Meet The Rice Business MBA Class Of 2027

A TOP ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM

While Rice offers Top 25 Full-Time MBA and Online MBA programs – not to mention an emerging undergraduate program at the Virani School – it is best known for being an Entrepreneurship powerhouse. Notably, Jones ranked #1 in The Princeton Review’s 2026 Graduate Entrepreneurship Ranking (for the 7th consecutive year, no less). Even more, The Princeton Review found that Rice offered 19 graduate entrepreneurship courses, with 261 graduates launching ventures from 2020-2025.

In P&Q’s 2026 MBA Entrepreneurship Ranking, Rice Business climbed from 12th to 7th. According to P&Q-collected data, the school ranked 2nd for Startup Funding Per MBA ($29,843) and 3rd for Ratio of Founder Mentor Hours Per Student (50.25). Overall, 89.4% of Rice MBA students were involved in a startup from 2024-2025, with 6.43% of graduates from 2020-2024 starting a business of their own.

Among Jones’ biggest calling cards is the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie). Think of it as the center for startup life at Rice Business featuring coursework, competitions, investment fund, and venture studio. University-wide, you’ll also find the OwlSpark Accelerator, home to the annual Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC). The largest competition of its kind, RBPC is held in the spring, with Rice doling out $1.3-million to 42 winners. In fact, this year’s big winner, BRCĒ, came away with $611,500 in winnings. As a whole, RBPC competition winners have gone on to raise nearly $5.6-billion in funding and $7.6-billion in exit dollars – with 269 past competitors still in business.

OwlSpark is part of the university’s larger Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, a strategic partnership between the Brown School of Engineering, Wiess School of Natural Sciences, and the Jones Graduate School of Business. Together, these schools provide space, subject matter expertise, and startup programming across the university. Most recently, Rice University spearheaded the establishment of the Ion District in midtown Houston, 12 blocks of incubators and accelerators, labs, studios, and coworking space to further spur innovation and ventures.

John Weldon, a ’26 MBA graduate, tells P&Q that he chose Rice Business because it didn’t just teach entrepreneurship – it lived it.

“Rice Business’ ecosystem is built around founder-focused learning. Coursework, led by experienced venture capitalists and seasoned founders, provided not only technical knowledge but honest, practical insight into what it takes to build and fund a company. The Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Rice’s integral role in developing the Ion (in Houston’s Innovation District) creates a dynamic environment where students can collaborate with startups, investors, corporate innovators and researchers — all within a single, accessible community.”

Kirsi Zhou also gives Rice’s startup ecosystem a thumbs up after her first year. “At Rice, every idea you have — no matter how early-stage or unconventional — can be brought to the Lilie Lab, where you’ll find resources, mentorship and a community of fellow founders and dreamers. That combination of intimate community and entrepreneurial support made Rice Business the perfect fit for someone like me who thrives on both collaboration and innovation.”

CLOSE PROXIMITY TO HEALTHCARE & ENERGY INDUSTRIES

Alongside entrepreneurship, healthcare and energy are increasingly becoming fundamental parts of the Rice Business value proposition. On the healthcare front, the school boasts deep ties to the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest cancer and children’s hospitals – that’s just a 10-minute drive away. Those connections are equally widespread in the energy industry, where Houston is home to leading firms like ExxonMobil, Chevron, Phillips 66, ConocoPhillips, Haliburton, and Enterprise Products.

“The ability to reach out and easily connect with energy professionals has been a tremendous asset to have,” explains Chase Holland. “While there’s plenty of discussion around how AI will reshape energy demand, Rice’s proximity to the industry means those conversations are grounded in reality. Access to this network has accelerated my understanding and transition from engineering into energy finance; it has turned classroom learning into immediate action. It’s usually hard to get cutting-edge decisions and insight on a hot topic, but Rice Business has provided this and more.”

Among Rice Business’s hallowed traditions, you’ll hear about the Global Field Experience (or GFE for short). A core course held during the end of first year, the GFE involves a team-based client project, often on behalf of Central and South American entrepreneurs. The course concludes with a week-long visit to the host companies which include one-on-one meetings, site visits, and a final presentation. In recent years, the GFE has taken students to locales like Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, and Buenos Aires.

