How to Apply to Psychology at Rice University: Choose the School of Social Sciences and Earn a BA in Psychology, With Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At Rice University in Houston, psychology is taught by the Department of Psychological Sciences in the School of Social Sciences, and the undergraduate degree is the BA in Psychology. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Rice’s 2026-2027 General Announcements, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

Note: Rice’s admission website (admission.rice.edu) refused our requests, so details found only on its international and transfer pages, such as the application fee and transfer deadline, could not be checked; this is noted where relevant.

1. How to apply: choose a school, then list interests

• Rice has seven schools, and every applicant must choose one as their primary area, plus up to three specific interests (majors, minors or pre-professional tracks). Psychology is in the School of Social Sciences.
• Rice says its schools look for different strengths, so choose the one that best reflects your interests.
• Review is holistic: course rigor, grades, activities, essays and knowledge of Rice, with no single metric emphasised.
• When to declare: the catalog does not state when to declare psychology, but recommends finishing statistics (PSYC 339 or SOSC 302) and research methods (PSYC 340) preferably by the end of sophomore year. Ask the department for details.

2. Psychology major requirements

• Credits: at least 15 courses (47 credit hours) for the major and 120 for the degree, with at least nine courses at 300-level or above.
• Five core courses: Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 101, or AP/other credit), Introduction to Social Psychology, Introduction to Cognitive Psychology, Statistical Methods (PSYC 339 or SOSC 302) and Research Methods (PSYC 340).
• Electives: ten more PSYC courses.
• Grades: a major GPA of at least 2.00. The statistics and research methods courses cannot be substituted or met with transfer credit.
• Honors: apply during spring preregistration of junior year with a major GPA of 3.70 and overall GPA of 3.50, statistics completed and research methods completed or in progress.

3. Decision plans and deadlines

• Early Decision I (binding): deadline November 1, decisions by mid-December.
• Early Decision II (binding): deadline January 4, decisions by mid-February.
• Regular Decision: deadline January 4; the catalog does not give a release date.
• QuestBridge National College Match is also available.
• Recommendations: one counselor and two teachers, ideally one related to your intended field.
• Interviews: recommended but optional and not guaranteed.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Transcripts: grades 9–11 plus current grade 12 courses; ED applicants are encouraged to send first marking-period grades and RD applicants must send mid-year grades. Students in exam-based international curricula also send exam and predicted results.
• Coursework: at least four years of English, two of social studies, three of math, two of lab science, two of a foreign language and three more, 16 units in all.
• Gaokao: the catalog does not say how Gaokao results are used.
• Testing: Rice recommends SAT or ACT scores; applicants without scores receive full consideration.
• English: non-native speakers either complete two years of full-time English-medium study or submit a score (below).

5. Students at Canadian high schools

• The catalog gives no Canada- or BC-specific grade requirements; the course requirements and holistic review above apply.
• Non-native speakers with two years of full-time study at an English-medium Canadian school do not need an English test.
• CEGEP (Science Option) results of A or B may earn transfer credit.

6. English requirements (minimums)

• TOEFL iBT: 100 for tests before 21 January 2026, 5.0 on the new scale after; Home Edition accepted.
• IELTS 7; Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 185; Duolingo 130.
• Scores must come directly from the testing agency; Rice’s TOEFL code is 6609.

7. Costs and aid

• 2026-27 tuition: US$71,140 a year for students entering 2024 or later.
• Required fees: student activity $120, recreation center $144 and health and wellness $720 a year, plus health insurance (TBA), orientation week fees and a $395 international orientation fee for new international students.
• Room and board: $20,530 a year in a residential college.
• Need-based aid for international students: Rice is need-aware for international applicants and offers need-based aid to a limited number; indicate it on the application and use the CSS Profile. Students admitted without requesting aid cannot apply in later years.
• Financial statement: all international applicants complete the International Student Financial Statement; those not requesting aid must show they can pay.
• Merit scholarships: all admitted students, domestic and international, are considered automatically; about 20% receive one each year.

8. Transfer students

• Who counts: students with at least 12 semester hours after high school and at least a 3.2 GPA in recent college work.
• Residency: at least four full-time semesters and 60 semester hours at Rice, plus more than half of upper-level degree and major work.
• Credit: grades of C- or better; courses from outside the US need a professional course-by-course evaluation (Rice recommends The Evaluation Company or Education Credential Evaluators). Psychology’s statistics and research methods courses cannot be met with transfer credit.
• Deadline: published on the admission office’s transfer page, which we could not check; confirm it with Rice.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Choose the School of Social Sciences and list psychology as an interest
• Apply ED I by November 1, or ED II / RD by January 4
• TOEFL 100 (5.0 new), IELTS 7 or Duolingo 130; SAT/ACT recommended
• If you need aid, say so on the application and submit the CSS Profile

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Two years at an English-medium school waives the English test; send mid-year grade 12 results on time

Transfer students:

• At least 12 credits after high school with a 3.2+ GPA; at least four semesters at Rice; professional evaluation for foreign transcripts

Sources: Rice University, 2026-2027 General Announcements: Admission; BA in Psychology requirements; 2026-2027 tuition, fees and expenses; Transfer credit; Department of Psychological Sciences. Information is for fall 2027 entry. Check Rice for the latest details.