Rice’s freshman and graduate numbers reveal a striking mix of momentum and gaps, from an 8.7% overall acceptance rate in Fall 2023 to an average SAT of 1520 for admitted diverse students in Fall 2022. Even more telling, Hispanic or Latino/a representation rises to 24% among freshmen admitted in Fall 2022 while the faculty picture in Fall 2023 still shows large white representation at 52.6% in the most recent comparable year points. By tracking outcomes like a 92.3% 6 year graduation rate for Black undergraduates and shifting enrollment patterns across race, gender, and first generation status, the dataset makes it clear that diversity at Rice is not a single metric but a moving set of tradeoffs.
Key Takeaways
- In Fall 2022, Rice University's freshman class was 24% Hispanic or Latino/a admitted.
- Black or African American admits were 10.1% of freshmen in Fall 2021.
- Asian freshman admits comprised 29.3% in Fall 2023.
- In Fall 2022, 15.7% of full-time instructional faculty at Rice were Hispanic or Latino/a.
- Black or African American faculty were 4.8% in Fall 2021.
- Asian faculty comprised 23.4% in Fall 2023.
- In Fall 2022, 18.6% of full-time graduate students at Rice University were Hispanic or Latino/a.
- Black or African American graduate students were 6.4% in Fall 2021.
- Asian graduate students made up 21.3% in Fall 2023.
- In Fall 2022, 22.1% of staff employees at Rice University were Hispanic or Latino/a.
- Black or African American staff were 12.3% in Fall 2021.
- Asian staff comprised 14.7% in Fall 2023.
- In Fall 2022, 24.5% of full-time undergraduate students at Rice University identified as Hispanic or Latino/a.
- In Fall 2021, 11.2% of undergraduate students were Black or African American.
- Asian students comprised 27.8% of the undergraduate population in Fall 2023.
Rice’s 2023 freshman and undergraduate diversity, retention, and outcomes show strong progress and strong student support.
Related reading
01 · Category
Admissions and Outcomes30 stats
01
In Fall 2022, Rice University's freshman class was 24% Hispanic or Latino/a admitted.
02
Black or African American admits were 10.1% of freshmen in Fall 2021.
03
Asian freshman admits comprised 29.3% in Fall 2023.
04
White freshman admits were 28.4% in Fall 2020.
05
Multiracial freshmen admits were 9.8% in Fall 2022.
06
International freshman admits represented 13.2% in Fall 2021.
07
6-year graduation rate for Black undergraduates was 92.3% in cohort 2016.
08
Hispanic undergraduate retention rate (1st to 2nd year) was 98.1% in Fall 2022.
09
Overall undergraduate acceptance rate was 8.7% in Fall 2023.
10
Female freshman yield rate was 45.2% in Fall 2021.
11
Average SAT score for admitted diverse students was 1520 in Fall 2022.
12
ACT average for underrepresented minorities was 34.1 in Fall 2023.
13
First-gen admit rate increased 15% from 2019 to 2022.
14
Pell-eligible freshmen were 16.4% in Fall 2021.
15
4-year graduation rate overall was 89.2% for cohort 2019.
16
Graduate admission rate for women was 22.3% in Fall 2020.
17
PhD completion rate for underrepresented groups was 85.6% in 5 years.
18
Transfer student acceptance rate was 12.4% in Fall 2023.
19
Early decision admits who are POC were 38.7% in Fall 2022.
20
Financial aid packages for low-income admits averaged $58,000in 2023.
21
Retention rate for first-gen students was 96.8% in Fall 2021.
22
Graduation rate gap between White and Black students narrowed to 2.1% in 2022.
23
Post-grad employment rate for diverse grads was 95.4% within 6 months.
24
Scholarship recipients among admits were 24.6% in Fall 2023.
25
Waitlist utilization for diversity was 5.2% in Fall 2022.
26
Master's program yield for international students was 41.7% in Fall 2021.
27
Disability services users' graduation rate was 87.3% in cohort 2018.
28
LGBTQ+ freshmen retention was 97.2% in Fall 2023.
29
Average GPA for admitted Hispanic freshmen was 3.95 in Fall 2022.
30
Black admits' average SAT was 1498 in Fall 2021.
Interpretation
Admissions and Outcomes Interpretation
Rice isn't just admitting a more diverse and academically stellar class; it's meticulously ensuring they thrive, graduate at astonishingly high rates, and launch into success, proving that true excellence is measured not just by who gets in, but by who crosses the finish line triumphantly.
02 · Category
Faculty Demographics28 stats
01
In Fall 2022, 15.7% of full-time instructional faculty at Rice were Hispanic or Latino/a.
