Texas McCombs brings the power of a UT Austin MBA to working professionals based in Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston. Designed for ambitious professionals in these dynamic markets, the programs meet on alternating weekends, allowing students to maintain their career momentum while earning a degree from one of the nation’s top business schools. Our renowned McCombs faculty travel from Austin to you to teach all MBA courses over the two-year program, delivering the same rigorous curriculum as our Austin-based programs.

Our Working Professional programs at McCombs are intentionally structured to foster connections and community. Not only does each new incoming class start their MBA experience with a one-week Austin Intensive at the main UT campus, but when returning to their respective campuses, the class will participate in a required first-semester residency program. During the first semester, students will stay at the Virgin Dallas or Hotel ZaZa in Houston (depending on their campus) on Friday nights of class weekends. This unique feature of our Dallas and Houston programs serves as a foundation for building a professional network and creating a tight-knit MBA community.

“Staying at the hotel has been game-changing for forming relationships! Being in the same space makes it easy to grab a quick dinner, have impromptu study sessions, or just hang out and unwind after a long day. It’s created this immersive environment where we’re always connecting and supporting each other, which has helped me dive fully into the program and build some awesome friendships along the way,” Arshad Chowdhury (Houston MBA ’26) said.

The residency requirement, which occurs on Friday nights during seven weekends in the first semester, transforms standard class weekends into immersive MBA experiences. By staying together under one roof, students naturally create opportunities for meaningful interactions beyond the classroom. Whether you’re brainstorming over breakfast, conducting impromptu study sessions in the hotel lobby, or sharing stories over dinner at nearby restaurants, these moments forge connections that extend far beyond your MBA journey.

For working professionals juggling demanding careers and MBA studies, the residency program offers multiple advantages:

  • Maximized Time Management: With no Friday evening commute, students can transition seamlessly from work to class to networking, making the most of the weekend schedule.
  • Dedicated Focus: The hotel environment provides a professional setting away from daily responsibilities, allowing students to fully immerse themselves in the MBA experience.
  • Natural Networking: Sharing a common space creates organic opportunities for relationship-building with classmates from unique industries and backgrounds.
  • Work-Life Integration: The program’s structure helps students balance MBA commitments with personal life – students can participate fully in Friday evening activities while maintaining family time on other weekends.

The residency experience adapts seamlessly to various lifestyles. Local students appreciate the flexibility to briefly return home if needed – whether to walk the dog or check in on family – before rejoining classmates for evening activities. For those balancing family life, the residency offers a unique opportunity to occasionally include spouses and partners in social activities, helping them feel connected to your MBA journey while also providing you with dedicated time for uninterrupted networking and studying away from the busy home environment. Students traveling from outside the metropolitan area benefit from eliminated commute times, while all participants gain a dedicated space for fostering meaningful connections.

“The hotel residency has been a relaxing, end of the week experience that both cohorts look forward to. After class, we all meet and discuss our work week as well as our upcoming Saturday class. I’m truly grateful that McCombs offers us fun and unique ways to spend time with each other outside of just class time,” Marcus Patterson (Dallas MBA ’26) said.

Both the Virgin Dallas and Hotel ZaZa Houston offer sophisticated environments conducive to both studying and socializing, with comfortable spaces for group work and nearby venues for team dinners and informal gatherings. The carefully chosen locations and upscale amenities create an ideal setting for both formal and casual interactions that strengthen class bonds.

Many of our students identify the first-semester residency as a pivotal element in their MBA journey. Beyond the immediate benefits of community building and networking, the relationships formed during these weekends often evolve into lasting professional partnerships and friendships. Alumni frequently cite these shared experiences as instrumental in creating the strong bonds that define the McCombs network.

“The hotel residency helped to turbo charge the relationship building with the staff and my peers. Getting to spend additional hours outside of class getting to know each other on a personal level really helped me get closer with students not in my cohort or study group. Even though the hotel residency is only for one semester, the friendships formed during that time are still strong to this day,” Nicole Gonzalez (Houston MBA ’25) said.

“The hotel residency created a unique, shared experience that facilitated lasting connections with classmates in a collaborative setting,” Sofia Angeles (Dallas MBA ’25) said. “Daily interactions-built familiarity, evolving into genuine friendships and a professional support network. These bonds have been instrumental throughout the program, offering a solid foundation both now and into the future. Huge bonus for commuting students like myself!”

The best part? This transformative component is already built into student’s tuition, making it a seamless part of their MBA investment. Whether you’re collaborating on case studies late into the evening, meeting classmates’ families during weekend visits, or planning your next career move over coffee, the residency program creates the perfect environment for building the relationships that make the McCombs MBA experience truly exceptional.

Sign up to receive Weekend MBA news here, and register for an admissions event at our Dallas/Fort Worth or Houston campus to meet program staff, current students, and alumni.

Applications for the Weekend MBA are open, and the final deadline to apply is May 30, 2025.

Learn more on our website and contact us with any questions.

Questions about Weekend MBA at Dallas/Fort Worth? Contact: TexasMBADFW@mccombs.utexas.edu

Questions about the Weekend MBA at Houston?  Contact: TexasMBAHouston@mccombs.utexas.edu