2027 Best Value General Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools

[General Operations Research](/majors/engineering/operations-research/general-operations-research/) 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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for general operations research students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value General Operations Research Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general operations research degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Operations Research Schools
Leading the list is Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus, our #1 best value for general operations research in the United States. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete the general operations research program here. 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. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general operations research will find it at Princeton University, which ranked #2. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete the general operations research program here. General Operations Research graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $100,354 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Berkeley came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value general operations research schools. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. General Operations Research graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. General Operations Research graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $88,685 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
A rank of #4 makes Cuny Bernard M Baruch College one of the best values for general operations research. 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. General Operations Research graduates carry a median of $11,691 in student loans. Early-career general operations research graduates make about $99,947. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value general operations research schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. General Operations Research graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general operations research degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. That is a strong return on a $20,778 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #6 spot for general operations research value this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. General Operations Research graduates carry a median of $22,113 in student loans. General Operations Research graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $59,622 early in their careers. Set against $22,113 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Georgia State University placed #7 among the best values for general operations research. 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, compared with $24,840 for out-of-state students. 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. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #8 position for value in general operations research this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. General Operations Research graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general operations research degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $110,457. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Cornell University came in at #9 for value in general operations research this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Students from in state pay about $69,314 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the general operations research program here. Early-career general operations research graduates make about $125,810. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of Southern California landed the #10 spot for general operations research value this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general operations research graduates is $15,625. Early-career general operations research graduates make about $75,677. That is a strong return on a $15,625 median debt. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
Case Western Reserve University earned the #11 position for value in general operations research this year. Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $66,608 in tuition and fees. General Operations Research graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans. 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. The acceptance rate is 36%.
Other General Operations Research Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value General Operations Research rankings across degree levels:
View All General Operations Research Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, 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.