Rice Business No.1 entrepreneurship ranking for 5th year

Rice University announced its Jones Graduate School of Business has been ranked No. 1 in graduate entrepreneurship programs for the fifth consecutive year as revealed by the latest rankings from Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine. Additionally, Poets&Quants ranked the MBA entrepreneurship program third globally, while Bloomberg Businessweek positioned it fifth. The rankings serve as a reflection of Rice's investment in developing future leaders equipped with innovative business skills.

Rice University's achievement comes from an understanding of the robust educational ecosystem that fuels such ranking. Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine compile an annual list of the top 50 undergraduate and graduate schools for entrepreneurship studies based on a survey of over 300 institutions, assessing academic offerings, experiential learning, and career outcomes. Rice University's entrepreneurial ecosystem is facilitated by the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie) and the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and integrates academic courses with co-curricular programs, according to a press release by Rice University.

The faculty at Rice play an instrumental role in fostering this entrepreneurial culture among students. "Our students are learning about entrepreneurship at every step of their Rice Business journey," said Yael Hochberg, head of the Rice University Entrepreneurship Initiative, according to a press release by Rice University. "Innovation is embedded in coursework and ideas are valued and supported financially through a network of innovative thinkers and business plan competitions."

The unique positioning of the university also provides additional benefits. "Our close ties to Houston as well as national startup ecosystems give our students unique opportunities to pitch to and connect with angel investors, venture capitalists, and corporations," said Brad Burke, managing director of the Rice Alliance, according to a press release by Rice University. "These connections allow for mentorship, as well as launch points for new ideas, not only for our students but also for the city and surrounding communities."

Moreover, Rice University's approach to education extends beyond classroom learning. "Our students are able to learn inside and outside of the classroom with Rice Business thanks to our connections in Houston and beyond," said Rice Business Dean Peter Rodriguez, according to a press release by Rice University. "Our class sizes are small, and our programs are tailored to guarantee students leave with both the skillset and mindset not only to pursue new ideas but to navigate the rapidly changing world of business."