MBA Programs in Texas Overview

Updated on July 29, 2024

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An MBA can be a life- and career-changing degree. Discover the best MBA programs in Texas and what career opportunities the state offers graduates.

MBA programs typically cover the core business areas, such as finance, marketing, and accounting. These programs emphasize management, global business practices, and problem-solving skills while also providing you with networking and experiential learning opportunities.

MBA programs have a long history in Texas, with one of the country’s first MBAs starting at the University of Texas at Austin in 1917. In the last 100+ years, the state has introduced some of the nation’s best MBA programs, offering evening, executive, and online MBA program options.

3 Popular Business Schools in Texas

The following three schools represent some of the best MBA programs in Texas. We chose these programs based on their popularity, enrollment numbers, admissions selectiveness, and academic quality.

Rice University

The Jones Graduate School of Business offers MBA programs that work for you — including full- or part-time, on-campus, and online. The classes are small, the training intensive, and the results speak for themselves. In 2022:

96% of Rice MBAs accepted job offers within three months of graduation.
69% of those offers resulted from school-facilitated activities.

The average starting salary for Rice MBA grads was $142,000. Many Rice MBA students go on to forge new, exciting businesses. All MBA programs take two years to complete.

Tuition and Fees for an MBA from Rice

Full-Time MBA: $70,500 per year (Note: In 2023, Rice Business provided merit-based scholarships to over 75% of full-time MBAstudents, with an average award covering over 50% of tuition costs.)
Professional MBA: $61,750
Executive MBA: $72,500 per year
Hybrid MBA: $67,500 per year
Online MBA: $118,476 total

Applying to Rice’s MBA Programs: A Checklist

Complete an online application form.
Submit transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution in which a degree was earned.
Submit GMAT/GRE or Executive Assessment scores.
Submit an updated professional resume or CV.
Provide 1-2 professional recommendation letters.
Submit two short answer responses and one creative essay. You may also choose to answer an additional, optional essay clarifying any aspect of your application.
Pay application fees.
Schedule a virtual interview if selected.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

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Texas A&M University

Mays Business School at Texas A&M offers full-time, professional, and executive MBAs as well as a special MBA + MS in analytics program.

The professional and executive MBAs are offered in downtown Houston.

MBA students at TAMU receive business training emphasizing ethics, inclusion, systems thinking, and data-informed decision-making. Graduates get a solid return on their investment right away. In 2022:

95.4% of TAMU MBA grads secured employment within three months.
Graduates earned an average starting salary of $115,585.
The average signing bonus was $17,774.

MBA programs at TAMU take 18 months or two years of full-time study to complete.

Tuition and Fees for an MBA From Texas A&M

Full-Time MBA: $63,000 total for Texas residents, $88,950 for non-residents
Professional MBA: $99,500 for Texas residents
Executive MBA: $99,500 for Texas residents

Applying to A&M’s MBA Programs: A Checklist

Application requirements for TAMU’s full-time, professional, and executive MBA programs include:

Two or more years of work experience
Resume/CV
Unofficial transcripts
Essays
GRE or GMAT score

Requirements for the MBA + MS in analytics program include:

Three or more years of work experience
Strong undergraduate GPA
One or more statistics course (with a high grade)
GMAT or GRE scores in the top 25%

University of Texas at Austin

More than 110 years after the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) held its first business classes, the McCombs School of Business offers a bachelor’s program, eight specialized master’s programs, and five Ph.D. programs, plus an MBA program with full-time, evening, and executive options.

The two-year full-time MBA features over 20 specializations, including 14 STEM-certified tracks. The 21-month evening MBA runs on Monday and Tuesday nights, and the executive MBA meets for one weekend each month and features one global and three U.S. immersions.

Tuition and Fees for an MBA from UT

Full-time MBA: $53,818 per year for Texas residents; $59,684 for non-residents
Evening MBA: $130,000 total
Executive MBA: $162,000 total

Applying to UT’s MBA Programs: A Checklist

UT Austin MBA applicants must meet the following requirements for admission:

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited school
Transcripts and GRE or GMAT scores
Resume with a recommended two years of post-bachelor’s professional experience
Evening and executive MBA applicants should be fully employed
250-word essay and an optional statement
Letters of recommendation
$200 application fee
Video assessment

Full List of MBA Programs in Texas

The following table highlights the MBA programs available in Texas. The list only includes programs from nonprofit schools and those that hold MBA accreditation from one of the following organizations:

All Business Schools in Texas

School⇅	City⇅	Type⇅	Accreditation⇅
[object Object]	Garland	4-year, Private not-for-profit	ACBSP
Angelo State University	San Angelo	4-year, Public	AACSB
[object Object]	Dallas	4-year, Private not-for-profit	ACBSP
[object Object]	Fort Worth	4-year, Private not-for-profit	ACBSP
[object Object]	Austin	4-year, Private not-for-profit	ACBSP
[object Object]	Irving	4-year, Private not-for-profit	ACBSP
[object Object]	Austin	4-year, Private not-for-profit	ACBSP
[object Object]	Hawkins	4-year, Private not-for-profit	ACBSP
Lamar University	Beaumont	4-year, Public	AACSB
[object Object]	Longview	4-year, Private not-for-profit	ACBSP

…

MBA Cost in Texas

According to the National Center for Education Statistics the national average graduate tuition and required fees was $20,513 for the 2021-22 academic year. While you may find that MBA programs cost more than some other master’s programs, Texas boasts one of the lowest costs of living in the country and offers several financial aid programs to help you pay for your education.

Texas residents who do not qualify for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), can complete the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) to access state scholarships and grants.

You can also apply for one of the many school and private scholarship programs for MBA students in the state, such as those from the Texas Business Hall of Fame or the Communities Foundation of Texas.

Cost of Living in Texas

Considering the cost of living in Texas is crucial for budgeting your education.

According to the World Population Review, Texas has the 17th lowest cost of living index in the nation based on basic expenses like food, transportation, housing, and healthcare.

Though utilities may run you a little more in Texas than in other parts of the country, grocery costs, healthcare costs, and transportation costs are all below the national index score. Housing costs are well below the national average, with an index score of only 84.2. (The national index score is 100).

The cost of living varies across the state — housing costs in Waco, for example, are much lower than in Houston.

Popular MBA Jobs in Texas

The following table examines some of the most popular careers for MBA graduates and their respective national and state salaries.

Most Popular Careers for MBA Graduates in Texas
Career	Texas Average Annual Salary	National Average Annual Salary
Advertising and Promotions Managers	$114,700	$152,620
Financial Managers	$170,970	$174,820
Fundraising Managers	$105,650	$133,620
General and Operations Managers	$122,650	$129,330
Management Analysts	$106,600	$115,530
Marketing Managers	$150,470	$166,410
Project Management Specialists	$97,680	$104,920
Public Relations Managers	$126,570	$159,420
Purchasing Managers	$137,760	$146,710
Sales Managers	$144,360	$157,610

Source: BLS

Frequently Asked Questions About Business Schools in Texas

There are several MBA programs in Texas that are considered challenging to get into, thanks to their rigorous acceptance criteria and competitive applicant pool. Some of those include:

Jones Graduate School of Business, Rice University
McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin
Cox School of Business, Southern Methodist University

Note: The insights on this page were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed July 1, 2024.

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