In the Media

Rice Business professor David Zhang explains how low mortgage rates are keeping homeowners from selling, contributing to the housing market’s ongoing “sideways struggle” as rates remain elevated.

Rice Business professor Vikas Mittal says Buc-ee’s has developed deep customer commitment, with visits becoming an emotional and habitual ritual. He predicts loyalty will grow as Buc-ee’s expands nationwide.

Congratulations to Kathleen Perley, recognized by Poets & Quants among the 2026 Best and Brightest Executive MBAs.

Beginning with the class entering in fall 2027, Rice will offer free tuition to admitted university students from families earning up to $200,000 per year, the university announced today (August 3). Students from families earning less than $100,000 will have tuition, mandatory fees, room, and board fully covered.

Congratulations to Marissa Minter and Alan Vu, recognized by Poets & Quants among the 2026 Best and Brightest Online MBAs.

A Houston venture capital analysis co-authored by Rice Business Executive MBA candidate Stephanie Schmidt highlights the city's growing innovation ecosystem, arguing that stronger startup formation is key to building on recent successes like Fervo Energy's IPO.

Rice University names its new $54.5 million business building after donors Asha and Farid Virani, the undergraduate business school's namesakes.

"This new pathway enables us to support exceptional early-career talent with a dedicated classroom experience and intentional programming," said Barbara Bennett, director of MBA@Rice and professor of finance.

Long known for its demanding academics, personalized attention, and generous financial aid, Rice University is also home to the Jones Graduate School of Business, one of the premier small school MBA experiences.

Sameera Bhamidipati credits the sheer range of her Rice MBA with making her fluent in a new professional language. “The academic rigor and the breadth of the Rice MBA helped me, as a career switcher, to become proficient in business language.”

Research by Rice Business professor Tommy Pan Fang shows that two main factors determine the location of hyperscale data centers: access to energy infrastructure and access to low-cost real estate.

A darkening picture for consumers and unusually high prices for tech shares suggest the market’s seemingly endless upswing may be coming to an end.

After serving as the dean of Rice Business for the past decade, Peter Rodriguez will leave Rice to become the 15th president of Wake Forest University. 

Americans may be less likely to identify racism against Asian employees because Asian Americans do not fit common mental “prototypes” of discrimination victims, according to new research led by Rice Business professor Sora Jun.

Congratulations to Rice Business Dean Peter Rodriguez on his appointment as president of Wake Forest University. The announcement highlights his leadership in expanding Rice Business, including launching the Virani Undergraduate School of Business, growing MBA enrollment and introducing Rice’s first online graduate degree.

The Board of Trustees of Wake Forest University announced the appointment of Peter Rodriguez as the University’s 15th President. A distinguished economist and transformative academic leader, Rodriguez currently serves as the dean of Rice University’s School of Business. He will begin his presidency at Wake Forest on July 1, 2026. 

A study co-authored by Rice Business professor Tommy Pan Fang examines the growing challenges tied to AI data centers, including rising concerns over electricity, water use and noise pollution, as cities weigh economic benefits against environmental and community impacts.

"I chose Rice because of its close-knit community and collaborative culture. The smaller class size means people truly know one another, and I’ve been able to build meaningful relationships with classmates, professors and alumni."

Rice University student-founded companies took home a total of $115,000 in equity-free funding at the annual Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship's H. Albert Napier Rice Launch Challenge last week. 2025 Rice Innovation Fellow Alexandria Carter won the top prize and $50,000 for her startup Bionostic.

Rice Business professor Emily Prinsloo comments on dynamic pricing and its recent use.

Congratulations to Rice Business professor Yael Hochberg, who was recognized at the recent Texas Innovation Conference and Awards, held at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Kyle Zarosky ’25 shares why he chose Rice Business as his next step after serving in the United States Marine Corps

U.S. News & World Report's newest rankings for graduate programs are out, with Rice and the University of Houston taking the lead for the most local schools and programs on the lists.

Nine Houston-area universities are earning new national acclaim in a just-released report of the best graduate schools in the U.S. for 2026.

