Metadata
Title
MBA@Rice: Online MBA
Category
general
UUID
cca48f29157c41ee9a7c58b2886be058
Source URL
https://business.rice.edu/rice-mba/online-mba
Parent URL
https://business.rice.edu/
Crawl Time
2026-03-18T05:13:47+00:00
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MBA@Rice: Online MBA

Source: https://business.rice.edu/rice-mba/online-mba Parent: https://business.rice.edu/

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Online MBA Recruiting & Admissions

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Top-Ranked Online MBA from Rice Business at Rice University

You Belong Here

Rice Business, the business school at Rice University, is tight knit and top ranked. Our Online MBA program brings our close community and modern business education to professionals across the United States.  

With our Online MBA, you build the core skill set and accomplished network you need to nourish your creative ideas and advance your career.

The program consists of 54 credits and can be completed online in 24 months.

INTERESTED IN RICE BUSINESS?

Intentionally Growing. Verifiably Great.

5

Best Online MBA Program

The Princeton Review, 2024-2025

1

Graduate Entrepreneurship Program

Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine, 2020-2026

6

Best Online MBA Program

Financial Times, 2026

7

Best Online MBA Program

Fortune, 2024

18

Best Online MBA Program

U.S. News & World Report, 2024

Flexibility was key. At the time, I was based in West Texas, testing rocket engines at Blue Origin. An online program was the only realistic way for me to pursue an MBA. But for me, it wasn’t about the format—it was about access to knowledge and mentorship. My goal was to solve the "How do I become an entrepreneur?" puzzle. Whether online or on campus, I knew Rice had the answer.

Bhavesh Gadhavi

Online MBA Alum

Learn more

You've got goals, and our Online MBA is designed to help you reach them.

Here, at Rice University, you’ll build the confidence to grow and take risks, backed by the support of best-in-class faculty and your fellow ambitious students. We challenge you to embrace your entrepreneurial spirit, boldly pursue innovation to solve complex business problems, elevate your career and create value for your organization.

Admissions

Are you ready to bring your bold?

Applications to our Online MBA program are accepted on a rolling basis, and we evaluate your candidacy based on a variety of elements in addition to your test scores and work experience. This includes your essays, virtual interview, leadership roles, community involvement and career progression.

Learn more about Rice Business' Online MBA admissions requirements and deadlines.

GMAT/GRE and Admissions Requirements

We recognize and respect that our applicants bring different levels of skills and experience. GMAT and GRE Waivers are available for professionals with seven or more years of relevant work experience or who can demonstrate a high level of quantitative and analytical knowledge. Learn more about GMAT and GRE waiver eligibility.

We also encourage applicants to consider the Executive Assessment exam as an alternative to the GMAT or GRE. This exam requires less of a time commitment and weighs your business school readiness as of today, eliminating the need for extensive preparation.

Why Earn a Rice MBA Online?

We’re living in extraordinary times. An increasingly complex world calls for a learning experience that works for everyone — from busy professionals, to multitasking parents to military members — while still serving up a top-notch education from Rice University.

At Rice University, business is personal. Designed using extensive research on how Online MBA students learn best, our purpose-built digital campus creates a collaborative space to advance your education and connect with accomplished business leaders from around the world.

What to expect from our online MBA program:

Your Voice, Amplified: Live Virtual Classes

Meet with faculty members and peers each week for live, face-to-face class sessions over Zoom. Our small class sizes allow for rich discussion and debate, encouraging you to step up and take a leadership role. Learn more about our Online MBA curriculum here.

Your Lifestyle, Valued: Mobile-Friendly Coursework

Complete your assignments — which include real-world case studies, video simulations and collaborative projects — each week from anywhere, using any connected device. Learn more about our Online MBA courses here.

Your Horizons, Broadened: Residentials and Global Field Experiences (GFE)

Connect with peers, faculty and mentors in person during learning experiences hosted on our campus and in locations around the world. You’ll participate in simulations, immersions, seminars, intersessions and study abroad opportunities to develop and practice new hands-on skills. Learn more about the GFE here.

Plenty of Leadership Development Opportunities

Our Online MBA students are invited to participate in our Leader as Coach co-curricular program on campus at Rice University. The program prepares them to be more proficient at an essential component of effective leadership — the ability to develop individuals and teams. Learn more how we develop leaders in our Online MBA program here.

Our Reputation Speaks For Itself:

The below latest rankings for Rice Business' Online MBA at Rice University showcase what we do best: empower aspiring leaders with advanced business competencies and personal support to pursue bold ideas and solve today’s biggest challenges — no matter where they’re living and working.

On-Campus vs. Online MBA Modality

With our Online MBA, you get the same MBA degree along with the diverse community and quality curriculum you expect from Rice Business. Here’s how online and traditional classes compare.

