The September 2026 Admin Forum offered a snapshot of Rice University’s evolving academic landscape, highlighting undergraduate enrollment trends, investments in the undergraduate experience, the impact of graduate education and the university’s broader academic mission.
These updates reflect the continued work to strengthen Rice’s academic community and support its students, faculty and staff.
A Growing Undergraduate Applicant Pool
Rice continues to attract a growing and competitive pool of undergraduate applicants.
- Record applications: More than 38,000 students applied for first-year admission for fall 2026.
- Largest incoming class: Approximately 1,350 first-year students enrolled, supporting the university’s continued undergraduate growth.
- Strong enrollment outcomes: Rice maintained an 8% admission rate and a 44% yield rate.
- Broad geographic reach: The incoming class represents 46 states, three U.S. territories and students from a growing range of countries, with the number of countries represented nearly doubling since 2019.
Building the Undergraduate Experience
Investments in residential life, student support and campus spaces continue to shape the undergraduate experience.
- Expanded residential life: Chao College opened alongside the new Lovett College, providing housing for nearly 600 students and expanding Rice’s residential community.
- Enhanced student support: Beginning in fall 2027, the Sallyport Fellows program will provide first-generation and limited-income students with advising, cohort-based mentoring, financial literacy resources and other support throughout their undergraduate experience.
- Campus engagement: In fall 2026, 60% of undergraduate students are participating in at least one student club.
- New student spaces: The Moody Center for Student Life is scheduled to open fall 2027, bringing together student services, academic support resources and programming spaces.
Advancing Graduate Education
Rice continues to expand and strengthen its graduate programs, creating new opportunities for scholarship, research and student success.
- A balanced academic community: Graduate students accounted for slightly more than half of the degrees awarded in 2025-26, while undergraduates made up the majority of students on campus.
- Competitive programs: The new Master of Fine Arts in creative writing program is one of the most competitive in the United States; it received 147 applications and admitted four students to its inaugural cohort.
- National recognition: Rice has 104 graduate Fulbrighters enrolled, with 35 incoming Foreign Fulbright students expected to make Rice’s community one of the largest in the country.
- Graduate student community: Thrive, a program for first-year doctoral students, helps students build connections and establish a sense of community.
Strengthening Rice’s Academic Mission
The Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs supports Rice’s faculty and broader academic community through university-wide policies, services and programs. Its work includes faculty-related policies, international student and scholar services, faculty development, and writing and communication programs that support students and faculty across the university.
Rice’s success as a research university depends on more than research and teaching alone. Its academic mission is built on three core functions: discovery, preserving and building on existing knowledge, and mentoring students. Together, these functions help advance knowledge and prepare future generations. The university’s physical campus brings people and ideas together, while academic freedom allows scholars to pursue research and challenge existing ideas.
Staff play an essential role in supporting this work through their expertise, care and daily contributions, helping create the conditions for research, discovery and student success. Ultimately, these efforts connect the work happening across campus to Rice’s broader academic mission.
Want to learn more? Watch the Fall 2026 Admin Forum presentation recordings for additional insights into Rice’s academic priorities and the work happening across the university.