TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID

Tuition Information

Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year is $2,374 per credit. Students are required to complete 54 credits, totaling $128,196 for the entirety of the program.

MBA@Rice Residential and Global Field Experience (GFE) program costs are not covered by tuition. Students should also expect to pay $1,000 to $2,500 for textbooks for the program, based on the availability of used books and elective courses taken.

Additionally, a nonrefundable enrollment deposit of $1,000 (required only upon admission) will be applied to the first term’s tuition. Tuition costs are subject to increase each academic year, but each student’s tuition rate will be locked for the entirety of their time in the program at the rate paid in their first quadmester.

Field Experience Costs

Each student must attend at least two field experiences as part of the curriculum—one MBA@Rice Residential and one GFE. MBA@Rice Residentials have a program fee of $1,100, including most meals and lodging, and GFEs have a program fee of $2,200, including some meals and lodging. These fees do not include tuition or transportation to and from the field experience location.

The program fees will be charged to the student in the quadmester in which they are registered for a Residential/GFE course. These fees will be set annually.

MBA@Rice Tuition, Billing and Financial Aid FAQs

TUITION AND BILLING

  • Yes, each student is required to attend at least one MBA@Rice Residential and one Global Field Experience (GFE) as part of the curriculum. On-campus MBA@Rice Residentials have a program fee of $1,100, and international GFEs have a program fee of $2,200. These fees include select meals and lodging but do not include tuition or transportation to and from the Residential or GFE location.

    The fees will be charged to the student in the quadmesters in which they are registered for an MBA@Rice Residential or GFE course. These fees will be set annually.

  • A nonrefundable enrollment deposit of $1,000 (required only upon admission) will be applied to the first term’s tuition. Tuition costs are subject to increase each academic year.

  • No, federal student aid cannot be used to pay the deposit.

  • No, you must submit your enrollment deposit, be admitted into the program and have a valid FAFSA on file before your financial aid award package is processed.

  • After you submit your enrollment deposit and complete your enrollment in the program, your financial aid will begin processing. Once processed, a notice will be sent to your Rice University email account directing you to your Esther account where you may review the student loan application steps. Award packages are processed approximately six weeks before the start of the quadmester.

  • Tuition is assessed once you enroll in classes for the coming quadmester. You can view charges through the Payment Suite section of your Esther account.

    The Payment Arrangement Deadline is the 10th of the first month of each quadmester.

    Example:
    Summer: July 10
    Fall: October 10
    Winter: January 10
    Spring: April 10

  • Billing activity is shown on the Payment Suite section of your Esther account. In this section, you may review account activity, print account statements, set up a payment plan and pay your bill. We recommend you pay with your bank account information (routing and checking/savings account number). If you decide to pay with a credit or debit card, there is a third-party processing fee of 3 percent.

    Credit Card – Visa, Master Card, Discover and American Express are accepted through our online suite. A 3% convenience fee is added to online payments using this method to assist with the exchange fees associated with credit card processing.

  • Rice University students who are being sponsored by their employer or government can participate in our third-party billing service. Personal sponsors or sponsors that pay based on the student’s grades are not eligible.

    To initiate the process the student must provide a letter (also called a financial guarantee or authorization) issued from their sponsor to the Bursar’s Office containing the following information:

    • student name and student ID number
    • the beginning and ending date of the sponsorship
    • types of fees covered (tuition, health insurance, housing, dining, etc)
    • restrictions in funding related to financial aid that may be received by a student
    • sponsor billing address
    • statement that Rice University will be paid directly—payments should never be sent to the student directly

    Once the sponsor’s letter is received, an anticipated payment credit memo for the amount authorized by the sponsor will be applied to the student’s account.

    Download the Third Party/Sponsored Payment instructions.

  • Yes, Rice University Cashier’s Office offers a quadmester payment plan that allows you to divide the balance into three installments. A one-time per quadmester, nonrefundable fee of $75 is charged at enrollment and must be paid at the time the payment plan is created. You may enroll in the plan through your Esther Payment Suite.

  • Late-payment fees are added the business day immediately following the due date of a billing statement. Billing amounts due that are not paid in full (or whose payment plan is not current) by the billing due date will be subject to a 1.5% late fee. Late fees are calculated based on the amount past due.

    Students experiencing difficulty with paying their balance should contact the Bursar’s Office promptly to discuss payment options.

  • Students are encouraged to complete electronic refund information to have financial aid or other student account refunds deposited directly into a checking or savings account—any bank, anywhere. This is the same secure process that is used to deposit payroll checks.

