Amherst College is the more selective of the two, admitting 6.8% of applicants versus 8.0% at Rice University. For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $11,659 per year at Amherst College versus $10,283 at Rice University. Admitted students post SAT middle-50% ranges of 1500–1560 at Amherst College and 1510–1560 at Rice University.
| Metric | Amherst College | Rice University |
|---|---|---|
| Overall acceptance rate | 6.8% | 8.0% |
| Early acceptance rate | 22.2% | 11.3% |
| SAT middle 50% | 1500–1560 | 1510–1560 |
| Avg unweighted GPA | 3.92 | 3.96 |
| Yield rate | 40.0% | 42.9% |
| Class size | 480 | 1,263 |
| Net price, $48,001–$75,000 income | $11,659 | $10,283 |
| Net price, over $110,000 income | $43,908 | $37,756 |
Admissions and cost data as of July 3, 2026 (CDS 2025–26 cycle), from the most recent Common Data Set, IPEDS, and College Scorecard. Rows appear only where both colleges report the statistic.
Yes. Amherst College admits 6.8% of applicants, compared with 8.0% at Rice University, making it the harder school to get into, based on the most recent Common Data Set.
For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $11,659 per year at Amherst College and $10,283 at Rice University, so Rice University is the lower-cost option at that income level (source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data).
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