“The opportunity to gain hands-on experience working across cultures and markets was especially compelling in an increasingly globalized business environment,” says Kathryn Caudell. “I was drawn to a curriculum that moves beyond theory and challenges students to apply classroom learning to real-world, international contexts — an experience that feels essential for building thoughtful, globally minded leadership.”

‘PARTIO, WAYNE; PARTIO, GARTH’

When it comes to Rice Business, you can’t forget the Thursday Partios (short for “Party on the Patio”). A weekly tradition, Partios bring students, faculty, and staff together across the business school for food, drink, and conversation. Each Partio also bears a different theme, with past Partios including Mardi Gras and Lunar New Year. Sometimes, you’ll even find alumni and children at Partios, creating a truly family atmosphere.

“I haven’t missed one since we started in August,” says Michael Sides, most recently a Deloitte consultant. “Thursdays are our reliable time to decompress and build genuine relationships with classmates, faculty, and their families outside of the classroom. Every week has great local catering and a unique theme. My favorite has been the Mi Familia Partio, where we enjoyed amazing Mexican street tacos and live music from our university’s Mariachi band — Mariachi Luna Llena.”

The big news on campus hit in May, when Dean Peter Rodriguez – P&Q’s 2025 Dean of the Year – was named the President Of Wake Forest University. His tenure was marked by the introduction of the school’s undergraduate business and online MBA programs – not to mention the doubling of the MBA student population and 40% growth in tenure-track faculty. On top of that, the school will be opening a 112,000 square foot building alongside McNair Hall in the fall.

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE OUTGOING DEAN

Before his departure, Rodriguez addressed new developments at the school, along with how the program is integrating AI across the curriculum. Here are some parting thoughts from Rodriguez.

P&Q: What have been the two most important developments in the MBA program over the past year, and what impact will they have on current and future students?

Rodriguez: “Without question, one of the biggest developments has been the introduction of artificial intelligence courses and the integration of AI across our core curriculum. Every MBA student — across every cohort — now has access to AI coursework at different levels. We’re deliberately adjusting the curriculum to prepare students for a workforce where these skills are no longer optional. We’ve introduced several new offerings, including generative AI courses in areas like financial analysis, and those courses are evolving quickly. That kind of adaptability matters just as much as the content itself.

The second area I’d highlight is entrepreneurship. We’ve long been strong in this space, but we continue to expand opportunities that aren’t widely available elsewhere — courses like Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition, for example. More recently, the university’s investment in the Nexus hub in Houston’s Ion District has given our most successful student startups access to dedicated garage space. That combination of coursework, resources and real-world exposure is incredibly powerful.”

P&Q: What distinguishes the Rice Business MBA from other programs, and how does that enhance the student experience for employers?

Rodriguez: “One major differentiator is that there are no hard boundaries between our programs or cohorts. Students build a deep, meaningful network from the very beginning, and they benefit from tremendous flexibility — online, hybrid and in-person courses offered year-round.

Because of our size and structure, our students are also deeply connected to the broader university. They regularly engage with STEM fields, including computer science, data-driven disciplines and the biosciences. That interdisciplinary exposure helps them develop the kinds of skills employers are increasingly looking for.”

P&Q: How do you support first-year MBAs as they transition into business school?

Rodriguez: “From the start at Rice Business, students are immersed in a strong network — not just within their cohort, but across programs. We also emphasize experiential learning early on. Every MBA student pursues a required global field experience. That means they’re consistently blending theory with practice and tackling real-time problems in complex environments. That hands-on approach is really a hallmark of our program.

Also, before they set foot on campus, incoming MBAs have access to a site solely for admitted students and they receive a weekly newsletter designed to keep them informed about next steps — and hopefully answer questions before our students have to ask them.

