Rice MBA Career Outcomes: Top Employers, Industries and Salaries for Recent Graduates

A great career doesn’t just happen. It’s built with support, strategy and the right community behind you. With support that starts on day one and lasts a lifetime, Rice MBA students and alumni have the confidence, connections and capabilities to lead in any industry — and the results speak for themselves.

When our alumni are ready to pivot, level up or launch something new, they’re doing it with the full support of a dedicated Career Development Office, strong partnerships and a network that shows up again and again. 

Top Employers of Rice Full-Time MBA Grads

From tech and consulting to energy, finance and startups, our MBA graduates land roles across industries and geographies. Companies are hiring Rice MBAs because they’re ready to lead — and because they know how to solve real-world problems with insight, creativity and a collaborative mindset.

Over the past three years, Rice Full-Time MBA graduates have drawn employers from across various sectors, led by financial services, consulting, energy and technology.

Here’s a look at the top employers in each of the five most in-demand sectors for our students:

• Investment banking: Bank of America Securities, Barclays Global Markets, JP Morgan, Piper Sandler, Wells Fargo
• Consulting: Bain & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Deloitte Consulting, EY-Parthenon, McKinsey & Company
• Energy: ConocoPhillips, EnergyRe Services, ExxonMobil, NRG Energy, Phillips 66
• Technology: Amazon, AT&T, Cisco Systems, HPE, Verizon

While every year presents new hiring challenges in the ever-evolving business landscape, it’s clear the Rice Business network works: nearly all first-year Full-Time MBAs secured internships, and most were made possible by school connections. 

Plus, Rice Business saw a surge of new companies hiring Rice Business students this past year, contributing to the more than 175 employers who have hired full-time students from the classes of 2024 and 2025. Details on recent hiring employers and incomes of our Full-Time MBA graduates are available in our career outcomes report.

Where Our Professional MBAs Land After Graduation

At Rice, Professional MBA students bring eight years of work experience — and leave ready to lead, launch or level up. For these graduates, energy remains a top industry, with about one-third of graduates accepting roles in the field — whether continuing their careers or making a strategic move. Others are landing positions in consulting, financial services and a wide range of other sectors.

More than 40% of our recent Professional MBA alumni accepted roles at new companies —  a strong signal that the Rice MBA opens doors to bold career moves, whether that means changing industries, shifting functions or stepping into new leadership roles. Many also advance within their current organizations, earning promotions and expanded responsibilities before they even graduate.

And with an average starting salary north of $150k and a high rate of signing bonuses, our Professional MBA graduates are seeing a strong return on investment. More importantly, they’re finding work that excites them — roles that challenge, inspire and align with their long-term goals. 

While this data reflects outcomes for our Professional MBAs, Hybrid MBA students benefit from the same rigorous curriculum, career support and community that drive these results. Read more about our Professional MBA student outcomes in the career highlights here.

Career Support That Doesn’t Stop at Graduation

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At Rice Business, career support doesn’t end when you land your first post-MBA role — it’s designed to grow with you. Whether you're stepping into a new role, making a change ten years down the line or launching something of your own, you'll always have a community in your corner. 

The Rice Business alumni network runs deep — rooted in Houston’s dynamic business world and connected across industries and continents. Backed by a dedicated career development team and alumni programming that keeps you plugged in, the Rice MBA is more than a degree. It’s a long-term investment in your growth.

Hiring? Let’s talk.

If you’re looking for smart, driven professionals who know how to solve problems and work well with others, you’ll find them here. Rice MBAs bring real-world experience and a fresh perspective to every challenge. Connect with us to set up a student coffee chat, host an info session or meet your next great hire.

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