    Please be sure to keep your bank account information up to date. Failure to have current electronic refund information will delay your refund You may reference the refund page for additional information.

  • Title IV is a term that refers to federal financial aid funds. Rice University applies Title IV funds to all charges on a student’s account for the academic year in which the funds are received.

  • Contact the Rice University Bursar’s Office.

RICE STUDENT PORTAL

  • Enrolled students will receive their Rice University NetID and password approximately seven days after submitting their enrollment deposit for the program.

  • The Rice student portal is Esther. Your Esther account includes access to academic records, billing, financial aid, direct deposit setup and more. You will need your Rice student ID and PIN to log in to Esther.

FINANCIAL AID AT RICE

  • There are limited scholarships available. Please connect with an enrollment specialist to learn more. Additionally, students interested in external funding can review a third-party scholarship list available on the Student Financial Services site.

  • There are no supplemental financial aid forms. Each loan type has specific loan application steps, and these are listed on the Student Financial Services site. You will be granted access to the site shortly after your admission to the program.

    If you are a new student, and are planning to apply for federal student aid, you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), Entrance Counseling and the Loan Agreement Master Promissory Note (MPN) on the Federal Student Aid website.

    If you are applying for private educational loans, you can review a historical list of lenders for the Jones Graduate School of Business through the ELMSelect Private Loan Tool.

  • Students beginning in a new program July 1, 2026 and later can apply for the federal direct unsubsidized loan. In accordance with H.R.1, passed by the 119th Congress and signed into law on July 4, 2025, the federal direct PLUS loan option is only available to continuing students with existing Graduate PLUS loans before July 1, 2026, who borrowed during their current program of study under the legacy provision. Beginning July 1, 2026, the Graduate PLUS loan will be eliminated for new borrowers. For more information on federal loan updates, please visit this link.

  • The Department of Education awards Federal Pell Grants and Direct Subsidized Loans to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need and have not yet completed their bachelor’s degrees. The Department of Education does not evaluate need or income for loans at the graduate or professional level. Therefore, graduate students are not eligible for the Federal Pell Grant or the Direct Subsidized Loan.

  • Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) to continue receiving financial aid.

  • You must be enrolled in a minimum of 3 credit hours each quadmester to be eligible for federal student aid.

  • With MBA@Rice, you have the flexibility to adjust your course load as work and other priorities demand. You can complete the program in as few as 24 months, or you can take fewer courses per term to earn your degree in 36 months. The first year will consist of all core courses, and the second year will feature a combination of core and elective courses. Please see Sample Course Schedules on the MBA@Rice program site.

  • Private education loans, also known as alternative loans, are offered by private lenders to help students bridge the gap between the cost of education and the amount the government allows you to borrow in federal loans. Lenders offer private educational loans with different rates, fees, repayment terms and approval requirements.

  • Students may apply for private educational loans to help finance their studies at Rice University. These loans can be used in combination with, or as an alternative to, federal student loans.

    Rice University provides a historical list of lenders most commonly used by Jones Graduate School of Business students through the ELMSelect Private Loan Tool. Select “MBA” from the drop-down menu and click “View Loans” to explore options.

    Students have the right and the ability to select the educational loan provider of their choice, and are not obligated to utilize any lender on this list.

  • The College Access Loan (CAL) Program provides an alternative type of educational loan to Texas residents who attend colleges and universities in Texas. Rice receives a limited allocation of funding from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board each year. Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is not required to receive this loan, but the amount of the Unsubsidized Loan that you would be eligible to receive (if you had completed the FAFSA) will be taken into account when determining the amount of CAL you may be eligible to receive. This means that even if you choose not to take out a Federal Unsubsidized Loan, the amount of that particular loan must be deducted from the maximum amount you are allowed to borrow from the CAL Program. Proof of Texas residency will also be required.

  • After you submit your enrollment deposit and complete your enrollment in the program, your financial aid will begin processing. Once processed, a notice will be sent to your Rice University email account directing you to your Esther account where you may review the student loan application steps. Award packages are processed approximately six weeks before the start of the quadmester.

  • You may accept your loan offer through the Financial Aid Award section of your Esther account.

  • No, you do not have to accept the full amount offered. Students are encouraged to borrow only what is needed. You can choose to accept all, part or none of your financial aid award in your Esther account.

  • The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan does not cover the full cost of tuition and fees. Students should plan to use additional funding sources to cover any remaining costs.

  • Assuming all loan application steps are complete, disbursement begins the first Wednesday of each quadmester.

