Houston, Texas, US
Rice University: English test requirements
Rice sets one English minimum for undergraduates and a separate one for graduate study, each with TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo routes, plus Cambridge at undergraduate level. SAT and ACT are recommended but not required for first-year applicants.
Checked on 31 Oct 2026 against the university's own pages. Universities change their requirements, and some courses ask for more. Always confirm on the university's page before you book a test or apply.
IELTS
UG 7.0
PG 7
TOEFL iBT
UG 100 / 5.0
PG 90 / 4.5
PTE Academic
UG Not on the list
PG Not on the list
Duolingo English Test
UG 130
PG 115
Undergraduate
One set of minimums for all first-year applicants whose first language is not English. The alternative to a test is at least two years of full-time study in an English language curriculum before applying. Scores must come from a single sitting; TOEFL myBestScores are not accepted. Only IELTS Academic is accepted, not General Training. During the transition period Rice also considers the comparable 0 to 120 TOEFL score.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 7.0 | Accepted | |
| TOEFL iBT (centre or Home Edition) | 100 (tests before 21 January 2026) / 5.0 (updated scale, tests on or after 21 January 2026) | Accepted | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the list | |
| Duolingo English Test | 130 | Accepted | |
| Cambridge English C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | 185 | Accepted |
“Applicants whose first language is not English are required to demonstrate English proficiency in one of two ways:”
Undergraduate: international students and English language proficiency
Graduate
This is the central rule from Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Exemptions apply to a degree from a US institution or from a post-secondary institution where English is the official language of instruction. TOEFL myBest scores are not accepted. The page also says Rice will not accept TOEFL ITP Plus for 2026.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | at least 7 | Accepted | |
| TOEFL iBT (centre or Home Edition) | 90 (exams before 21 January 2026) / 4.5 (exams on or after 21 January 2026) | Accepted | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the list | |
| Duolingo English Test | at least 115 | Accepted |
“For exams taken before January 21, 2026: We require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 90”
Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies: language proficiency requirements
Admissions tests
SAT / ACT · First-year applicants
Optional
SAT or ACT is recommended if available, but applicants who cannot or prefer not to submit scores still receive full consideration. English proficiency testing is separate and is required where it applies.
“Rice recommends that degree-seeking first-year and transfer applicants submit SAT or ACT test scores if available.”
GMAT / GRE · Jones full-time MBA
Optional
The page says the programme accepts the GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment and offers test waivers for eligible applicants. It does not state that a test is required of everyone, so this is not shown as required. No minimum score is stated.
“We accept the GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment”
Other tests the university lists
- Cambridge English C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (undergraduate)
The page says these are not accepted
- IELTS General Training (undergraduate)
- TOEFL myBestScores
- TOEFL ITP Plus (graduate, for 2026)
“Not on the list” means the test does not appear on the university page we checked. It does not mean the test is refused: the course page or the admissions office may still accept it, so ask them.
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