extracurricular activitiesVery important
- Talent / abilityVery important
- Character / personal qualitiesVery important
- Religious affiliationNot considered
Admission odds in numbers
Early rounds & waitlist
Credit for exams
Rice considers AP scores of 4 or 5 for course credit.
Scores that count12345Rice considers IB scores of 6 or 7 for course credit.
Scores that count1234567A-Level credit may be considered with an A or B; official results must be sent to the Registrar.
Scores that countfrom A or B
AP credit by subject
Lowest score that earns credit or placement, as the college reported to College Board. This is not an admission requirement. One exam can have several rows: a higher score sometimes earns more credit. Policy page the college gave College Board
33 courses. Scroll inside the table to see all.
Programs
Outcomes
Staying in United States after graduation
OPT: 12 months of work in your field after each degree level; degrees on the DHS STEM list can extend by 24 months (up to 36 months in total). Unemployment during OPT is capped at 90 days (150 days with the STEM extension). Note: on 8 October 2026 DHS published a PROPOSED rule charging USD 70,000 for initial OPT and USD 30,000 for later OPT; it is not in force, and comments close on 9 November 2026.
Climate
School & campus
Where the school is
Detailed map
Academics & housing
Why this school is listed: accepts applications through the Common App.
Updated 11/10/2026How Duckling sources data