by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 362 U.S. colleges awarded 36,131 degrees and certificates in Management Science. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 73% of graduates. College Factual ranks 257 schools in its 2027 Best Management Science Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $85,529 one year after completing, rising to $103,588 after four years.
A major in Management Science involves the study of Management Science. A General Program That Focuses On The Application Of Statistical Modeling, Data Warehousing, Data Mining, Programming, Forecasting And Operations Research Techniques To The Analysis Of Problems Of Business Organization And Performance. Includes Instruction In Optimization Theory And Mathematical Techniques, Data Mining, Data Warehousing, Stochastic And Dynamic Modeling, Operations Analysis, And The Design And Testing Of Prototype Systems And Evaluation Models. Examples: [Business Intelligence], [Competitive Intelligence].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., management science is a popular field of study, with 36,131 degrees awarded annually. 362 colleges award management science degrees, an average of 100 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,925.
By level, the 36,131 awards include 90 certificates, 110 associate degrees, 9,300 bachelor’s degrees, 26,397 master’s degrees and 230 doctorates.
Women earned 42% of management science degrees and certificates in the latest year (15,327 of 36,131). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (13,092) and Asian (4,646), and international students earned 11,097.
College Factual ranks 257 schools in its 2027 Best Management Science Schools ranking, including 3 for associate degrees, 115 for bachelor’s degrees, 211 for master’s degrees and 10 for doctorates. It also ranks management science schools within 44 states. In all, 362 colleges offer management science programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Management Science Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common management science credential is the master’s degree: 26,397 of the 36,131 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to management science call most for Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Administration and Management and Computers and Electronics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
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How long a management science degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 90 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 110 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 9,300 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 26,397 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 230 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to management science, at 45.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 45.6% |
| Master’s degree | 32.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 6.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.0% |
| Some college courses | 2.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.3% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
9 occupations are related to Management Science, with an average median salary of $105,519; the strongest outlook belongs to Management Analysts, at 12.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Business Analyst, Business Process Analyst, Data Analyst and Business Consultant.
The occupation related to management science with the most projected jobs is Business Intelligence Analysts, at 585,851.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 585,851 | 1.3% |
| Data Scientists | 507,848 | 8.1% |
| Management Analysts | 484,759 | 12.6% |
| Chief Sustainability Officers | 440,982 | 0.5% |
| Chief Executives | 374,558 | -2.8% |
| Clinical Data Managers | 300,656 | -0.9% |
| Operations Research Analysts | 285,136 | 3.1% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
Management Science graduates earn a median $85,529 one year after completing their program, $103,588 after four years and $98,015 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $85,529 |
| 4 years | $103,588 |
| 5 years | $98,015 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to management science is General and Operations Managers, with a median salary of $149,694.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $149,694 |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | $143,840 |
| Chief Executives | $138,534 |
| Data Scientists | $106,295 |
| Clinical Data Managers | $99,475 |
| Chief Sustainability Officers | $96,628 |
| Operations Research Analysts | $83,596 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
Management Science has 3 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 32,167 degrees a year; the largest are Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other (24,779), Business Statistics (6,062) and Actuarial Science (1,326). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other | 24,779 |
| Business Statistics | 6,062 |
| Actuarial Science | 1,326 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