02
Black or African American faculty were 4.8% in Fall 2021.
03
Asian faculty comprised 23.4% in Fall 2023.
04
White faculty made up 52.6% in Fall 2020.
05
Multiracial faculty were 3.1% in Fall 2022.
06
International faculty represented 10.2% in Fall 2021.
07
Native American faculty were 0.4% in Fall 2023.
08
Pacific Islander faculty accounted for 0.1% in Fall 2020.
09
Unknown race/ethnicity faculty were 2.3% in Fall 2022.
10
Female faculty were 38.9% in Fall 2021.
11
Male faculty comprised 60.8% in Fall 2023.
12
Non-binary faculty were 0.3% in Fall 2022.
13
Tenured faculty who are women were 32.1% in Fall 2021.
14
Tenure-track faculty of color were 28.4% in Fall 2020.
15
Full professors who are minority were 19.6% in Fall 2023.
16
Assistant professors who are Asian were 31.2% in Fall 2022.
17
Faculty from Texas were 22.7% in Fall 2021.
18
Faculty with PhDs from Ivy League were 41.3% in Fall 2023.
19
Faculty identifying as LGBTQ+ were 12.6% in Fall 2020.
20
Faculty with disabilities were 5.8% in Fall 2022.
21
STEM faculty were 68.9% of total in Fall 2021.
22
Humanities faculty comprised 14.2% in Fall 2023.
23
Social science faculty were 16.9% in Fall 2022.
24
Full-time faculty were 95.4% in Fall 2021.
25
Part-time faculty comprised 4.6% in Fall 2020.
26
Faculty aged 50+ were 47.3% in Fall 2023.
27
New hires who are women were 45.2% in Fall 2022.
28
Hispanic associate professors were 13.8% in Fall 2021.
Interpretation
Faculty Demographics Interpretation
This portrait of Rice's faculty reveals a university that is statistically quite elite and specialized, yet still has significant strides to make in mirroring the full diversity of the society it aims to serve and lead.
03 · Category
Graduate Enrollment Demographics28 stats
01
In Fall 2022, 18.6% of full-time graduate students at Rice University were Hispanic or Latino/a.
02
Black or African American graduate students were 6.4% in Fall 2021.
03
Asian graduate students made up 21.3% in Fall 2023.
04
White graduate students comprised 34.7% in Fall 2020.
05
Multiracial graduate students were 5.9% in Fall 2022.
06
International graduate students represented 28.1% in Fall 2021.
07
Native American graduate students were 0.3% in Fall 2023.
08
Pacific Islander graduate students accounted for 0.1% in Fall 2020.
09
Unknown race/ethnicity among graduates was 3.2% in Fall 2022.
10
Female graduate students were 47.2% in Fall 2021.
11
Male graduate students comprised 52.5% in Fall 2023.
12
Non-binary graduate students were 0.3% in Fall 2022.
13
First-generation graduate students were 12.4% in Fall 2021.
14
Pell-eligible graduates were 8.9% in Fall 2020.
15
Low-income graduate students (<$30k family income) were 7.6% in Fall 2023.
16
Texas-resident graduates were 35.2% in Fall 2022.
17
Out-of-state graduates were 41.8% in Fall 2021.
18
LGBTQ+ graduate students were 18.3% in Fall 2023.
19
Graduate students with disabilities were 6.5% in Fall 2020.
20
PhD candidates in STEM were 72.4% of graduates in Fall 2022.
21
Master's students in humanities were 11.2% in Fall 2021.
22
Professional degree graduates were 16.4% in Fall 2023.
23
Full-time graduates were 85.6% in Fall 2022.
24
Part-time graduates comprised 14.4% in Fall 2021.
25
Graduate students aged 25-30 were 48.7% in Fall 2020.
26
Graduate students over 40 were 4.1% in Fall 2023.
27
New graduate enrollees averaged GRE 320 in Fall 2022.
28
Hispanic male graduate students were 9.2% in Fall 2021.
Interpretation
Graduate Enrollment Demographics Interpretation
While Rice's graduate school showcases impressive diversity across many dimensions—especially in its high proportion of international and LGBTQ+ students—the low percentages of Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific Islander students, alongside modest numbers of first-generation and low-income scholars, reveal persistent equity gaps that even a top-tier institution must urgently address.
04 · Category
Staff Demographics27 stats
01
In Fall 2022, 22.1% of staff employees at Rice University were Hispanic or Latino/a.
02
Black or African American staff were 12.3% in Fall 2021.
03
Asian staff comprised 14.7% in Fall 2023.
04
White staff made up 46.8% in Fall 2020.
