Welcome to Houston, America's fourth-largest and most diverse city, with one of the youngest, fastest-growing populations in the world. Rice campus is surrounded by restaurants, museums, theaters, professional sports, lush parks, and the world’s largest medical center. Whichever nickname you use — Space City, H-Town, Bayou City — Houston is the perfect place for graduate school.
A Campus in the Middle of It All
In the heart of Houston, Rice Business drives real-world impact in McNair Hall and our brand-new Virani Hall, which adds 112,000 square feet built for modern, collaborative, hands-on learning. Set on a beautiful, quiet campus steps from downtown and the Texas Medical Center, we connect you directly to global business.
Centrally Located. Verifiably Great.
4th
Largest city
#1
Most diverse large city in the U.S.
25%
Lower cost of living than the average most populous U.S. cities
Houston has the 2nd highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the U.S. There are a large number of national and international companies that call our region home. The Houston economic development story is a strong one, and we will continue to build on it through our target industries in the years to come.
Houston is one of the fastest growing big cities in the country. Ranked fourth in the U.S. by total population, Houston is luring more residents from around the globe, drawn by its mix of cultural amenities, world-class restaurants, diverse communities and a low cost of living.
Houston offers a low cost of living while maintaining a high quality of life with the amenities expected in a world-class city. Houston’s living costs are 5.3 percent below the nationwide average and 25 percent lower than in other major U.S. cities.
I love the weather! As a native northeastern girl, I am so thankful to be able to be outside year-round. Whether it's a morning outdoor workout or lounging at the park with friends, it makes such a difference in your quality of life when you can get regular sun.
Ashley Henry
Full-Time MBA
Why Houston
Scrawled on the overpass above a teeming freeway, a set of giant handwritten letters urge all who pass through: BE SOMEONE. Those two words also happen to be shorthand for why the culture of this port city is a great fit for business students. The average cost of living here is 25 percent lower than in other major U.S. cities, and in this pro-business ecosystem, opportunity abounds. Students graduate with an MBA in the most ethnically diverse city in the country — and with premier access to some of the highest-paying industries in the world.
Houstonians enjoy the perks of big city life without the hefty price tag. Whether it’s a weekend grocery run or your monthly rent, a dollar goes further in Houston — the second lowest overall cost of living among the nation’s 20 most populous metropolitan areas.
Houston built its reputation on energy and still holds it — but the definition has changed. The city that ran oil and gas now runs the global energy transition, alongside healthcare and life sciences at the Texas Medical Center, aerospace, digital tech, manufacturing and trade. Rice Business sits in the middle of all of it.
Even though you’ll spend a ton of time on campus, you still need a place to come home to. We have a housing guide just for Rice Business students because we understand that the small things about an apartment are often the most important. Most of our students live in West University, Montrose and Midtown.
Houston has so many parks for outdoor enthusiasts. One of my favorite things to do is relax on a quilt outside of The Menil Collection on a gorgeous day – reading, studying, and playing with my puppy.
Eliza Ann Bornman
Professional MBA
Hands down, I love the diversity of Houston. The first time I drove into Houston, I was able to listen to a radio station that was entirely Bollywood music. I never had that anywhere else I lived. The variety of food, cultures, and even fusion of cultures is also really inspiring and feels truly Houstonian.
Nathan Rogers
Full-Time MBA
My favorite go-to spot is the McGovern Centennial Gardens near Hermann Park. I constantly stop by to enjoy the beautiful lawn and fountains with a great book or cup of coffee.
Kristian DeVito
Professional MBA
Faculty Who Live Here
Our professors aren’t commuters. They live in Houston, research the industries that run it and teach from that vantage point. They came here because the questions they care about are being answered in this city, in real time.
Developed by Rice University, Houston’s 16-acre Innovation District offers collaborative spaces, resources and programming for entrepreneurs to connect with academics, venture capital and established companies. With historic firsts like the moon landing and development of an artificial heart, innovation is in the city’s blood.
Houston is a major league sports town. Whether you're rooting for the Astros, Rockets, Texans, Dynamo or Dash, you're never far from the action. And don't miss the world's largest livestock show and rodeo each spring!
Houston’s museum district offers the Museum of Fine Arts, Children's Museum, Contemporary Arts Museum, Museum of Natural Science, the Houston Zoo, and evening performances at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park among other attractions. The city's theater district provides world-class, year-round resident companies in all of the major performing arts — the Houston Symphony Orchestra, Houston Grand Opera, the Alley Theatre and the Houston Ballet. Something for everyone.