What stays the same? What’s different with the online MBA?
- Much of the application process - Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion - Our cohort selectivity - Class offerings and credit hours to graduate - Opportunities for students to participate in on-campus organizations - Our professors, grading system and office hours - Alumni status - Your Rice diploma - Smaller cohorts - Quarterly intakes, giving you the opportunity to start the program when it makes sense for you - The online platform, which delivers the Rice Business curriculum wherever you are in the world

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Frequently Asked Questions

Rice University’s Online MBA program mirrors the rigor and engagement of the on-campus MBA. Live, weekly sessions encourage interaction with faculty and peers, while asynchronous materials allow you to study on your schedule. - What career support will I receive as a Rice University’s Online MBA student?

You’ll have access to one-on-one career coaching, resume and interview preparation, networking events and personalized guidance from Rice Business’ Career Development Office — designed to help you advance or pivot your career during and after the program. - How does Rice University’s Online MBA maintain academic quality in an online environment?

Online courses are developed and taught by the same Rice Business faculty who teach on campus, ensuring academic consistency. The digital platform also integrates real-time discussions, group projects and multimedia resources for a highly interactive experience. - What is the Rice Core Residential?

This four-day, in-person intensive brings Online MBA students to our campus in Houston for hands-on learning, networking and leadership development with classmates, professors and alumni. - How does the program help working professionals advance their careers?

Online MBA integrates real-world business challenges into coursework, helping you immediately apply new skills at work. The program’s leadership development and networking opportunities prepare graduates to move into senior-level or cross-functional roles. - Where do Rice University Online MBA graduates work after completing the program?

Graduates go on to leadership roles across industries like consulting, finance, energy, technology and healthcare. Many also leverage the Rice alumni network to explore entrepreneurship or transition into new sectors. - Will I have opportunities to connect with classmates and professors virtually?

Yes. You’ll participate in live classes, team projects, breakout sessions,and virtual networking events that foster strong professional relationships and collaboration across cohorts.

For more detailed answers about admissions, tuition, and requirements, visit Rice University’s Online MBA Admissions FAQ page.

The Online MBA Curriculum

The MBA from Rice Business, an accredited program, empowers you to act on big ideas and tackle complex challenges — giving you the tools to elevate your career, create value across your organization, and meet the demands of today and tomorrow.\ \ Our highly customizable curriculum will help develop your understanding of essential business principles such as financial accounting, business analytics, marketing strategy, leadership and finance. You’ll then learn to apply these larger concepts throughout an organization as you hone your skills with your choice of electives.

Electives and Career-Path Focus Areas

With 13.5 elective credits, you’ve got the flexibility to make the MBA program your own.

You can choose electives that align with your specific interests, go with a general management approach or select from one of seven career or industry focus areas:

Choosing a career-path focus area is entirely optional. It’s a way to customize your academic experience and include career-focused or industry-focused courses in your overall elective portfolio, if you wish. All career-path focus area courses are suggested, and there are no additional credit requirements or degree-binding commitments.

Rice Business Faculty: Accomplished. Attentive. Invested.

Recognized for their achievements in teaching, research and practice, Rice Business faculty members consistently publish groundbreaking business insights while remaining invested in your success, working with students one-on-one to help them explore their own big ideas.

Learn more about individual leadership and faculty members below or at Rice Business Wisdom, our online ideas magazine that features clear, quick translations of faculty research that will change the way you think.

Lee Ann E. Butler

Senior Lecturer in Management – Strategic Management

Kimberly Taylor

Lecturer in Communication

Jeff Laschober

Lecturer in Accounting

Gustavo Grullon

Jesse H. Jones Professor of Finance

See All Rice University Online MBA Faculty

The Rice Business Alumni Community

At Rice Business, we take great pride in our alumni and their achievements across nearly every major industry. As an Online MBA student, you’ll gain access to our Rice University global alumni network—as well as to current Rice Business MBA students — creating opportunities for collaboration, mentorship and professional growth.

\

9,500+

Alums Worldwide

60

Countries Represented

13

Regional Chapters

Hear From One of Our Alums

MBA for Military Service Members and Veterans

We honor the service of our military students and value the perspective they bring to our MBA classroom. Our Online MBA from Rice University is ranked the No. 14 online MBA for veterans — and No. 1 in Texas — by U.S. News & World Report.

If you are an active-duty service member, veteran, or military spouse or family member, you may be eligible for benefits that can help make your MBA more affordable.

Based on your individual eligibility, the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon Program are two options to consider.  Learn more about the military benefits you can access with Rice’s online MBA.

The Online MBA program at Rice allows me to learn while living abroad in Asia with my family. I couldn’t do it otherwise.

Victoria Russ Hwa Hopkins

Online MBA Student

Admit It: Rice Business MBA Blog

What Does It Mean to Specialize Your MBA?

Specializations can help you customize your degree, enhance your expertise, pivot industries and enrich your career narrative.

The MBA Journey Goes Hybrid and Remote

For students seeking to advance their careers, online and hybrid MBAs maximize flexibility and minimize travel.

The Rice MBA Global Field Experience (GFE): Four Students Share Insights

Rice MBAs speak candidly about how the GFE equipped them with the skills to lead and innovate on a global scale.

See All

The Rice Online MBA Student Experience

Have a Question?

Online MBA Recruiting & Admissions

855-842-8380 Email