Financing Your Degree

Rice offers merit-based scholarships for both our Full-Time MBA and Professional MBA programs.  When you submit your application for admission to Rice Business, your credentials will automatically be reviewed; there are no additional steps for applying.  Both international and domestic students are eligible.  

Scholarship awards will be announced in your admission packet. If awarded, your acceptance letter will indicate the amount offered per academic year.

Sample list of available scholarships:

• Alice Pratt Brown Scholarship
• Association for Corporate Growth Scholarships
• Ben and Kay Mayberry Endowed Scholarship
• Ben Love - BNSF Railway Corporation Endowed Scholarship
• Ben Love Endowed Scholarship
• Bernard Fuchs Scholarship
• Bill & Sally Ann Windle Endowed Scholarship
• Black Business Student Association
• Brian Spector Jones Fund Scholarship
• Caroline Williams Hassell and Elizabeth D. Williams Scholarship
• Chevron Scholarship
• Cisneros Ruch Scholarship
• COMIT Scholarships
• ConocoPhillips Endowed Scholarship
• Cooper M. & Zava Waldrop Lochridge Scholarship in Administration
• Criterion Investment Management Scholarship
• Dorothy Royer McCall Endowed Scholarship
• E.F. “Gene” Florian Fund Scholarship
• Edward D. McDonald Memorial Scholarship
• El Paso Corporation Excellence in Management Scholarship
• Elmer E. & Adele G. Isgren Endowed Scholarship
• Executive MBA Class Gift Endowed Scholarship
• Fayez Sarofim Endowment
• Financial Executive International Scholarship
• Foley Brothers Scholarship
• Gene Florian Fund
• Georgiana Bolton Ladd Scholarship
• Global Geophysical Scholarship
• GO Scholarship
• Gordon Douglas Watson Award in Corporate Management
• Greater Houston Business Ethics Roundtable - Bette Stead Ethics Scholarship
• H. Albert Napier and Elizabeth L. Napier Scholarship
• H. H. Galloway Award H. M. "Bud" Redditt Fellowship in Management
• Harry B. & Aileen B. Gordon Scholarship
• Henry & Shirley Tsang International Scholarship
• Hugh and Ann Roff Endowed Scholarship
• J. Kenneth S. Arthur Scholarship
• Jack F. Maddox Scholarship in Management
• James and Subha Barry Fellowship in Business
• John F. Bookout Endowed Scholarship
• John J. and Kathleen R. Wieland Scholarship
• John T. McCants Prize Jones Fund
• Jones Graduate School Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship
• Jones School Partners Campaign Scholarship
• Jones School Partners Endowed Scholarship Fund
• L.D. Wooddy, Jr. Scholarship
• Lawrence J. O'Connor, Jr. Endowed Fund
• Lee and Jean Blocker Endowed Scholarship
• Leon Nad Memorial Scholarship
• Leonard A. B. Parker Memorial Scholarship
• Leslie D. and Jack S. Blanton Scholarship
• MBA Class Gifts Endowed Scholarship Fund
• MBA Class of 2007 Scholarship Fund
• MBA Class of 2010 Scholarship Fund
• Myron A. Wright Educational Investment Fund
• MBA Women International - Rice Chapter Endowed Scholarship
• NiSource Gas Transmission & Storage Scholarship
• Paige Ziegler Memorial Scholarship
• Phillips Prize in Oral Presentations and Writing
• Philip J Burguieres Scholarship
• Ralph S. O'Connor Scholarship
• Robert H. and Judy Ley Allen Scholarship
• Robert L. Lohse Memorial Scholarship
• Fund Rob Koger Memorial Scholarship
• Robert and Suzanne Potter Scholarship
• Ruth and Gilbert Whitaker Endowed Scholarship
• Spectra Energy Endowed Scholarship
• Speros P. Martel Scholarship Fund
• Karen Ostrum George Scholarship
• Marian Fox Martel Scholarship Fund
• Ralph S. O'Connor Scholarships
• Speros P. Martel Scholarship
• T. Kevin DeNicola Endowed Scholarship
• TAS Commercial Concrete Construction LP Endowed Scholarship
• The Methodist Hospital System
• St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System
• Texas Children’s Hospital and Memorial Hermann Healthcare System Endowed Scholarship
• Tom Richard Moore Endowed Scholarship
• Verne F. Simons Scholarship Fund
• Vernon F. "Doc" Neuhaus Scholarship
• Warren Thomas Thagard III Endowed Scholarship
• William Howard and Marion Frost Keenan Fellowship
• W.J. and Annis Bowen Scholarship
• William S. Mackey Scholarship
• Winters Family Fund

