The application for the MAcc Class of 2028 has officially opened as of June 15. This cohort will begin studies in August 2027 and graduate in May 2028. We look forward to receiving your application! Please contact us if you have any questions as you prepare.
| Decision Round | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | Friday, October 9, 2026 |
| Round 2 | Friday, January 8, 2027 |
| Round 3 | Friday, April 9, 2027 |
Applicants need to have completed an introductory financial accounting course before submitting an application. See the program prerequisites page for more information.
Read below for details on the materials needed to complete your Rice MAcc application.
EssayWrite a Statement of Purpose essay describing who you are and why you're interested in pursuing a graduate accounting degree. You also have the option to submit a scholarship essay.
All applicants will submit a Statement of Purpose. The essay prompt is, "Describe your short-term and long-term career goals, and how the MAcc will help you achieve those goals. Include in your discussion: Where do you see yourself in one, five and 10 years after completing the MAcc, and why are you interested in earning a MAcc degree from Rice? (Maximum 750 words)". Make sure you directly address each aspect of the essay prompt.
If would you like to be considered for a merit scholarship, you also will submit a scholarship essay. Its prompt is, "Describe for the Admissions Committee what unique background, talents, experiences, or skills sets you apart from other applicants."
Your resume should be one page in length and in PDF format. It should highlight your academic, extracurricular, and professional achievements. Review your resume to make sure it's up to date and free from errors.
TranscriptsProvide your academic transcripts.
You do not need to submit your Rice transcripts; we will retrieve your Rice transcript ourselves. You only need to submit unofficial transcripts from any other institution you attended whose credits were not transferred to Rice.
Unofficial U.S. transcripts will suffice for your application. If you are admitted and enroll, you will be required to send us official (physical or electronic) transcripts from each bachelor's or graduate degree earned from U.S. degree-granting institution(s).
It is not necessary to submit transcripts from summer or study abroad coursework if those classes were not required for your degree, they total fewer than nine credit hours, or completion of those courses is already reflected on your primary transcript.
Select two people who, based on their relationship with you, can vouch for your potential to succeed in an intensive graduate accounting program and in a subsequent professional business career. We prefer that at least one of your references be a professor who taught you a quantitively-oriented class.
Use your best judgment in selecting references; if you feel it necessary, you may also include a note in your application explaining your choice. Personal friends, relatives, or family acquaintances are not appropriate people to serve as a reference.
You provide the name, email address, title, and relationship to this person in your application for both references. They will be contacted should the Admissions Committee judge it helpful to evaluate your candidacy for the program.
Standardized TestsA GMAT or GRE test score is optional.
The Rice MAcc program doesn't require applicants to provide a GMAT or GRE standardized test score as part of your application. However, you are still welcome to provide a GMAT or GRE test score if you believe it will help demonstrate your aptitude to the Rice MAcc Admissions Committee. A strong test score may also increase your chances for a merit-based scholarship award.
Online Application and FeeOnce your application has been submitted and the application fee of $100 has been paid, the Admissions Committee will begin reviewing your application.
The $100 application fee is automatically waived for Rice undergraduates and alumni. The fee is also waived if you are an undergraduate or alumni from Austin College or Southwestern University.
International ApplicantsInternational students follow most of the same application procedures as domestic students, with these additions.
Applicants who did not earn a bachelor’s degree from an English-speaking institution are also required to submit an English proficiency exam test score from one of the following:
To ensure credential standardization, we require that all transcripts from non-U.S. degree-granting institutions be reviewed by a third-party transcript evaluation service. You are welcome to use any of the two companies below for this process. The evaluation will fulfill the requirement of an official transcript for that institution.
Transcript evaluations should be emailed directly from the transcript evaluation service to: RiceMAcc@rice.edu or mailed to:
MAcc Program Admissions
6100 Main St., MS-531
Houston, TX 77005
We review applications comprehensively, which means that not any piece of the application is viewed as more important than the others. Rather, we evaluate the quantitative and qualitative elements of your application together to determine your overall fit with the program.
The admissions interview is an opportunity for you to showcase your motivations for pursuing a MAcc degree at Rice Business. Interviews will be conducted via Zoom.
Due to the number of applications received every year, we are not able to extend an invitation for every applicant.
Meet Willa Tao, a twice-Rice graduate and senior associate in audit at PwC. Learn why she chose the Master of Accounting at Rice Business, what a day in her life looks like and her advice to prospective students.
What do a MAcc and CPA have to do with each other? Find out what you'll learn in a Master of Accounting program, how it can help you pursue a professional accounting license and why Rice Business is a top choice.
A MAcc and an MBA both lead to strong career outcomes, but they’re built for different goals, timelines and stages of experience. Here’s how the two degrees compare.
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