by our College Data Analytics Team
[Operations Research](/majors/engineering/operations-research/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying operations research schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send operations research graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Columbia University In The City Of New York tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying operations research schools in the United States. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, operations research degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York typically earn about $199,865 annually.
A rank of #2 makes Cornell University one of the highest-paying schools for operations research. Cornell University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Students who complete the operations research program here go on to a median salary of roughly $151,071.
A rank of #3 makes Princeton University one of the highest-paying schools for operations research. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a private not-for-profit institution. Operations Research graduates of Princeton University earn a median of about $100,354 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Southern Methodist University earned it the #4 place for operations research. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the operations research program here go on to a median salary of roughly $123,913.
Students chasing top earnings in operations research will find them at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #5. University Of California Berkeley is a public school located in the city of Berkeley. After graduating, operations research degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley typically earn about $88,685 annually.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Operations Research rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries operations research graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 5 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.