2026 Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools
Operations Research degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 43 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best operations research schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Operations Research in the United States
See the highest-ranked operations research schools offering a master’s degree below.
Top Schools in Operations Research
Cornell University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in operations research. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 149 operations research degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, operations research degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $125,810. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
Get the full operations research details for Cornell University
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the top schools for operations research. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. About 219 operations research degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, operations research degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $88,685. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans.
Read more about the operations research program at University Of California Berkeley
A rank of #3 makes Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus one of the top schools for operations research. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 25 operations research degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Operations Research graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $83,560 early in their careers. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans.
Get the full operations research details for Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
A rank of #4 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top schools for operations research. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 28 operations research degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Graduates of the operations research program make about $57,461 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete this degree.
Get the full operations research details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Southern California is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in operations research, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 14 operations research degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent 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.
More information about a degree in operations research from University Of Southern California
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #6 spot for operations research this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 326 operations research degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, operations research degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $110,457. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree.
See the full operations research program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York
Princeton University landed the #7 spot for operations research this year. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 operations research students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their operations research degree from Princeton University earn around $100,354 in the first couple years of their career. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans.
Read more about the operations research program at Princeton University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #8 among the best operations research schools. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. About 10 operations research degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent 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.
Read more about the operations research program at North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Case Western Reserve University came in at #9 for operations research this year. Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. There were roughly 29 operations research students who graduated with this degree at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, operations research degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $74,459. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete this degree.
Get the full operations research details for Case Western Reserve University
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College placed #10 among the best operations research schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public university. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College graduates 72% of students within six years. About 20 operations research degrees were awarded at Cuny Bernard M Baruch College in the most recent year. Operations Research graduates of Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earn a median of $99,947 early in their careers. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College graduates carry a median of $11,691 in student loans.
Read more about the operations research program at Cuny Bernard M Baruch College
Florida Institute Of Technology earned the #11 position for operations research this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Melbourne. Florida Institute Of Technology graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 operations research students who graduated with this degree at Florida Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, operations research degree recipients from Florida Institute Of Technology generally make around $69,878. Florida Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $32,114 in student loans.
See the full operations research program report for Florida Institute Of Technology
Other Operations Research Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Operations Research rankings across degree levels:
View All Operations Research Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 43 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.