Operations Research is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best operations research schools.
The operations research program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Operations Research rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Operations Research Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
No school ranked higher than Texas A And M University College Station this year for operations research. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. About 84% of students finish within six years. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 87 operations research degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the operations research program make about $64,891 in their early career. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $20,031 in student loans.
Get the full operations research details for Texas A And M University College Station
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best operations research schools. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. About 433 operations research degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, operations research degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $110,457. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
See the full operations research program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York
University Of California Berkeley is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in operations research, ranking #3. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 300 operations research degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, operations research degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $88,685. Typical student debt for the program is $14,238.
Read more about the operations research program at University Of California Berkeley
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best operations research schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 52 operations research degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their operations research degree from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn around $83,560 in the first couple years of their career. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans.
Read more about the operations research program at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Students looking for a strong operations research program will find one at University Of Southern California, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 13 operations research degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their operations research degree from University Of Southern California earn around $75,677 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
Read more about the operations research program at University Of Southern California
Cornell University earned the #6 position for operations research this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 239 operations research students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, operations research degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $111,094. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
See the full operations research program report for Cornell University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #7 for operations research this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 operations research students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, operations research degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Typical student debt for the program is $20,778.
Get the full operations research details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology landed the #8 spot for operations research this year. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 23 operations research students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the operations research program make about $113,129 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,516.
More information about a degree in operations research from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Rice University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best operations research schools. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Rice University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 16 operations research degrees were awarded at Rice University in the most recent year. Operations Research graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904.
Get the full operations research details for Rice University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #10 among the best operations research schools. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 25 operations research degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their operations research degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $59,622 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,113.
Get the full operations research details for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Princeton University earned the #11 position for operations research this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. About 90 operations research degrees were awarded at Princeton University in the most recent year. Operations Research graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $100,354 early in their careers. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans.
See the full operations research program report for Princeton University
Case Western Reserve University landed the #12 spot for operations research this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. Case Western Reserve University graduates 87% of students within six years. Case Western Reserve University awarded about 17 operations research degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the operations research program make about $74,459 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete this degree.
See the full operations research program report for Case Western Reserve University
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College placed #13 among the best operations research schools. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 20 operations research students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Bernard M Baruch College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their operations research degree from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earn around $99,947 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,691 to complete this degree.
Get the full operations research details for Cuny Bernard M Baruch College
Southern Methodist University placed #14 among the best operations research schools. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 operations research students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their operations research degree from Southern Methodist University earn around $72,658 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
See the full operations research program report for Southern Methodist University
Georgia State University came in at #15 for operations research this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. There were roughly 38 operations research students who graduated with this degree at Georgia State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, operations research degree recipients from Georgia State University generally make around $51,103. Georgia State University graduates carry a median of $26,091 in student loans.
Read more about the operations research program at Georgia State University
Southern New Hampshire University landed the #16 spot for operations research this year. Set in the suburb of Manchester, Southern New Hampshire University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 operations research degrees were awarded at Southern New Hampshire University in the most recent year. Operations Research graduates of Southern New Hampshire University earn a median of $53,211 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $29,103.
Get the full operations research details for Southern New Hampshire University
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 16 schools evaluated.
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).
