2027 Best Value General Operations Research Schools

[General Operations Research](/majors/engineering/operations-research/general-operations-research/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general operations research students.
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Finding the Best Value General Operations Research School for You
The right general operations research school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value General Operations Research Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
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2027 Best Value General Operations Research Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general operations research, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Operations Research Schools
Our analysis ranked Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus the best value for a degree in general operations research in the United States. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Typical student debt for general operations research graduates is $24,323. General Operations Research graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $83,560 early in their careers. Set against $24,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus admits about 14% of applicants.
Princeton University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general operations research, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,688. General Operations Research graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans. General Operations Research graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $100,354 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,888 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Students looking for strong value in general operations research will find it at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. General Operations Research graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. Early-career general operations research graduates make about $88,685. Set against $14,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rice University earned it the #4 place for general operations research. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,247. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete the general operations research program here. Soon after graduation, general operations research degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general operations research, landing the #5 spot this year. 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, compared with $15,414 for out-of-state students. General Operations Research graduates carry a median of $11,691 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general operations research degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $99,947. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value general operations research schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. General Operations Research graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. General Operations Research graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value general operations research schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Students borrow a median of $22,113 to complete the general operations research program here. Soon after graduation, general operations research degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $59,622. That is a strong return on a $22,113 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Georgia State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general operations research schools. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,664 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,840. General Operations Research graduates carry a median of $26,091 in student loans. General Operations Research graduates of Georgia State University earn a median of $51,103 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,091 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #9 position for value in general operations research this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. General Operations Research graduates carry a median of $20,031 in student loans. Early-career general operations research graduates make about $64,891. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned the #10 position for value in general operations research this year. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,396. General Operations Research graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans. General Operations Research graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $113,129 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #11 among the best values for general operations research. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. General Operations Research graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Early-career general operations research graduates make about $110,457. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
Cornell University came in at #12 for value in general operations research this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $69,314. Typical student debt for general operations research graduates is $15,000. General Operations Research graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $111,094 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California earned the #13 position for value in general operations research this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. General Operations Research graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general operations research degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Southern New Hampshire University earned the #14 position for value in general operations research this year. Southern New Hampshire University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Manchester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,200. Typical student debt for general operations research graduates is $29,103. General Operations Research graduates of Southern New Hampshire University earn a median of $53,211 early in their careers. Set against $29,103 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern New Hampshire University admits about 100% of applicants.
Southern Methodist University earned the #15 position for value in general operations research this year. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,040 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general operations research graduates is $20,500. General Operations Research graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $72,658 early in their careers. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Methodist University admits about 63% of applicants.
Case Western Reserve University came in at #16 for value in general operations research this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,608. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete the general operations research program here. Soon after graduation, general operations research degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $74,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Case Western Reserve University admits about 36% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.