Business/Commerce (Bachelor's Degree) at Rice University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$45,899

Est. from TX median (24 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$29,000

Est. from TX median (6 programs)

Analysis

Rice's highly selective business program produces puzzling estimates that don't align with the school's elite profile. Based on comparable business programs in Texas, first-year earnings of $45,899 barely match the state median—a surprising outcome for an institution with an 8% admission rate and SAT scores in the 99th percentile. For context, UT Austin's business graduates report $94,041 in first-year earnings, while even Baylor's reach $74,886.

The estimated $29,000 debt load appears manageable with a 0.63 debt-to-earnings ratio, but that calculation assumes the earnings estimate holds true. The real concern is whether these state-wide estimates accurately reflect what Rice business graduates actually earn. Given that Rice competes with top-tier universities nationally and draws a largely non-Pell student body (only 16% receive grants), it would be unusual for its outcomes to merely track the Texas median rather than significantly exceed it.

The data suppression here—likely due to a small graduating class—makes this a particularly difficult program to evaluate. If you're paying Rice tuition for a business degree, you're betting that actual outcomes far exceed what similar Texas programs deliver. That's probably a safe assumption given the school's reputation, but without reported data, you're making that investment decision essentially blind.

Where Rice University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business/commerce bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

Business/Commerce bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Texas (41 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Rice UniversityHouston	$58,128	$45,899*	—	$29,000*	—
The University of Texas at AustinAustin	$11,678	$94,041*	—	—*	—
Baylor UniversityWaco	$54,844	$74,886*	$90,608	$15,000*	0.20
Concordia University TexasAustin	$36,690	$60,641*	$71,368	$38,138*	0.63
DeVry University-TexasIrving	$17,488	$57,020*	$56,664	$47,236*	0.83
University of Houston-Clear LakeHouston	$7,746	$56,494*	$70,808	$23,766*	0.42
National Median	—	$47,506*	—	$26,000*	0.55

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/commerce graduates

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Production Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Quality Control Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geothermal Production Managers

Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels Production Managers

Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biomass Power Plant Managers

Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Hydroelectric Production Managers

Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Construction Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

$106,980/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Rice University, approximately 16% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 24 similar programs in TX. Actual outcomes may vary.