  • The total cost of attendance (COA) for the academic year includes direct costs (tuition and fees) and estimated allowances for indirect costs (books, computer, room and board, etc).

  • MBA@Rice Residentials consist of Intensive Learning Experiences (ILE), which involve simulations, seminars, group projects and guided leadership exercises that bring you face to face with peers, faculty and industry leaders.

    Throughout your time as a student, you are required to complete at least two field experience courses—one MBA@Rice Residential and one international Global Field Experience (GFE). If you have a surplus credit from your loans, you may use those funds to cover expenses associated with your Residentials/GFEs.

  • You can contact Student Financial Services with any additional questions.

FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA)

  • The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the application the Department of Education uses to determine if you are eligible to receive federal student aid.

  • The FAFSA is available online. The FAFSA is a free application; you will not be asked to pay.

  • The Rice FAFSA school code is 003604.

  • If you are applying for graduate school, you are considered an independent student and do not need to include your parents’ information to complete the FAFSA.

  • The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is a measurement of your ability to contribute toward your educational costs. As a graduate/professional student, your EFC is not a factor in your eligibility for federal student loans.

  • The FAFSA is available every Oct. 1 for the upcoming academic year. New students planning to use federal student aid should complete a FAFSA while applying for admission. Continuing students will need to submit a FAFSA each year they plan to receive federal student aid.

    Please reference the chart below to determine which FAFSA to complete based on your desired start date:

    StartTermFAFSA Year
    July 2026
    Summer
    2026-2027
    October 2026
    Fall
    2026-2027
    January 2027
    Winter
    2026-2027
    April 2027
    Spring
    2026-2027
    July 2027
    Summer
    2027-2028
    October 2027
    Fall
    2027-2028

  • Yes. Because eligibility for federal student aid does not carry over from one award year to the next, you will need to complete the FAFSA for each award year for which you are or plan to be a student. An award/aid year for financial aid consists of 3 quadmesters each.

FEDERAL DIRECT UNSUBSIDIZED LOANS

  • The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is a federal loan offered to students to help with the cost of education. The Federal Unsubsidized Loan is not based on income or financial need.

  • In order to apply for federal student aid, you must:

    • be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
    • have a valid Social Security number (SSN)
    • be registered with Selective Service if you are male (must register between the ages of 18 and 25)
    • be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an eligible degree program
    • be enrolled at least half-time in an eligible program
    • maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP)
    • not currently be in default on previous federal student loan
    • not have exceeded the maximum aggregate loan limit

    Learn more about federal student aid eligibility criteria on the Federal Student Aid website.

  • For graduate programs, annual unsubsidized loan limits are capped at $20,500 per aid year with total borrowing (aggregate limit), not including undergraduate borrowing, capped at $100,000. You can learn more about graduate annual loan limits on the Federal Student Aid website.

  • Log in on the StudentAid.gov to view your federal student loan borrowing history and loan servicer details. Please note that private education loans are not listed on this site. Students in default are not eligible for additional federal loans. Contact your lender for default resolution options.

  • Direct Subsidized Loans are available to undergraduate students with financial need. The U.S. Department of Education pays the interest on subsidized loans while students are enrolled in their undergraduate program. The Direct Unsubsidized Loan is available to undergraduate and graduate students and does not require demonstration of financial need. The Unsubsidized Loan begins accruing interest as soon as funds are disbursed. Learn more about the difference between unsubsidized and subsidized loans.

  • Most graduate-level students are eligible to receive up to $20,500 per academic year through the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. Annual loan limits may be prorated based on a student’s enrollment status. Learn more about graduate annual loan limits.

  • To apply for the Direct Unsubsidized Loan, you must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

  • The Direct Unsubsidized Loan interest rate is determined on an annual basis. Learn more about interest rates on the Federal Student Aid website.

  • There is a loan origination fee that is a percentage of the total loan amount. The loan origination fee is deducted proportionately from each loan disbursement you receive. Information on Unsubsidized Loan origination fees can be found on the Interest Rates and Fees page of the Federal Student Aid website.

LOAN REPAYMENT

  • You can defer payment on your federal student loans if you are enrolled at least half-time. You should be aware that although you can defer payments while you are in school, interest will still accrue on your loan(s). Your Unsubsidized Loan will go into repayment six months after you graduate, fall below half-time status, take a leave of absence or withdraw from the program. Most private loans also have deferred payment options while you are in school; however, you will need to check with your loan servicer.