Unfortunately, third-party scholarships for graduate students aren’t very common. Rice Business has put together a small list of outside scholarship resources that you may want to look into though. The list is updated as we become aware of new scholarship opportunities. 

Federal Direct Student Loans are issued through the Department of Education and are available to US Citizens and US Permanent Residents (green card holders).

The first step is to complete the Department of Education’s 2021-2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Rice University’s FAFSA school code is 003604.

Once you've been admitted and paid your enrollment deposit, your FAFSA information will be forwarded to us automatically. Loan application instructions and next steps will be sent to your Rice email account beginning June 1.

The Department of Education offers two types of Federal Student Loans: 

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
The maximum academic year (Fall + Spring semesters) amount is $20,500 for Full-Time and PMBA-Evening

The maximum academic year (Fall + Spring semesters) amount is $10,250 for EMBA and PMBA-Weekend

• Interest Rate: 4.30% fixed
• Origination Fee: 1.057%
• Loan Disbursement: 50% in fall and 50% in spring
• Interest Accrual: begins to accrue on the amount disbursed from the point of disbursement
• Minimum Enrollment: a minimum of half-time (4.5 credits/semester)
• Approval: completion of the FAFSA

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan (Grad PLUS)
You may borrow up to the Cost of Attendance less other funding.

• Interest Rate: 5.30% fixed
• Origination Fee: 4.228% 
• Loan Disbursement: 50% in fall and 50% in spring
• Interest Accrual: begins to accrue on the amount disbursed from the point of disbursement
• Minimum Enrollment: a minimum of half-time (4.5 credits/semester)
• Approval: completion of the FAFSA and a review of your credit history

Please visit Federal Student Aid for more information.

Private Student Loans are an additional funding option to be used in combination with, or as an alternative to Federal Student Loans. Approval and loan terms are based on the applicant's credit worthiness as determined by the lender.

Rice Business provides a historical lender list* that may assist your research. 

Please note that you are not limited to this list or obligated to borrow from any specific lender. If you do not see your desired lender, please contact them directly.

*Rice University does not promote or have affiliation with any student lending institution. It is your responsibility to choose the lender that is right for you.

The Cashier’s Office offers a Semester Payment Plan that allows you to pay your semester balance in 4 interest-free installments. Students are able to enroll in the Semester Payment Plan through ESTHER beginning in July for the Fall semester and in December for the Spring semester. There is a $75 fee each semester to enroll in the Payment Plan. 

Third-party sponsored billing is a billing method by which an entity such as company, corporation, or government agency can establish direct invoicing and payment on behalf of the student. You can find additional information about third-party sponsorship on the Cashier's website. 

For those planning to wire funding from abroad, Rice University has partnered with Flywire to facilitate this process at as low a cost to you as possible. Please reference the Cashier's Office website for additional information.

International Grant & Loan Organizations

The following loan opportunities may not require a US citizen or permanent resident co-signer.

