Rice University's Jones Graduate School of Business continues its upward trajectory in rankings among graduate school programs. The Rice MBA for Executives (EMBA), an exclusive and rigorous MBA curriculum designed for upper-level managers with an average of 10-years' work experience, was named No. 1 in Houston and No. 19 overall in the U.S. by the Wall Street Journal in rankings released today.

"I am pleased the corporate community and alumni of our program recognize and honor our faculty and staff with this designation," said Lina Bell, director of the Rice MBA for Executives program. "We work diligently to ensure our students have an exemplary experience, and this ranking is a positive indication that our efforts are valued."

The Wall Street Journal's EMBA rankings are based on three elements: survey scores among this year's graduates of EMBA programs; how a school performed on a survey of companies familiar with its EMBA programs; and its ability to convey leadership and management skills identified as essential by recent graduates and companies. The skills component is determined by members of the most recent class of EMBA graduates and by companies that employ EMBA students.

To learn more about Rice MBA programs, visit http://business.rice.edu/Becoming_Student.aspx