  • After you graduate, leave school or drop below half-time enrollment, you will have a six-month grace period before you are required to begin repayment. During this period, you’ll receive repayment information from your loan servicer, and you will be notified of your first payment due date. Payments are usually due monthly. You are not required to pay while in school, however if you choose to, there is no penalty to prepay. Learn more about repayment timelines.

  • The Department of Education (DOE) offers multiple options for repayment. You may visit the DOE website for more information on loan repayment plans.

  • Yes, visit the DOE website for repayment calculators.

  • A Direct Consolidation Loan allows you to consolidate (combine) multiple federal education loans into one loan including both graduate and undergraduate loans. The result is a single monthly payment instead of multiple payments. Learn more about loan consolidation.

  • In certain circumstances, all or a portion of a borrower’s federal student loans may be forgiven under the federal government’s loan forgiveness program. Please review the Department of Education website for more information on federal loan forgiveness programs.

MILITARY EDUCATION BENEFITS

  • To begin the process of applying for military education benefits for which you are eligible, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website. Questions regarding eligibility should be directed to the VA at 888-442-4551.

  • Visit Vets.gov to complete the Education Benefits Application, which generates a request for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Once approved for benefits, the VA will mail the COE to you within approximately 30 days of submitting the application. In addition to the COE, you may be required to submit the following items:

    • Certificate of (Honorable) Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214): If you have been discharged from active service, you must include this form in your application. Please provide a copy of your Member-4 or Service-2 copy to JGSB Student Financial Services.
    • If you have previously used benefits at another school: You may have access to download a Statement of Benefits, which may be used in lieu of a COE. 
    • Military Transcript: This is a listing of all military training received while in the service.
    • For the Air Force, this is the Air University Transcript. For all other branches, this is the Joint Services Transcript (JST).
    • Transfer of Post-9/11 Entitlement: If you are considering a transfer of your entitlement to a dependent, please review the Transfer of Post 9/11 GI Bill® Benefits section of the VA website

  • You are potentially eligible for this VA-administered program if you have at least 90 days of aggregate active-duty service after Sept.10, 2001, and are still on active duty, or if you are an honorably discharged veteran or were discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. Learn more about the Post 9/11 GI Bill®.

  • The tuition and fee payment rate and the MHA are determined at the beginning of each military academic year on Aug. 1. The current rate table is located on the Education and Training page of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs site.

    Because Rice is a private university, students who receive Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits are subject to a maximum tuition and fee reimbursement per academic year (Aug. 1 through July 31). The amount of the national cap changes each year on Aug. 1, and is available to be used from Aug. 1 to July 31 of the following year.

    When VA benefits are calculated, the amount of this national cap must be expended before Yellow Ribbon Program benefits can be awarded.

  • The Yellow Ribbon Program allows degree-granting colleges and universities to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the VA to fund tuition and fee expenses that exceed the national maximum per academic year.

    Participating institutions choose their contribution amount, and the VA matches that amount and issues payment directly to the school. Rice Business is a proud participant in the Yellow Ribbon program at the highest level possible for all our MBA programs. This means veterans in our programs who meet the length of service requirement are able to obtain funding for up to 100 percent of tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance, and an annual book stipend. For additional information on Yellow Ribbon Program benefits and eligibility, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website

  • Visit the Rice Military and Veteran Benefits page, or contact Bethany Denton, director of student financial services, by email at bethany.denton@rice.edu.

TAX BENEFITS FOR EDUCATION

  • For details on tax benefits for education, see IRS Publication 970: Tax Benefits for, which provides detailed information. ACPHS is unable to provide tax advice. We urge you to contact your tax adviser or the IRS at 800-829-1040 or www.irs.gov if you have any questions regarding the HOPE or Lifetime Learning Tax Credits.

  • It is an informational form filed with the Internal Revenue Service to report the amounts billed to you for qualified tuition, related expenses and other related information. The primary purpose of IRS Form 1098-T is to inform you that we have provided this required information to the IRS.

  • Form 1098-T reports amounts paid for qualified tuition, scholarships and grants processed in the previous year to students enrolled in courses at Rice University for which they received academic credit. The information reported on the 1098-T Form helps students evaluate whether they are eligible for an educational tax credit.

    1. Log in to Esther using your user ID and PIN.
    2. Select Student Services and Account Information link.
    3. Under Account Summary – Pay My Bill – Bill Payment Suite, select Payment Suite.
    4. A link to your most current 1098-T tax statement will be located in the “Statements” box of the landing page.

    (Not finding your 1098-T tax statement? Visit our Tax Information page for information on why the tax form may not have been generated.)

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