Jones Graduate School of Business – Rice University
The Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University, located in the heart of Houston, Texas, offers Full-Time, Professional, Executive, Hybrid and Online MBA program options as well as a deferred enrollment option to graduating undergraduate seniors. The school provides targeted career management resources, and Fortune 500 organizations often recruit from Rice Business. With a prominent faculty and specialized concentrations that can be tailored to each student’s career path, the Rice Jones Graduate School of Business MBA appeals to professionals from many different backgrounds.
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FAQ
What is the tuition for the Rice Business MBA program?
The tuition for the full-time MBA program is $76,073 per year.
What is the average GMAT score for admission to the Rice Business Full-Time MBA program?
The average GMAT score at Rice Business is 694.
Does the Rice Business MBA program accept the GRE?
Yes. All Rice Business MBA programs accept the GRE.
What is the average GRE score for admission to the Rice Business Full-Time MBA program?
The average GRE score, combined for both Quant and Verbal, for the Rice Business Full-Time MBA class is 316.
What is the median starting salary for graduates of the Rice Business Full-Time MBA program?
The median starting salary for Rice Business Full-Time MBA graduates is $150,000. The salary will vary by industry, with consulting and finance jobs generally commanding higher salaries.
How long is the Rice Business Full-Time MBA program?
Rice Business offers a traditional 2-year MBA program.
What are the application deadlines for the Rice Business Full-Time MBA program?
The Round 1 MBA application deadline is October 17, 2025. The Round 2 application deadline is January 16, 2026. The Round 3 deadline is April 3, 2026. The Round 4 deadline, for domestic applicants only, is May 27, 2026.
What percent of Rice Business Full-Time MBA students are women?
Thirty-nine percent of the Rice MBA Class of 2026 are women.
Admissions
The Class Profile
158 students matriculated as members of the Rice MBA Class of 2026. Thirty-nine percent are women and 37% are international. Twenty-eight percent of U.S. citizens and permanent residents identify as underrepresented minorities while 57% identify as U.S. minorities.
During their undergraduate years, Rice MBA students averaged a GPA of 3.46. Twenty-three percent of the new MBA class were first-generation college students. When it came to entrance exams, Rice MBAs landed an average GMAT of 794 and an average GRE of 157 Verbal 159 Quant.
The Rice MBA Class of 2026 matriculated with an average of 5.1 years of work experience.
Application Procedures
Applicants have four rounds in which they can apply, with deadlines landing from October through May. All applicants must hold a four-year degree from an accredited U.S. institution, or the international equivalent. Official transcripts and GMAT/GRE/EA scores are also required, although standardized test waivers available. Other elements of the application include a résumé, a recommendation (preferably from a current direct supervisor), two admissions essays, and a $200 application fee. Candidates may be invited to interview after a review of the application.
Application Checklist
- Completed online application
- Official GMAT, GRE, or EA test scores
- Official academic transcripts from all prior institutions
- Professional Resume
- One recommendation preferably from a current direct supervisor
- Admissions Interview
- Application Fee ($200)
Essay Topic Analysis
Recommendation Questions
Rice / Jones Q&A's
Rice / Jones LiveWire and DecisionWire
Academics
Faculty
Rice Business MBA faculty consists of over 200 professors, assistant professors, adjuncts and lecturers. They teach across 13 academic fields and contribute their ongoing research to the school’s publication, Rice Business Wisdom. The professors bring both academic research and real-world business knowledge to the classroom.
Curriculum
The two-year full-time MBA is a cohort-based program designed to work for a variety of students. Students need 60 credits to graduate, and classes take place during the day Monday through Thursday. Before the start of classes, new students partake in the Rice MBA Program Launch to prepare for the program. The Launch is mandatory and entails several orientation activities as well as courses, team building and social events. International students arrive a week earlier than domestic students and partake in activities to help them adjust to the new culture, before joining the Rice MBA Program Launch.
The first year is dominated by the core curriculum, which includes such disciplines as finance, marketing, accounting and communications. Overall, about 30 credits come from core requirements and the remaining 30 credits are fulfilled by taking elective classes. After a summer internship designed to help students pursue relevant career options, MBA candidates return for a second year to pursue more customized learning in specific areas of interest. In the second year, students can choose from more than 100 electives and may pursue specializations in accounting, energy, entrepreneurship, finance, health care, leadership, marketing, operations management, real estate, or strategic management.
