Round 2 application deadline: January 16, 2026. Apply today. Test scores are not required. Please review our admissions guidefor more information.
Designed for experienced executives and senior managers, our highly-ranked EMBA program attracts leaders from all industries and broadens your perspective and your network. It's the top Executive MBA in Houston, Texas.
Average work experience: 15+ years
Management experience: min. 5 years (preferred)
Program length: 2 years
Standard class schedule: Every other Friday and Saturday
Location: On campus
Your degree: Master of Business Administration
Ready to elevate your leadership skills? Our Executive MBA offers the advanced knowledge and coaching required for executive roles. Refine your business acumen and form lasting connections with fellow leaders who are shaping industries worldwide.
The Executive MBA is for our most experienced students, who have at least 10 years of work experience with several years of management experience. The program is part-time, with classes all day on Fridays and Saturdays, every other weekend. Candidates are encouraged to schedule an appointment with our Executive MBA advisor before applying or to submit a resume for a personalized pre-assessment.
The Rice Reputation
#1
Graduate Entrepreneurship Program
Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine, 2020-2026
#3
Best MBA for Finance
Princeton Review, 2024-2025
#17
Best Executive MBA
Fortune, 2024
We Are Here To Help
At Rice Business, we believe that you belong here — and we are dedicated to helping you get here. We encourage you to connect with our recruiting and admissions team for guidance on the application process and to get to know us better. Many of our events walk you through the application process. Sign up for an event today! Please feel free to reach out to Steve Summers directly.
Our Executive MBA curriculum focuses on experiential, integrated learning. We open and close each academic year with 5-day intensives that target development of an executive mindset. In your first year, you'll follow a set core curriculum. In the second year, you'll select electives from a wide range of over 100 options (depending on your schedule availability), including several specialized sections scheduled exclusively for the Executive MBA.
We offer leadership and strategy executive forums and seminars focused on building an executive mindset. We develop leaders with core courses in functional areas, enhanced by a network of like-minded classmates, and capped with an overseas trip focused on creating the mindset to lead the global firm. We are confident that earning an Executive MBA at Rice Business will help you be the leader you were meant to be.
Throughout the program, you will work with an experienced executive coach to fill identified gaps in your leadership portfolio. Each executive coach provides support in formalizing and executing a personal strategic development plan. The coaching program complements the leadership development curriculum, providing a safe environment for challenging assumptions and promoting new thinking. It's one of the reasons why we're the best Executive MBA program in Houston.
Rice Business is proud to offer an optional travel subsidy for students commuting to Houston for the Executive MBA programs. This subsidy includes the hotel portion of a student’s stay for class weekends. Hotel accommodations are provided by Westin Houston Medical Center, located one mile from campus. Learn more.
Whether you’re seeking to transition to the C-suite or launch a new business, we offer a proactive and adaptable approach to career management. Our dedicated team provides personalized coaching and lifelong support to help you achieve your goals and excel in your next leadership role.
Lifelong Learning
Your education doesn’t stop once you graduate. We offer several ways you can continue lifelong learning and stay part of the Rice Business community. Whether you decide to return to the classroom to audit a class you didn’t have time for or come back for an Executive Education course to advance your career even further — at a special alumni rate — we’re here for you.
We encourage you to request more information to get to know us better. Trying to decide between the Rice Professional, Hybrid, or Executive MBA? Attend an upcoming admissions event or connect with us to learn more.
When the fire chief asked for a three-year fleet study, I was able to apply concepts from my analytics class and give him everything he needed. He said, 'I can see your MBA is paying off already.'
We offer a tight-knit MBA program in a city brimming with opportunities. Gain real-world experiences, expand your network, and shape your career. Our research-driven Executive MBA curriculum, focused on innovation and purpose-driven learning, empower you to become the leader you aspire to be. Learn more about why you should choose Rice Business for your MBA.
An MBA from Rice is more than a credential — it’s an investment in yourself with a proven return. Our Executive MBA offers the advanced knowledge and coaching required for executive roles, backed by the prestige and ROI of a top-ranked business school. Learn more about the long-term value of the top Executive MBA in Houston, Texas.
Rice Business offers a range of MBA formats to meet students where they are in their careers and lives — including our Full-Time, Evening, Weekend, Hybrid, Online and Executive MBA programs.
The Executive MBA is designed for more experienced executives and senior managers who have at least 10 years of work experience with several years of management experience. Our EMBA students want to broaden their perspective and network while sharpening their leadership skills. The program is part-time, with classes all day on Fridays and Saturdays, every other weekend.
While the core steps of the application process are similar to other MBA programs — such as submitting a resume, essays and recommendations — the Executive MBA (EMBA) admissions process is tailored for more experienced professionals.
We look for candidates with 10 or more years of professional experience, often with increasing levels of management or leadership responsibility. The strength of the EMBA program lies not only in the curriculum but in the richness of the classroom experience — where students learn just as much from each other’s real-world insights as they do from faculty. For that reason, we build a diverse cohort of experienced professionals from a wide range of industries and functions.
Another key difference: We do not require GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment (EA) scores, given the depth of experience EMBA candidates bring. However, applicants are welcome to submit test scores if they feel it would strengthen their application.
If you’re considering the Rice EMBA, we strongly recommend scheduling time with a recruiter to help determine whether it's the right fit for your background, goals and experience.
Tuition for the Rice Executive MBA is $152,250 total over the 22-month program. This cost covers the complete 22-month schedule of course work, including textbooks for all core classes, program materials, on-campus parking, light meals before class, resources at Fondren Library and hotel stays during the first and last intensive weeks. Additional fees and expenses apply — e.g. our optional weekend residency fee and health insurance.
The Rice Executive MBA is structured to accommodate the schedules of busy professionals while maintaining a rigorous academic experience. Classes typically meet on campus every other Friday and Saturday, allowing you to plan around a predictable schedule.
In a typical month, you can expect:
Two in-person class weekends (Friday and Saturday, all day)
Pre-reading, assignments and team collaboration between sessions
Executive Seminars or Forums scheduled at key points in the semester
Occasional evening or virtual sessions, depending on the course
Outside of class, you’ll spend time engaging with your learning team, completing assignments and applying concepts directly to your work environment. The program is designed to be challenging but manageable for professionals balancing career, family and school.
