Hermann Park with downtown skyline

At Home in Houston

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 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.

 

McNair Hall exterior shot black and white

Intentionally Small. Verifiably Great.

4th

Largest city

#1

Most diverse large city in the U.S.

29%

Lower cost of living than the average most populous U.S. cities

#2

Most Fortune 500 companies in U.S.

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

Ashley Henry, Rice Full-Time MBA

Interested in Rice Business?

 
Houston Skyline with Be Someone Text

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 29 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 Strong T Shirt on Male Student
Economic Development

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.

Rice students walking down tree-lined sidewalk
Living in Houston

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.

Bagby Park in Midtown (photo credit Spenser Harrison)
Affordability

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 5.9 percent below the nationwide average and 29.2 percent below the average of the nation’s 20 most populous metropolitan areas.

Ion Houston interior with wooden steps

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 development of an artificial heart, innovation is in the city’s blood.

Explore Sculpture Buffalo Bayou Park

A Place to Hang Your Hat

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.

Personally Speaking

Eliza Ann Bornman, Rice Professional MBA

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

Nathan Rogers, Rice Full-Time 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

Kristian DeVito, Rice Professional 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

Houston Aerial Shot with buffalo bayou and downtown

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 second lowest overall cost of living among the nation’s 20 most populous metropolitan areas.

Woman introducing man to another woman at networking event

Houston Works

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. 

Rice Business Alumni and ChopNBlok Owners Holding Up Food
Ope Amosu Full-Time MBA '14, Owner of ChòpnBlok

Foodie Paradise

Home to 10,000 restaurants representing 70 countries, Houston has been called the next food capital of America by GQ Magazine. Come taste why.

 

Minute Maid Park Houston

A Major League

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!

Museum of Fine Arts Light Tunnel

Culture & Arts

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.

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