Accelerate your career without taking a break from it. The Rice Business Professional MBA is our part-time MBA program for working professionals, offering three flexible schedule formats: evening, weekend and hybrid. Over two years, you’ll learn directly on campus from our top-ranked, full-time faculty — not fly-in instructors — ensuring deep roots in Houston’s dynamic business ecosystem.
You’ll bring immediate value to your current role while immersing yourself in our vibrant campus life and networking seamlessly across all Rice MBA programs. Backed by a tight-knit, supportive community, you’ll gain the tools to lead on a schedule built for your life.
Duration: 22 months to complete (54 credits)
Format: On-campus part-time, with an evening, weekend or hybrid option
Class Profile: 3-12 years of work experience, 8 on average
Applications are open. Round 1 deadline is October 16. We encourage you to attend an admissions event to learn more about our Professional MBA program.
Our Professional MBA balances academic rigor with flexibility for busy professionals. The lockstep, STEM-designated curriculum’s core (strategy, finance, accounting, operations, marketing, analytics, leadership) builds a common foundation, followed by electives that let you specialize through targeted course pathways. Most students finish in approximately 22 months via evening or weekend classes.
Busy professionals who continue to work while pursuing an MBA need a course format that works with their busy schedule. We offer three formats, evening, weekend or hybrid formats to allow students to immerse themselves in learning without sacrificing their personal or professional responsibilities:
Evening MBA Format: Come right after work, dinner is provided. Classes are around 6:15 — 9:30 p.m. twice a week, with additional classes the first year. A few full day classes are required.
Weekend MBA Format: Start classes every other Friday afternoon and complete a full day of classes on Saturday. Many students decide to take a half day every other Friday.
Hybrid MBA Format: Balance online study during the week with targeted on-campus sessions one weekend a month.
Applying to the Professional MBA program at Rice Business is straightforward — and we welcome the opportunity to personally answer your questions. Application requirements include:
Bachelor’s degree
Professional work experience
At least one professional letter of recommendation
GMAT, GRE or EA score (or sufficient reasoning for a test waiver)
Backed by the prestige of Rice University, Rice Business offers the No. 1 MBA in Texas (Financial Times, 2023–2026) and is nationally recognized as a powerhouse across industries — ranking No. 7 for Finance and No. 8 for Consulting (The Princeton Review, 2027). Our Professional MBA is also ranked the No. 7 Best Part-Time MBA Program (Fortune, 2024). Known for excellence in finance, consulting, entrepreneurship and energy, a Rice MBA delivers the top-tier employer recognition that sets our graduates apart.
Experience is the best teacher. That’s why our curriculum puts you directly into the driver’s seat through hands-on consulting projects and our Global Field Experience. By stepping outside the classroom to advise local organizations and traveling abroad to consult for international companies, you’ll broaden your strategic vision, sharpen your cross-cultural leadership skills, and gain tangible consulting experience that makes your resume stand out to executive leadership.
A True Campus Experience
Unlike programs hosted in rented hotel or office conference rooms, you’ll study on campus in our brand-new, state-of-the-art building, designed specifically for collaboration and innovation. You’ll learn directly from our world-class faculty who live in Houston, meaning they’re never too far away when you want to discuss coursework, research or career advice. This vibrant campus environment lets you network seamlessly across all Rice MBA programs, connecting you to one of the most powerful professional networks in the region.
Immediate Application and Proven Career Pivots
Because the Rice MBA coursework is designed for immediate real-world use, you can apply fresh insights to your workplace on Monday morning. This immediate ROI is why so many of our students earn promotions or successfully pivot into new industries and roles either during the program or shortly after graduation.
Lifelong Career Support
Advance your career without putting it on pause. You’ll receive personalized, one-on-one leadership coaching, specialized workshops and advising tailored to working professionals. Best of all, that partnership continues long after graduation with lifetime access to career coaching and alumni networking resources at every stage of your journey.
Career Outcomes
Graduates of our Professional MBA earn promotions, secure new roles and transition to new industries, opening doors to high-impact roles in energy, consulting, financial services, tech and more. Recent grads earn an average base salary of $152,290 and work for employers like Amazon, HP, Wells Fargo, Apple, BP, Deloitte, Dell and J.P. Morgan.
The Rice Business alumni community is tight-knit and highly engaged, from Houston to around the globe. Tap into lifelong career support and resources, mentorship and opportunities to give back through leadership. For working professionals, this network accelerates practical outcomes: faster interviews, better insight into company cultures and real-time advice from peers.
Choosing the Professional MBA means advancing your career without pausing it, maximizing your immediate return on investment and long-term earning potential by maintaining your salary while you study. Review our resources on funding your MBA. Our responsive team will help you build a plan to pursue the degree with confidence while maintaining financial stability.
Whether you choose part-time or full-time, you’ll benefit from Rice’s distinguished reputation, expert faculty and a career-boosting curriculum. The Professional MBA is designed for working professionals who want to continue their careers while pursuing their MBA. It offers flexible evening or weekend classes.
The cost of the PMBA varies depending on the format. Detailed information about the tuition fees for both the evening and weekend formats can be found on our Tuition and Fees page.
Yes, Rice PMBA students have access to the same esteemed faculty, career development resources and networking opportunities (depending on schedule availability) as Full-Time MBA students. Please note that, due to the Hybrid MBA’s course schedule, students are generally not able to pursue summer internships or participate in traditional summer internship recruiting while enrolled in the program.
Contact Us About the Professional MBA at Rice Business
Ready to experience the part-time Professional MBA program at Rice Business? Talk with our admissions team today to map a plan for immediate career impact and future career success.
