Texas McCombs vs Rice Jones
Which MBA program is right for you?
Texas McCombs
Rice Jones
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | Texas McCombs | Rice Jones |
|---|---|---|
| Ranking | #25 | #28 |
| Acceptance Rate | 30% | 28% |
| Avg. GMAT | 705 | 705 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| Class Size | 260 | 130 |
| Avg. Salary | $155,000 | $148,000 |
| Employment Rate | 93% | 92% |
| Annual Tuition | $41,666 | $62,000 |
The Verdict
Choose Texas McCombs if…
you want Austin's tech ecosystem, larger class, broader industry placement, and in-state tuition savings.
Full Texas McCombs Profile →Choose Rice Jones if…
you want Houston's energy hub, smaller class, deeper energy and healthcare connections, and Rice's intimate community.
Full Rice Jones Profile →Why People Compare These Two
McCombs and Jones are Texas's top two MBA programs, located in the state's two largest business cities. McCombs in Austin has tech and energy breadth with a 260-person class. Jones in Houston has energy depth and healthcare proximity with a 130-person class. Texas-bound applicants frequently apply to both, and the choice usually comes down to which city fits your career target.
The Texas economy has grown dramatically over the past decade. Austin is now one of the strongest tech job markets outside of Silicon Valley, with Oracle, Apple, Dell, Amazon, and dozens of growth-stage companies establishing major presences. Houston remains the global energy capital, with ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Halliburton, and hundreds of energy-related firms within recruiting reach. Neither city is a consolation prize.
Career Outcomes Compared
McCombs places into a broader mix: roughly 30% consulting, 22% tech, 20% energy, 15% finance. That breadth reflects Austin's economy. Jones places more heavily into energy (roughly 35%) and healthcare/biotech (about 18%), reflecting Houston's dominant industries. Consulting is strong at both schools, driven by Deloitte, Accenture, and BCG's Texas offices.
Median base salaries sit close together: McCombs graduates earn around $155,000, Jones graduates around $145,000. The salary gap narrows when you factor in Jones's Houston energy roles, where total compensation (base plus bonus) at oil majors and energy trading firms can exceed $200,000. McCombs's tech placements pull the median up; Jones's energy placements can drive higher ceiling compensation in strong energy markets.
Class Size and Culture
Jones's 130-person class is one of the smallest at any ranked MBA program. Everybody knows each other. Group projects involve the same 8-10 people cycling through different configurations. The culture is tight, collaborative, and community-oriented in a way that larger programs can't replicate. Students regularly cite the community as Jones's best feature.
McCombs's 260-person class feels larger without being large. Austin's energy makes it easy to build relationships outside school walls. The city's startup culture, live music scene, and outdoor lifestyle attract a student body that's comfortable building community in a less structured way. If you want warmth handed to you, Jones has the edge. If you want warmth you build yourself in an exciting city, McCombs is fine.
The Honest Take
McCombs wins on breadth, cost, and city energy. For Texas residents, the in-state tuition ($42,000/year vs Jones's $62,000/year) makes the ROI case straightforward. Austin's tech and energy mix creates more career options than any other Texas city.
Jones wins on depth. For energy, the Houston proximity is real and valuable. For healthcare, Baylor Medicine and Texas Medical Center access creates placement pathways that McCombs can't match. The smaller class builds stronger bonds. Rice's academic brand carries weight in technical and analytical roles.
If you're a Texas resident targeting broad career options, McCombs is the financially obvious choice. If you're targeting energy specifically and value community over city, Jones wins that narrow comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is McCombs or Rice Jones better for energy?
Both are top energy MBA programs. Jones has the edge for Houston-based upstream energy, oil majors, and energy trading firms due to physical proximity and a larger energy alumni network in Houston. McCombs offers broader industry diversification with tech and consulting alongside energy, and has strong placement into Austin's growing energy tech and clean energy sectors.
Which is cheaper?
McCombs in-state tuition is under $42,000/year, with out-of-state around $55,000/year. Rice Jones tuition is approximately $62,000/year regardless of residency. For Texas residents, McCombs has a significant cost advantage. The McCombs ROI on in-state tuition is among the best of any top-25 program.
Is Rice Jones good for healthcare?
Yes. Houston's Texas Medical Center is the largest medical complex in the world, and Jones has direct relationships with Baylor Medicine, MD Anderson, and Houston Methodist. Healthcare consulting and biotech placements are meaningful differentiators for Jones over other Texas MBA programs.
How do the alumni networks compare?
Both networks are strong in Texas but have different geographic depth. McCombs alumni are widely distributed across Austin, Dallas, and Houston's energy sector. Jones alumni are concentrated in Houston, with particular density in energy, healthcare, and engineering industries. Outside Texas, both networks thin out quickly compared to M7 programs. If your career takes you to New York or San Francisco, the school name will matter less than your own track record.