Congratulations to Kensington Zwerner of the Virani Undergraduate School of Business, recognized by Poets & Quants as a Best and Brightest Undergraduate Business Major.

Congratulations to Lauren Jackson '25 and the business she co-founded, SubSpark, for being selected as one of Poets&Quants' Most Disruptive MBA Startups 2025. 

Sameera Bhamidipati ’24 shares how she achieved a successful career transition and landed at Bain & Company.

Research from Rice Business professor Tommy Pan Fang shows why some data center facilities cluster in cities for speed and access, while others move to rural regions in search of scale and lower costs.

The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship has announced the 42 student-led teams that will compete in the 26th annual Rice Business Plan Competition this spring.

“As a result, Fortune’s methodology doesn’t account for the true price tag of an MBA education. That’s particularly noticeable at generous programs like Rice University’s Jones Graduate School, where 95% of students receive support…with the average annual award being $40,000 per year according to the school.”

"And when the FT asked alums which program allowed them to achieve their aims, the top school was Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business, with 93% of the respondents acknowledging their goals were successful"

Rice Business professor Alessandro Piazza explains why companies are largely silent as immigration enforcement reaches workplaces, showing how political and economic risks now discourage corporate activism.

Two Rice University faculty members have been recognized with national awards from the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP), highlighting the university’s impact on research that shapes understanding of work, well-being and organizational life.

Rising credit card debt has renewed debate over a proposed interest rate cap. Rice Business finance professor Benedict Guttman-Kenney warns banks may cut credit access or raise fees, questioning whether consumers would truly benefit.

Congratulations to Robert J. Gaudette on being named President of NRG Energy, and on his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, effective April 30, 2026. Rob is a distinguished Rice Business alum and continues to give back to the school through the Board of Advisors and joined us this year as a speaker at the Rice Energy Finance Summit.

New research co-authored by Jing Zhou finds that generative AI can enhance employee creativity—but mainly for those with strong metacognition. Employees who actively plan, monitor and refine their thinking benefit most from AI, highlighting the need to pair AI tools with training that develops these skills.

Rice University ranks first in Texas for 10-year return on investment, with alumni seeing roughly $334,000 in gains. Its strong earnings outcomes keep Rice at the top of both short and long-term ROI comparisons statewide.

Rice Business professor Mijeong Kwon finds that viewing passion for work as a moral virtue can harm employees and teams, leading to guilt, burnout and biased treatment of colleagues who are seen as less passionate.

Rice Business professor Mijeong Kwon argues that moralizing a love of work can undermine workplace well-being. Her research shows that treating intrinsic motivation as a virtue fuels guilt, burnout and biased judgments that disrupt team dynamics.

Rice Business Executive Education strengthens retention by giving leaders practical training in strategy, innovation and digital transformation. Expert faculty offer programs that build capability, support advancement and create real organizational impact.

A panel featuring Rice University provost Amy Dittmar highlighted how universities must actively engage with AI. 

Rice Business climbs to No. 7 in the 2026 MBA entrepreneurship ranking, rising five spots and standing out for strong support, resources and outcomes for startup minded MBAs.

Which universities and colleges are best at teaching entrepreneurship? The Princeton Review offers insights with a 40-point survey.

Kate Shepherd’s only permanent wall painting, inspired by the rotunda in McNair Hall, will be highlighted during the Art in Context symposium at Rice University, offering a rare look at her work beyond its usual temporary form.

The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine published the 20th annual rankings of undergraduate and graduate schools for entrepreneurship studies on Nov. 12, with Rice Business continuing in the number one spot in graduate entrepreneurship education.

U.S. News ranks Rice Business among the top 20 MBA programs for high-paying finance and accounting careers, with 2024 graduates earning an average salary of $155,407.

Rice Business will host the Rice Customer-Based Strategy Symposium on November 18, a recurring forum for sharing innovative ideas on customer-focused strategy and execution. The event features peer-reviewed research from top academics and industry insights from executives.

Get to know some new members of the Rice Business MBA Class of 2027 in this edition of Real Humans: MBA Students from Clear Admit.