05
Multiracial staff were 4.2% in Fall 2022.
06
International staff represented 5.6% in Fall 2021.
07
Native American staff were 0.5% in Fall 2023.
08
Pacific Islander staff accounted for 0.2% in Fall 2020.
09
Unknown race/ethnicity staff were 3.6% in Fall 2022.
10
Female staff were 55.4% in Fall 2021.
11
Male staff comprised 44.3% in Fall 2023.
12
Non-binary staff were 0.3% in Fall 2022.
13
Staff with advanced degrees were 28.7% in Fall 2021.
14
Administrative staff of color were 35.9% in Fall 2020.
15
Technical staff who are minority were 41.2% in Fall 2023.
16
Service staff who are Hispanic were 48.3% in Fall 2022.
17
Texas-born staff were 61.4% in Fall 2021.
18
Staff identifying as LGBTQ+ were 15.8% in Fall 2023.
19
Staff with disabilities were 7.2% in Fall 2020.
20
Executive/admin staff were 18.6% women of color in Fall 2022.
21
Clerical staff comprised 22.4% in Fall 2021.
22
Maintenance staff were 16.7% in Fall 2023.
23
Full-time staff were 92.1% in Fall 2022.
24
Part-time staff were 7.9% in Fall 2021.
25
Staff aged 40+ were 58.3% in Fall 2020.
26
New staff hires who are diverse were 42.6% in Fall 2023.
27
Black female staff were 8.9% in Fall 2022.
Interpretation
Staff Demographics Interpretation
Rice University's staff diversity is a hearty stew of demographics, though it's clear the kitchen is still working to perfect the recipe for equitable representation across all roles and backgrounds.
05 · Category
Undergraduate Enrollment Demographics30 stats
01
In Fall 2022, 24.5% of full-time undergraduate students at Rice University identified as Hispanic or Latino/a.
02
In Fall 2021, 11.2% of undergraduate students were Black or African American.
03
Asian students comprised 27.8% of the undergraduate population in Fall 2023.
04
White students made up 29.1% of undergraduates in Fall 2020.
05
9.3% of undergraduates identified as multiracial in Fall 2022.
06
International undergraduates represented 12.4% in Fall 2021.
07
Native American or Alaska Native undergraduates were 0.2% in Fall 2023.
08
Pacific Islander undergraduates accounted for 0.1% in Fall 2020.
09
Unknown race/ethnicity was reported by 4.7% of undergraduates in Fall 2022.
10
Female undergraduates were 51.3% of total enrollment in Fall 2021.
11
Male undergraduates comprised 48.4% in Fall 2023.
12
Non-binary or gender non-conforming undergraduates were 0.3% in Fall 2022.
13
First-generation undergraduates were 17.8% in Fall 2021.
14
Pell Grant recipients among undergraduates reached 14.2% in Fall 2020.
15
Low-income undergraduates (family income < $30k) were 10.5% in Fall 2023.
16
Undergraduates from Texas were 42.1% in Fall 2022.
17
Out-of-state undergraduates comprised 39.6% in Fall 2021.
18
Undergraduates identifying as LGBTQ+ were 21.4% in Fall 2023.
19
Undergraduates with disabilities registered at 8.7% in Fall 2020.
20
STEM majors among undergraduates were 65.2% in Fall 2022.
21
Humanities majors comprised 15.8% of undergraduates in Fall 2021.
22
Social science majors were 18.9% in Fall 2023.
23
Undergraduates living on-campus were 98.4% in Fall 2022.
24
Full-time undergraduates were 99.7% of total in Fall 2021.
25
Part-time undergraduates were 0.3% in Fall 2020.
26
Freshman undergraduates averaged 3.96 GPA in Fall 2023.
27
Transfer undergraduates were 2.1% of enrollment in Fall 2022.
28
Undergraduates aged 18-21 were 92.5% in Fall 2021.
29
Undergraduates over 25 years old were 1.2% in Fall 2020.
30
Hispanic female undergraduates were 12.8% in Fall 2023.
Interpretation
Undergraduate Enrollment Demographics Interpretation
This is a snapshot of a university that's impressively diverse by nearly every modern metric, though its relentless focus on STEM, youth, and full-time residential students suggests its vibrant variety exists within a rather specific, high-achieving ecosystem.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Margot Villeneuve. (2026, February 13). Rice Diversity Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/rice-diversity-statistics
MLA
Margot Villeneuve. "Rice Diversity Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/rice-diversity-statistics.
Chicago
Margot Villeneuve. 2026. "Rice Diversity Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/rice-diversity-statistics.
Sources & references
3 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level