2027 Best Value Operations Management Schools in Illinois
[Operations Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-administration-and-management/operations-management/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value operations management schools.
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2027 Best Value Operations Management Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the operations management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Operations Management Schools
Leading the list is Joliet Junior College, our #1 best value for operations management in Illinois. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $11,995. Operations Management graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $39,887 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in operations management will find it at Oakton Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,985, with out-of-state students paying around $12,462. Students borrow a median of $7,750 to complete the operations management program here. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Oakton Community College generally make around $48,838. Set against $7,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mchenry County College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value operations management schools. Mchenry County College is a large public school located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,162, with out-of-state students paying around $14,399. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $7,440 in student loans. Operations Management graduates of Mchenry County College earn a median of $24,177 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Illinois University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value operations management schools. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Operations Management graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $68,932 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Governors State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in operations management, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,004. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $20,207. Operations Management graduates of Governors State University earn a median of $58,324 early in their careers. Set against $20,207 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #6 position for value in operations management this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $19,175 in student loans. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $93,621. Set against $19,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Concordia University Chicago landed the #7 spot for operations management value this year. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,488. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $24,000. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Concordia University Chicago generally make around $53,894. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. Concordia University Chicago admits about 93% of applicants.
Northwestern University earned the #8 position for value in operations management this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $16,616. Early-career operations management graduates make about $78,551. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Quincy University landed the #9 spot for operations management value this year. Set in the town of Quincy, Quincy University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,140. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $26,691. Operations Management graduates of Quincy University earn a median of $46,414 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,691 median debt. Roughly 51% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University landed the #10 spot for operations management value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $26,333. Early-career operations management graduates make about $55,390. Set against $26,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #11 spot for operations management value this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $83,063. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
More Operations Management Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
