FINANCIAL AID CHECKLIST

Determine Your Cost

Tuition for the 2026-2027 academic year is locked in at $2,374 per credit hour. Students are required to complete 54 credits, totaling $128,196 for the entirety of the program.

To determine the financial aid you will need, it’s necessary to first determine your cost per quadmester, and your cost per aid year (equal to three quadmesters). It’s important to note that, since you are charged per credit hour, your costs could go up or down per quadmester depending on the number of credits you enroll in each term.

Rice Student Financial Services has funding calculators available to help you get started.

Once you have made your deposit to Rice, you can proceed with the application steps listed in the following options.

Explore Financing Options

First, consider personal financing ability and any employer sponsorship.

Evaluate your need for additional funding sources.

  • Domestic students (U.S. citizens and permanent residents) may borrow through the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan program. Unlike private loans, these are not based on credit history or financial need.

    Loan Limits & Eligibility

    • Annual Limit: Up to $20,500 per aid year (3 quadmesters each).
      • Note: Annual limits are prorated for students for those enrolled less than full-time.
    • Aggregate Limit: Total federal graduate borrowing is capped at $100,000 (excluding undergraduate loans).

    How to Apply

    1. Submit the FAFSA: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using the Rice University school code: 003604.
    2. Complete Federal Requirements: To finalize your eligibility, you must complete two items on the Federal Student Aid website:
    3. Accept Your Award: Once Rice receives your FAFSA (after you deposit), you will receive an email to your @Rice.edu address. You must then log in to ESTHER to officially accept, reduce, or decline your federal loan offer.
    • Interest Rate: Fixed for the life of the loan (set annually by the Department of Education).

  • Private student loans are credit-based funding options that can be used in combination with, or as an alternative to, Federal Student Loans. Because these loans are issued by private lenders, approval and terms are determined by your individual creditworthiness.

    How to Apply

    1. Research & Compare: Review our Historical Lender List (the most commonly used one by Jones Graduate School of Business students). We recommend shopping around to compare interest rates and benefits.
    2. Apply Directly: Complete the application on your chosen lender’s website.
    3. Customize Your Terms: Most lenders allow you to tailor your loan to fit your budget. Consider the following:
    • Rate Type: Choose between Fixed or Variable interest rates.
    • Repayment Start: Select Immediate, Interest-Only, Flat Payment, or Full Deferment.
    • Loan Term: Choose a repayment period (typically 5, 10, or 15 years).
    • Cosigner: Determine if adding a credit-worthy cosigner will help lower your rate.

  • Students choosing to pay tuition and fees out-of-pocket in monthly installments should enroll in a Deferred Payment Plan each semester. The payment plan can be combined with any other financing option. The payments are split into three equal installments (one payment for every month within one quadmester).

  • Company (or third-party) sponsored billing is a method by which an entity, such as your company, corporation, or government agency, can be invoiced directly on your behalf.

    This process eliminates the need for you to make an interim payment between the Payment Arrangement Deadline and the date your company issues payment to Rice University. If your company provides payment reimbursement, you will still want to secure an alternative payment arrangement by the payment deadline and work directly with your company to receive a reimbursement, most likely at the end of each term.

    1. Provide the Third Party/Sponsored Payment Instructions to your employer.
    2. Return your letter of sponsorship to Rice University Bursar’s Office

  • At Rice Business, we value the contributions of our veterans and work diligently to support the educational goals that make use of your GI Bill® and other chapter education benefits. We are here to help you, your spouse, or dependents access the educational benefits earned by serving in the armed forces of the United States.

    Post-9/11 GI Bill® & Yellow Ribbon (Chapter 33)

    For eligible veterans with 100% entitlement, the combination of the GI Bill and Rice’s Yellow Ribbon contribution can cover 100% of your MBA tuition and required fees.

    • How it works: Once the annual VA private school cap is reached, Rice Business provides a 50% Yellow Ribbon Scholarship to cover the remaining balance, which the VA matches dollar-for-dollar.
    • Additional Benefits: Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and an annual book stipend (paid directly to the student).

    Other VA Education Benefit Chapters

    We support all major VA education benefit programs. Click the links below to view current rates and eligibility:

    Note: As a private institution, Rice University is unable to participate in the Hazlewood Act, which is reserved for Texas state institutions.

    How to Get Started

    Once you have been admitted to Rice Business, please complete the following steps to initiate your VA benefits file:

    1. Submit the VA Information Form: This notifies our School Certifying Official (SCO) of your intent to use benefits.
    2. Submit your MBA Degree Plan: Required for the VA to verify that your courses apply toward your degree.
    3. Provide your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or Statement of Benefits: Upload your latest COE from the VA to our secure portal.