Engineering at Rice University
Rice University awarded 186 bachelor's degrees in engineering in 2023, 17.4% of its 1,069 graduates, which makes it the most common field of study at the school. Nationally, 5.94% of bachelor's degrees are in this field, so it is far more concentrated at Rice University (2.9x the national share). 36% of those graduates were women.
Is engineering competitive at Rice University?
Colleges report one admission rate for the whole school; here is the bar you are actually measured against, and how the model treats this major.
Rice University admitted 2,447 of 31,059 applicants for fall 2023 (8%), and the middle 50% of admitted students scored 1510 to 1570 on the SAT. Colleges report admissions at the school level, not by major, so there is no published acceptance rate for engineering at Rice University. CollegeCalcAI's published model treats "Engineering" as more competitive than Rice University's overall rate (multiplier 0.92 on the effective admit rate), so an applicant declaring this field is scored against a slightly higher bar.
How to apply to Rice University for engineering
What readers look for from applicants who declare this field, at any selectivity.
- Physics and calculus, ideally both at the highest level offered
- Evidence of making things: robotics, engineering clubs, a build you can describe
- A clear reason for engineering in the essay, not just strong STEM grades
- Run your odds with the major set: your estimate at Rice University for engineering →
Field guide: how admissions works for this major across schools.
Where else to study engineering
Other colleges in Texas and at a similar selectivity that award bachelor's degrees in this field.
Every college ranked by engineering graduates: colleges that graduate the most engineering majors → · Engineering colleges in Texas →
More majors at Rice University
The other fields Rice University graduates the most students in, 2023.
Questions about engineering at Rice University
How many students major in engineering at Rice University?
186 students earned a bachelor's degree in engineering at Rice University in 2023, 17.4% of that year's 1,069 graduates (IPEDS completions, first majors).
Is engineering competitive at Rice University?
Rice University admitted 2,447 of 31,059 applicants for fall 2023 (8%), and the middle 50% of admitted students scored 1510 to 1570 on the SAT. Colleges report admissions at the school level, not by major, so there is no published acceptance rate for engineering at Rice University. CollegeCalcAI's published model treats "Engineering" as more competitive than Rice University's overall rate (multiplier 0.92 on the effective admit rate), so an applicant declaring this field is scored against a slightly higher bar.
What is the acceptance rate for engineering at Rice University?
There is no official major-level acceptance rate; Rice University reports one school-wide figure, 8%. Some programs (direct-admit nursing, engineering and business schools) select separately and can be more selective than the school overall. CollegeCalcAI's calculator applies its published per-major adjustment and shows your estimate for this school with the major set.
Is Rice University known for engineering?
By output, engineering is the most common field at Rice University and far more concentrated there than at the average U.S. college (17.4% of graduates versus 5.94% nationally).
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 Completions (bachelor's degrees, first majors, CIP 2-digit series). Admissions counts: IPEDS 2023. Built 2026-09-19. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are not predictions or guarantees.