That sense of intentional onboarding continues with Launch, our one- to two-week pre-semester program that prepares students to return to academic life. It’s also important in helping students feel a sense of community, which is really important to us. Launch blends introductory coursework with get-to-know-you activities and experiences that allow students to reconnect with learning, form early bonds with classmates and start navigating the program together — without the pressure of diving in all at once.

We also recognize that success in business school extends beyond the classroom. For many Full-Time MBA students, for example, professional norms like business lunches and formal dinners may be new territory. An etiquette lunch early in the program offers a welcoming, low-stakes environment to learn these skills.

Throughout the semester, we continue to meet students where they are by offering programming that equips them with practical tools for success. Brushing up hard skills through Canvas tutorials and Excel refresher workshops, as well as career exploration sessions, ensure students have the technical expertise they need to be successful in the program and after graduation.

Service is also woven into the Rice Business experience from the start. In keeping with Rice University’s deep commitment to the Houston community, many programs engage students in service-oriented opportunities early on — reinforcing the idea that leadership, impact and responsibility go hand in hand.

Finally, we bring the community together in a tangible way with a student organization expo at the start of the semester. From industry-focused clubs to affinity groups, the expo gives students an immediate entry point to get involved, deepen their interests and begin building their professional portfolios. It’s one more way we help students feel connected — to each other, to the school, and to the broader Rice Business and Rice ecosystem.

Our location also plays a role. Being in Houston, with its concentration of Fortune 100 companies, makes it much easier to integrate classroom learning with real business challenges.”

P&Q: What types of support do you provide for international MBA students before and during the program?

Rodriguez: “For international students, the MBA experience begins with a dedicated, week-long immersion program before the full MBA orientation. That allows them to work through acclimation issues — everything from navigating bureaucracy to adjusting to life in the U.S. — in a smaller, supportive setting.

Our teams stay in close contact with students from the time they are admitted through their arrival on campus, helping with visas, travel, housing and transportation. We also connect them with existing student groups, so they feel welcomed immediately.

The goal is to make sure international students are on as equal footing as possible with our domestic students when the program begins. Houston helps tremendously in this regard. It’s one of the most diverse cities in the country, and students can usually find communities, resources and even grocery stores that feel familiar. That makes the transition easier.”

P&Q: How does the MBA program integrate disciplines like the liberal arts and STEM into the curriculum?

Rodriguez: “Rice places no barriers on students who want to study across schools. As long as there’s capacity and instructor approval, MBA students can take courses throughout the university — from languages and computing to health care and policy. We also have cross-listed faculty from the social sciences and STEM fields who teach electives tailored to business students. That extends to our collaboration with the policy school, where students can explore topics like technology and ethics or energy policy.

Our MBA curriculum is also STEM-certified, which means that we’re recognized for emphasizing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. We’re committed to integrating cutting-edge technology and analytics into our business curriculum. It is so important in today’s data-driven world. For international students, that designation might also mean a crucial advantage in securing extended career opportunities in the U.S.”

P&Q: How is artificial intelligence incorporated into the MBA curriculum beyond standalone courses?

Rodriguez: “In addition to dedicated AI courses taught by faculty at the business school and at Rice at large, AI is Increasingly embedded into experiential learning, a hallmark of the Rice Business experience. Many capstone projects now ask students to help companies think through how they’ll adopt AI, manage its impact on their workforce and navigate changes to competitive landscapes. Students are seeing these challenges play out firsthand through our corporate partnerships. Philosophically, our approach is intentional. We want to assess students’ core knowledge independently before introducing powerful AI tools. Then we evaluate how effectively they can use AI to amplify that expertise. The goal is balance — strong fundamentals paired with thoughtful, responsible use of AI.

One example: The Financial Management Association International recently honored Kerry Back, one of our finance professors, with an Innovation in Teaching Award for his new course “Generative AI in Finance.” The honor focuses on the course itself — showing students how to use these new tools and deepening their understanding of both AI and finance — but the course is also an example of how we look at these new tools beyond the classroom to see AI’s impact on the finance industry broadly.”

Next Page: Profiles of 12 Members of the MBA Class of 2027

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