Updated from original post on 11/11/2026.

Enrolling in the Rice Business Professional MBA program is your chance to make a dramatic change in your career trajectory without interrupting it. You’ll bring new skills to work, master the work-life-school balance and make deep connections with people doing the exact same thing as you. Along with what you learn in the classroom, your network and net worth will grow.

And those benefits don’t wait until graduation. Many of your opportunities arise during the program, regardless of whether you’re in the evening, weekend or hybrid format. Many students ask for a seat at the table because of what they have learned and the new perspective they offer. They receive promotions as they begin applying what they’re learning and reap the rewards of the program from the beginning.

While a robust professional skill-set is necessary to adapt to change and have more career choices, your PMBA class will be one of the program’s most distinctive benefits, thanks to your classmates’ life and work experience. We know our Rice MBA requires a significant investment – both in finances and your time. Here is how to best calculate your ROI.

Return – The Right MBA Pays Dividends for Life

You can start with our strong career outcomes. Our PMBA graduates accept positions in a wide range of industries and job functions, including many who secure promotions and pivot to different companies. That means that you not only continue making a salary while securing an MBA, giving you an edge, but you also have the opportunity to earn a higher compensation at graduation and beyond.

Next, think about having the Rice Business network for life. Careers are long and your most powerful asset to navigate the ups and downs is a responsive network that opens doors. Our alumni base is more than 10,000 strong now, and they answer when you reach out. They interview our students for plum jobs and understand the rigor you’ve experienced. You can connect with Rice University alumni in the same way. While both networks are solid in Texas, you can find them in every state and almost every country. The Rice degree is your bond for life.

Once you're an alum, the learning doesn’t stop. There will be plenty of lifelong learning opportunities to sharpen your skills, learn new things and ensure you’re equipped to succeed no matter how the world changes. Your career will be filled with promotions, transitions and chances to pivot.

Attending a prominent university provides you access to premium career services. As an alum, you can always seek advice from our experienced advisors in the Career Development Office, who will help with job search strategies, transitioning your career, connecting with companies who want to recruit top MBAs, and other career-related needs. Our doors are always open for you.

An Investment in You

While the investment in tuition may feel daunting, our Financial Services team can sit down with you one-on-one to explain scholarships, financial aid and loans that will make paying for the degree possible. They’re familiar with the whole field of possibilities for lowering business school costs — and there are many. 

When you’ve decided to invest in yourself, remember that Houston’s best part-time MBA, the Rice MBA, will give you opportunities while you’re still in the program, bump your salary and put you on a higher trajectory for your growth path. In terms of higher education degrees, it offers one of the greatest returns on investment.

A brighter future starts with a bold first step. Get started on your application and reach out to the recruiting and admissions team for guidance. 
 

Explore Our Professional MBA

Owl Have You Know

Brad Olsen '06 joins host Christine Dobbyn to talk about how his philosophy background makes him a great investor, how education translates into the real world and where he sees the energy transition fitting into his business.

Subscribe to Owl Have You Know on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

Why did you choose Rice Business?

I choose Rice business for several reasons: 

• The entrepreneurship program was number 1 in the nation. It was imperative that I choose a program that would not teach me how to be a great employee but rather a successful, innovative and empowered entrepreneur! I was certain Rice could do that for me. 
• After my multiple visits and interactions with the staff (admission’s team and more), I truly felt like the people at this school (in this tight-knit community) truly cared about ME and my success! 
• My existing company is in the energy industry. I planned on continuing to build the company, and Rice is in the best geographical place for such an industry!

What are you most proud of from your time at Rice Business?

I am most proud of the knowledge I have gained and the network (family) I was able to build. The professors and students have a wealth of experiential knowledge that is invaluable. I am proud to be in the company of such excellence. 

How has your Rice helped you in your career?

My career is an entrepreneurial journey. Therefore, everything I learn, from soft skills of how to manage a team to the hard skills of 10K review are invaluable. 
The Lilie Lab also provides resources to help entrepreneurs. I look forward to “Round Tables,” a group of Rice alumni entrepreneurs getting together to vent, learn and grow with each other. 

What advice would you give prospective students who are considering an MBA?

I tell prospective students, “Know what you want/know your goal. Rice has everything you need to achieve your goals; the people who don’t achieve them did not know what they wanted. If you don’t know, Rice can also help you figure it out. My main point is Rice has all of the tools to make you successful.”

What do you think organizations should do better to build a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment?

First, someone must CARE. DEI is a “hot topic” and as a result organizations are taking notice. However, a “plan” for DEI needs to be more than a section in the employee handbook; someone needs to champion the cause. 
I recommend intentionality, best practices and actually doing what they say they want to do. 

What suggestions do you have to work with allies within the workplace or at school?

Do it. 
Talk and tell your truth, tell the stories that highlight the experiences of the minority. 
Use discernment to determine a true ally versus someone who is “supporting” in word only.

Do you have any other comments or anecdotes you would like to share?

I have been blessed to be at Rice. I have had a goal of creating generational wealth for black and brown communities. My continued education and experiences while here will propel me to make this goal a reality. 

Updated from the original post on 11/11/2026.

The Rice Business MBA program has a reputation for lifting our students up while preparing them for success in the business world. Now is your time to take the next step toward your future as a woman in business, make meaningful connections with other like-minded women, and grow your business network.

Why Women Choose the Rice MBA

At Rice Business, we’re committed to you and your goals. We want to see you fulfill your potential as an innovative thinker, a leader in the workplace and a problem solver in the community. With 39% of the full-time class made up of women and 29% of faculty, enrolling at Rice means you’re automatically in good company. From trailblazers in entrepreneurship to mentors in the C-suite, you’ll have the open door treatment and support you need.

MBA Student Opportunities

The Women in Leadership Conference is a student-led event that empowers women in numerous industries. You and your classmates plan and present one of the largest events at the school as part of our flagship recruiting event, Women’s Preview Weekend. Join the student government or a case competition to make your mark. Learn more about the opportunities and resources we offer to make you feel at home at Rice Business.

Let some of the rich stories of our students and alumnae illuminate your own. We can’t wait to share yours. Get started and talk to a recruiter today or reach out to our women student ambassadors today.

Owl Have You Know Podcast

Listen to episodes of Owl Have You Know, a podcast by Rice Business Alumni, to learn about more trailblazing women from Rice Business.

Featured Episodes:

SEASON 2, EPISODE 3

Abbey Donnell '17

Abbey Donnell discusses how Rice Business empowered her to start her own company, the women entrepreneurship environment in Houston and how service providers can pivot through the pandemic. 

SEASON 2, EPISODE 1

Patra Brannon-Isaac '11

Patra Brannon-Isaac discusses the process of being admitted to Rice Business, the impact her MBA has had on her career trajectory, and her involvement in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at the school.

SEASON 1, EPISODE 16

Pranika Sinha '04

Pranika Sinha, Managing Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Organizational Development at Greystone joins host David Droogleever. Pranika talks about what stops her from hitting the snooze button in the morning, how a sense of belonging factors into diversity and inclusion, and what unconscious bias is and how to recognize it.

Explore the Rice MBA