Rice University – Jones Graduate School of Business - Professional MBA
Rice University Professional MBA Program Structure
The Rice University Professional MBA is a flexible program that offers an evening or weekend option to allow students to maintain their current work schedules. Students following either of the program structures must complete 54 credit hours and will complete their MBA degree in 22 months.
Curriculum
Similar to the Full-Time program, during the first year of the PMBA program, students embark on the Global Field Experience (GFE), a hands-on international project that’s part of the core curriculum. Working in small teams, students tackle real business challenges for local companies and non-profits, gaining practical insights and making a meaningful impact.
Students will also participate in the core courses required to build a foundation in business. During the second year of the program, PMBA students can select across the entire range of 100+ MBA electives, including popular courses like Managing Energy Transitions, The New Enterprise, Corporate Rivalry, genAI: Strategy and Innovation, and Scandals and Reputation Management.
Although PMBA students are not able to declare a specialization, they can cater their electives to focus on a particular academic area (including accounting, energy, entrepreneurship, finance, healthcare, leadership, marketing, operations management, real estate and strategic management).
The program is also STEM-designated.
Rice University Professional MBA Rankings
- #1 Graduate Entrepreneurship – Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
- #7 Best Part-Time MBA Program – Fortune, 2024
- #15 Best Part-Time MBA Program – U.S. News and World Report
- #5 Best MBA for Finance – Princeton Review, 2023, 2024
Class Profile
Enrollment for the PMBA program is 182. About 32% of the class are women, 34% of the class are from underrepresented minority groups and 7% of the class are international students. The average GMAT is 663, and the average GPA is 3.3. Students typically enroll with eight years of work experience.
These figures are based on a three-year average.
Tuition, Scholarships, and Financial Aid
The total cost for the Rice University MBA for Professionals is $123,500 for the Evening and Evening Extended programs and $129,500 for the Weekend program.
The tuition covers the complete 22-month schedule of coursework and is billed in 25% increments over four semesters. An enrollment deposit of $2,500 is due upon acceptance and will be applied toward your first-semester bill. Many students supplement their tuition costs through company financial support. Students may also cover tuition costs with Federal Financial Aid, Federal Student Loans, and private loans.
Rice University Professional MBA Admissions
To be considered for admission to the Rice Business Part-Time MBA Program, applicants must complete the following steps for application:
Complete an online application, required personal essays, and a professional resume.
You must also submit a standardized test score for admission to the program (GMAT or GRE).
You’ll need to submit one confidential, professional recommendation from a current or previous supervisor. If you don’t have one from your supervisor, you should submit two confidential recommendations highlighting your professional abilities.
There is a $200 application fee payable online or by check.
Application deadlines are as follows:
DECISION ROUND | APPLICATION DEADLINE | DECISION DATE |
Round 1 | October 14, 2024, 11:59 PM CT | Applications will be evaluated for admission on a rolling basis. |
Round 2 | January 6, 2025, 11:59 PM CT | |
Round 3 | March 10, 2025, 11:59 PM CT | |
Round 4 | April 28, 2025, 11:59 PM CT | Applications will be evaluated for admission on a space-available basis. |