Rice Sociology is eager to welcome applications for our Fall 2026 cohort of Ph.D. students! Applications will open on September 1, 2025. Admissions selections for our Fall 2025 cohort are currently underway.
Application Deadline: December 1, 2025
Students applying for admission to our Ph.D. program are asked to submit the following:
1. A completed application form
Apply at Rice University's Sociology Online Application
2. Application fee
The application fee is $85.00 and can be paid through the online graduate application. Applications can be processed only after the application fee is received. Rice University will waive application fees for doctoral applicants who are graduates of institutions in Texas and bordering states Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico or who have a permanent address in these states. The Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) also grants application fee waivers during the open recruitment cycle each fall; please visit their website for more information on how to apply for one.
3. Transcripts
Unofficial copies of transcripts must be uploaded electronically to the application system. If an applicant is accepted to our graduate program, OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS must be submitted to the department in a sealed envelope sent directly to the Department of Sociology at the following address:
Rice University Graduate Admissions
Sociology MS-28
6100 Main St.
Houston, TX 77005
We also accept official transcripts that are electronically sent directly from the granting institution and emailed to soci@rice.edu. We cannot accept electronic transcripts directly from applicants; transcripts must be sent directly from the applicant’s previous institutions.
Any degree that an applicant is currently pursuing (B.A., B.S., M.A., M.S.) must be conferred (completed) before submitting the transcript(s); the admitted student will not be permitted to register for the second semester at Rice without official conferral of the degree and official transcripts on file.
4. GRE/TOEFL
For 2026 admission, the Sociology Ph.D. program is GRE-optional. If you would still like to submit your GRE scores as part of your application, remember that the scores must not be over five years old, and an official copy must be sent to Rice University directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Personal or photocopies are not acceptable.
Please use the following ETS school codes if submitting official test scores to Rice University:
School code: 6609
Sociology Department code: 2102
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of any student whose native language is not English, regardless of whether or not you have attended another U.S. institution. Your score must not be over two years old, and an official copy must be sent to Rice University directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Students must score at least 600 on the paper-based TOEFL or 90 on the internet-based TOEFL. The minimum score for students who take the IELTS in lieu of TOEFL is 7. For other approved testing options, please click here.
5. Letters of recommendation
Three letters of recommendation from people familiar with your scholastic and personal qualities are required. The online application will allow you to enter recommender information, and your recommenders will be emailed a URL for completing an online recommendation.
6. Writing sample
Applicants are required to submit a sample of their best writing. This might be an undergraduate course paper or a research term paper. The writing sample may be from any discipline. While there is no official limit on the length of writing samples, most submissions are between 10 and 30 pages in length. Writing samples can be single or double-spaced.
7. Statement of Purpose
In addition to the writing sample, applicants must submit a statement of purpose between 2-4 pages. Please include your career goals, the faculty member(s) you would most like to work with, and why you would be a good fit for our program.
Other Requirements
Rice University's Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS) provides comprehensive information about studying in the United States, including visa requirements, etc. Please visit the Office of International Student Services (OISS) website for more information.
Apply Online at Rice University's Sociology Online Application .
The deadline for sending completed applications to the department is December 1. Rice will send a notification of acceptance no later than April 1.
For inquires regarding the GRE or TOEFL exams, contact:
Educational Testing Service
Rosedale Road
Princeton, NJ 08541 USA
609-921-9000
etsinfo@ets.org or www.ets.org
For all other application questions, contact: soci@rice.edu