2026 Best Value Operations Management Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in operations management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Operations Management Schools
Leading the list is Cuny Bernard M Baruch College, our #1 best value for operations management in the United States. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,464, while out-of-state students pay about $15,414. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career operations management graduates make about $61,459. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College admits about 48% of applicants.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value operations management schools. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Durant. Students from in state pay about $7,200 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,410 for out-of-state students. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $18,660 in student loans. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Southeastern Oklahoma State University generally make around $51,797. Set against $18,660 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southeastern Oklahoma State University admits about 76% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of North Texas At Dallas one of the best values for operations management. Set in the city of Dallas, University Of North Texas At Dallas is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,595, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. University Of North Texas At Dallas admits about 84% of applicants.
Utah Valley University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value operations management schools. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,507 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Students borrow a median of $14,898 to complete the operations management program here. Operations Management graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $48,709 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value operations management schools. University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public school located in the city of Las Vegas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,748, while out-of-state students pay about $27,411. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $19,677 in student loans. Early-career operations management graduates make about $50,039. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Northwest ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value operations management schools. Purdue University Northwest is a large public school located in the suburb of Hammond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,357, while out-of-state students pay about $15,504. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the operations management program here. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Purdue University Northwest generally make around $51,424. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Governors State University placed #7 among the best values for operations management. Set in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,004. Students borrow a median of $20,207 to complete the operations management program here. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Governors State University generally make around $72,212. Set against $20,207 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Governors State University admits about 48% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio came in at #8 for value in operations management this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,326 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,249. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $19,747. Operations Management graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $49,955 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,747 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University came in at #9 for value in operations management this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the operations management program here. Early-career operations management graduates make about $85,140. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #10 position for value in operations management this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $103,280. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
University Of Southern Indiana landed the #11 spot for operations management value this year. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,066 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,907. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $21,602 in student loans. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from University Of Southern Indiana generally make around $47,216. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Suny Empire State College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value operations management schools. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,648, with out-of-state students paying around $17,558. Students borrow a median of $23,693 to complete the operations management program here. Operations Management graduates of Suny Empire State College earn a median of $58,140 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas At El Paso earned the #13 position for value in operations management this year. Set in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,544, compared with $25,502 for out-of-state students. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $16,437 in student loans. Operations Management graduates of The University Of Texas At El Paso earn a median of $66,350 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,437 median debt. The University Of Texas At El Paso admits about 100% of applicants.
Washington State University landed the #14 spot for operations management value this year. Set in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,391 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,950 for out-of-state students. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $21,102 in student loans. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Washington State University generally make around $125,114. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Lamar University landed the #15 spot for operations management value this year. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,905, compared with $18,745 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Lamar University generally make around $77,018. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Lamar University admits about 86% of applicants.
Ferris State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value operations management schools. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,778. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $21,713. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $92,202. That is a strong return on a $21,713 median debt. Ferris State University admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of North Texas placed #17 among the best values for operations management. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,309, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $78,816. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
Oakland University came in at #18 for value in operations management this year. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,167, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $26,000. Operations Management graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $91,379 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value operations management schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $19,175 in student loans. Early-career operations management graduates make about $118,799. Set against $19,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern State University came in at #20 for value in operations management this year. Located in the town of Tahlequah, Northeastern State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,810, with out-of-state students paying around $17,290. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $23,056 in student loans. Operations Management graduates of Northeastern State University earn a median of $80,820 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,056 median debt. Northeastern State University admits about 100% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Tyler placed #21 among the best values for operations management. Set in the city of Tyler, The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,512, compared with $24,512 for out-of-state students. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Operations Management graduates of The University Of Texas At Tyler earn a median of $55,134 early in their careers. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At Tyler admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earned the #22 position for value in operations management this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,492. Students borrow a median of $22,285 to complete the operations management program here. Operations Management graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $83,385 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,285 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh came in at #23 for value in operations management this year. Located in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,532, with out-of-state students paying around $16,446. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the operations management program here. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh generally make around $103,960. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland University College came in at #24 for value in operations management this year. Located in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,136 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,336 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $21,527. Early-career operations management graduates make about $85,444. That is a strong return on a $21,527 median debt.
Fort Hays State University placed #25 among the best values for operations management. Set in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,923, with out-of-state students paying around $17,741. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the operations management program here. Early-career operations management graduates make about $63,481. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Operations Management Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for operations management this year:
Other Operations Management Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Operations Management rankings across degree levels:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 240 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.
[Operations Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-administration-and-management/operations-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