Other Degree Offerings
In addition to the full-time MBA, Rice also offers a Professional MBA, Hybrid MBA, and Online MBA, as well as an MBA for Executives. The Professional MBA is a two-year long program with classes on evenings and weekends.. The curriculum is structured like the full-time MBA—the first year is dedicated to core requirements, and the second year focuses on electives.
With an emphasis on decision-making, leadership and strategy, the Executive MBA is designed for experienced executives. The program lasts 22 months with classes held on alternating weekends. There are also four required weeklong executive forums, including a required international forum.
For those who need flexibility, Rice offers a Hybrid MBA. The program requires 54 credits and takes two years to complete. To graduate, students must complete the required classes, offered live online, and complete monthly in-person weekends along with three weeklong residential intensive learning experiences, including a global field experience involving a capstone consulting project.
With the same length and required credits as the Hybrid MBA, the online MBA@Rice allows students further flexibility through live online classes, with two required in-person residencies, one being a Global Field Experience.
Specializations at Rice Business
- Accounting
- Energy
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Healthcare
- Leadership
- Marketing
- Operations Management
- Real Estate
- Strategic Management
Degree Offerings at Rice Business
Full-Time MBA
https://business.rice.edu/rice-mba/full-time-mba
Professional MBA
https://business.rice.edu/rice-mba/professional-mba
Hybrid MBA
https://business.rice.edu/rice-mba/hybrid-mba
Executive MBA
https://business.rice.edu/rice-mba/executive-mba
MBA@Rice (Online MBA)
https://business.rice.edu/rice-mba/online-mba
Campus Life
Clubs, Conferences, & Competitions
Almost all Rice students participate in student clubs, and there are over 30 options available. They are a great way for students to socialize, network, and gain leadership experience. For instance, industry-specific groups for students interested in real estate or marketing are available, in addition to affinity groups such as the Rice Business Veterans Association.
Rice also offers myriad other activities. In terms of conferences, the Rice Energy Finance Summit (REFS) is a yearly conference run by students to spark conversations about current issues in the energy industry. Past sponsors have included BCG, Phillips 66, and EOG Resources. Students may also partake in a weeklong visit to Wall Street to meet with alumni and business professionals in the finance industry. The Technology Trek is a similar option for those interested in meeting entrepreneurs and venture capitalists in Austin, Seattle, and Silicon Valley. The Rice Business Plan Competition is a nationally recognized event that supports entrepreneurship and the launch of technology companies.
Campus Spaces
The Jones Graduate School of Business is located in Janice and Robert McNair Hall. The 160,000-square-foot building is located across from the James A. Baker III Institute of Public Policy and Farnsworth Pavilion. In terms of housing, half of Rice Business students choose to live in the college town West University Place. Other students choose to live in surrounding neighborhoods such as Montrose, Midtown, River Oaks, and The Heights.
MBA Careers
Career Services
The Jones Graduate School of Business’s Career Development Office hosts networking events and works with students individually to help them prepare for summer internships and hone their job-searching skills. In addition, the school has relationships with many Fortune 500 organizations. Top recruiters for Rice MBA students include Amazon, Google, and Goldman Sachs.
Career Statistics
The Rice Business MBA Class of 2024 started their post-MBA careers with a median base salary of $150,000 and average signing bonus of $33,000. The financial services industry had the highest rates of employment, at 27%. Consulting followed at 20% and the energy field hired 18% of recent Rice Business graduates. 15% pursued roles in tech.
Financing
For the 2025-26 school year, tuition is $76,073, with an estimated total cost up to $84,360 for the year due to additional expenses. These other expenses include fees, books, parking, and insurance, but not room and board. Students are encouraged to utilize loans, a semester payment plan, or military benefits for financing.
Scholarships are widely available for MBA students. For instance, merit scholarships were awarded to more than 75% of the incoming full-time class. Numerous merit scholarships are available, and applications are automatically considered for scholarships upon submission. Students may also choose to seek out Forte or ROMBA Fellowships. In addition, the Military Scholars program may cover tuition and fees for veteran military applicants. Lastly, the Crownover Scholars Program awards full scholarship support to students who meet strong academic credentials.
Estimated Cost of Attendance per Year
- Tuition: $76,073
- MBA Fees (health and wellness and student government and association fees): $1,230
- Estimated Textbooks: $2,600
- Health Insurance: $3,448
- Parking: $250-$1,009
- Total: $83,601 to $84,360
Recent News
Contact
Mailing Address:
Rice University
Janice and Robert McNair Hall
6100 Main Street
Houston, Texas 77005-1892
Phone: 713-348-4622
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://business.rice.edu/
X (Twitter): @Rice_Biz