2026 Best Value Operations Research Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Operations Research](/majors/engineering/operations-research/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for operations research students.
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2026 Best Value Operations Research Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the operations research degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Operations Research Schools
Leading the list is Princeton University, our #1 best value for operations research in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,688 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete the operations research program here. Early-career operations research graduates make about $100,354. Set against $10,888 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Princeton University admits about 5% of applicants.
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value operations research schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $15,414. Operations Research graduates carry a median of $11,691 in student loans. Early-career operations research graduates make about $99,947. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value operations research schools. 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. Operations Research graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Early-career operations research graduates make about $110,457. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Cornell University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in operations research, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $69,314 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the operations research program here. Soon after graduation, operations research degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $111,094. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
