Welcome to Houston, America's fourth-largest and most diverse city, with one of the youngest, fastest-growing populations anywhere in the world. The 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 to spend two years (or more) during graduate school.
Imagine. Houston.
Houston is inspired. It’s a diverse, vibrant city full of talented people where anything is possible. You belong here.
Intentionally Small. Verifiably Great.
4th
Largest city
#1
Most diverse city in the U.S.
26%
Lower cost of living than other U.S. cities
#3
Most Fortune 500 companies in U.S.
I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I felt at home in the Rice community. I began the semester remote and visited Houston for a week in October. However, my classmates, faculty and administrators were so down-to-earth and welcoming that my one-week trip turned into a full-on move – seriously, I found an apartment and changed my return flight home.
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 26 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.
Houston has the 3rd 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 4.8 percent below the nationwide average and 26.4 percent below the average of the nation’s 20 most populous metropolitan areas.
Innovation District
Houston’s new Innovation District is helping the city diversify its industries, connect entrepreneurs with venture capital, and build its reputation as a startup hub. With historic firsts like the moon landing and the development of an artificial heart, innovation is in the city’s blood.
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 ‘22
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 ‘22
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 ‘22
Affordability
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 third lowest overall cost of living among the nation’s 20 most populous metropolitan areas.
Once known for oil and gas and wildcatters, Houston has refined its reputation as one of the world’s great global cities. Today it also draws businesses and talent in healthcare, life sciences, digital tech, aerospace, manufacturing, trade and transportation. While it still boasts “the energy capital of the world” nickname, Houston is so much more than that.
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 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo each spring, the world's largest!
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.
Houston is hot right now — and we don’t just mean the weather. Come see why this inclusive city attracts one of the most diverse populations in the country. You’ll fit right in.
