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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Operations Research

15 Ranked Colleges
1,049 Degrees Awarded
$37,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master's

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 1,760 people earned their degree in operations research, making the major the 198th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, operations research graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $79,967 and had an average of $28,139 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,049 operations research graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s” ranking looked at 15 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in operations research. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great operations research programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the operations research program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree operations research students.

Top 15 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Operations Research

#1

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cornell University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s list. Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ithaca, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 160 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cornell, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell University are $30,042, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Operations Research at Cornell

#2

Florida Institute of Technology

Melbourne, Florida
#13 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Florida Institute of Technology landed the #2 spot on the list. Florida Tech is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Melbourne, Florida. It awarded 15 masters’s operations research degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Florida Tech, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida Tech are $22,588, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Operations Research at Florida Institute of Technology

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this large public school handed out 36 diplomas to qualified masters’s operations research students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree operations research students list, Georgia Tech has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus are $31,334, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Georgia Tech Operations Research Report

#4

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#11 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, North Carolina State University landed the #4 spot on the list. North Carolina State University is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 18 masters’s operations research degrees in 2019-2020.

NC State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at NC State are $28,999, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Operations Research at North Carolina State University

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s list. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 147 masters’s operations research degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree operations research students list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Operations Research at UC Berkeley

#9 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s ranking. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 62 masters’s operations research degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also made our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #9. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083.

Read more about Operations Research at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#7

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#14 in overall quality

Kansas State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s list. K -State is located in Manhattan, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s operations research degrees to qualified students.

K -State also took the #14 spot in our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at K -State are $24,115.

Read more about Operations Research at Kansas State University

#8

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts
#10 in overall quality

Northeastern University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s ranking. Northeastern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 23 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northeastern, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern University are $25,558, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Northeastern University Operations Research Report

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Illinois Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified masters’s operations research students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree operations research students list, Illinois Tech has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois Tech are $30,695.

Read full report on Operations Research at Illinois Tech

Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s ranking. New York, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s operations research degrees to 328 students in 2019-2020.

Columbia also took the #1 spot in our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia are $51,194, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Columbia University in the City of New York Operations Research Report

#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Case Western Reserve University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s list. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 31 degrees to qualified masters’s operations research students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Case Western, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Case Western are $47,958, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Case Western Reserve University Operations Research Report

#12 in overall quality

Southern Methodist University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s ranking. Southern Methodist University is a fairly large school located in Dallas, Texas that handed out 13 masters’s operations research degrees in 2019-2020.

SMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SMU are $47,478.

Read full report on Operations Research at SMU

#13

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#8 in overall quality

University of Southern California landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s ranking. USC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715.

Read more about Operations Research at USC

#14

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey
#3 in overall quality

Princeton University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Princeton, New Jersey, and it awarded 14 masters’s operations research degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Princeton, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Princeton are $56,470.

Read more about Operations Research at Princeton University

#15

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#2 in overall quality

Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s list. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 8 masters’s operations research degrees in 2019-2020.

MIT also made our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at Massachusetts Institute of Technology are $56,719, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Operations Research at MIT

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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