• Banco de México-FIDERH is a federal trust managed by the Central Banco de México that offers affordable low-interest loans to Mexican students for graduate studies either in Mexico or abroad. The Jones Graduate School of Business (JGSB) participates in a collaboration agreement with FIDERH. If (1) a Full Time MBA applicant is awarded an admissions scholarship and (2) is approved for funding by FIDERH, the JGSB guarantees that the total admissions scholarship award will be a minimum of 25% of tuition.
• CONACYT is a member of Mexico’s department of education and offers scholarship and stipend opportunities to Mexican nationals seeking to study abroad.
• FUNED is a non-profit private organization which offers Mexican nationals low-interest loan funding. The Jones Graduate School of Business (JGSB) participates in a collaboration agreement with FUNED. If (1) a Full Time MBA applicant is awarded an admissions scholarship and (2) is approved for funding by FUNED, the JGSB guarantees that the total admissions scholarship award will be a minimum of 25% of tuition.
• Global Student Loan Corporation is a third-party loan facilitator that assists in providing educational loans to citizens of India.
• The Leo S. Rowe Pan American Fund grants interest-free educational loans to students, from Latin American and Caribbean OAS member countries, to help them finance their higher education studies in the United States.
• Prodigy Finance offers loans without a co-signer to students studying at a select number of US MBA programs. Rice University's Full Time MBA is an approved program.
   

US Loan Organizations

US banks require international students to have a US Citizen or Permanent Resident (green card holder) co-signer when applying.

Rice Business provides a historical lender list that may assist your search. Select "International" from the drop-down and click on "View Loans". Please note that you are not limited to this list and may apply with any lending institution of your choice. 

Financing Your Degree

As an International Student, you are required to demonstrate sufficient funding to cover the Cost of Attendance in order to obtain your student visa. We encourage you to review the information on the Office of International Students and Scholars site and reference the International Financial Declaration Form for MBA Students.

The majority of our student veterans utilize the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Rice Business is proud to participate in the VA's Yellow Ribbon Program. Please visit our Military and Veteran Benefits page for more information.

The Estimated Cost of Attendance budget consists of direct costs (tuition & fees) and estimated allowances for indirect costs (room & board, transportation, etc.) for one academic year.

The COA does not indicate how much you will be charged, but is meant to be used as a budgeting tool. It also represents the MAXIMUM amount of total aid you can receive each year (including scholarship, loans, etc.). 

What is the FAFSA?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is an online application provided by the Department of Education. It consists of (a) personal/household information and (b) the prior-prior tax year's information. The FAFSA is only required if you are interested in receiving federal student loans and must be completed each academic year. 

Why is the FAFSA needed?
The FAFSA is the first step when applying for both Federal and State Student Loans. It is not required for Private Student Loans. Federal Loans for graduate students are not need-based, which means your income is not a factor when determining your eligibility. 

Am I eligible for student loans?
Domestic students (US citizens and Permanent Residents) are eligible to apply for Federal, State, and Private Student Loans. If you are an International Student, please information in the Resources for International Students section above. 

Are Federal Grants available?
No. Students attending graduate school are not eligible for need-based funding, which includes federal grants (such as the Pell Grant) and Subsidized Loans. 

When do I start applying for student loans?
The loan application process begins after (a) you are admitted to the program and (b) you submit your enrollment deposit.

If applying for Federal and/or State Student Loans, the first step is to complete your 2021-2022 FAFSA. We will begin processing FAFSAs and certifying loan applications in June for the coming academic year. Application instructions for Federal and State Student Loans will be emailed to your Rice email account beginning June 1.

If applying for Private Student Loans, we recommend you apply no earlier than May 15.

What is the estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) budget?
The Estimated Cost of Attendance budget consists of direct costs (tuition & fees) and estimated allowances for indirect costs (room & board, transportation, etc.) for one academic year.

The COA does not indicate how much you will be charged, but is meant to be used as a budgeting tool. It also represents the MAXIMUM amount of total aid you can receive each year (including scholarship, loans, etc.). 

How much should I borrow?
Financial Aid is always for one year at a time (not for the full program). Student Financial Services will provide you with access to a Cost and Funding Calculator to assist you in deciding how much to apply for each year. 

What is the deadline for making billing or payment arrangements?
Fall: Billing begins the first week of July with a payment deadline of September 10th
Spring: Billing begins the first week of December with a payment deadline of February 10th