by our College Data Analytics Team
[Operations Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-administration-and-management/operations-management/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for operations management students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in operations management, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in operations management, no school beat Clover Park Technical College this year. Set in the city of Lakewood, Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,634. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $15,154. Operations Management graduates of Clover Park Technical College earn a median of $42,209 early in their careers. Set against $15,154 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bellingham Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in operations management, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Bellingham, Bellingham Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,431 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,809. Median earnings reach $49,748 ten years out.
Students looking for strong value in operations management will find it at Seattle Community College South Campus, which ranked #3. Seattle Community College South Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Seattle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,208, while out-of-state students pay about $5,796. Median earnings reach $44,486 ten years out.
Students looking for strong value in operations management will find it at Skagit Valley College, which ranked #4. Skagit Valley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Mount Vernon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,400, compared with $7,410 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $14,056. Operations Management graduates of Skagit Valley College earn a median of $44,860 early in their careers. Set against $14,056 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Clackamas Community College earned it the #5 place for operations management. Set in the suburb of Oregon City, Clackamas Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,345, compared with $14,265 for out-of-state students. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $13,915 in student loans. Operations Management graduates of Clackamas Community College earn a median of $31,280 early in their careers. Set against $13,915 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas came in at #6 for value in operations management this year. Located in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,748, with out-of-state students paying around $27,411. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $19,677. Operations Management graduates of University Of Nevada Las Vegas earn a median of $50,039 early in their careers. Set against $19,677 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Brigham Young University Hawaii landed the #7 spot for operations management value this year. Brigham Young University Hawaii is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Laie. Students from in state pay about $6,630 in tuition and fees. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Brigham Young University Hawaii generally make around $41,461. Brigham Young University Hawaii admits about 47% of applicants.
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Washington State University came in at #8 for value in operations management this year. Set in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,391, compared with $29,950 for out-of-state students. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $21,102 in student loans. Operations Management graduates of Washington State University earn a median of $88,875 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,102 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Oregon Institute Of Technology ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value operations management schools. Oregon Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Klamath Falls. Students from in state pay about $13,260 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,196 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $27,551. Operations Management graduates of Oregon Institute Of Technology earn a median of $63,715 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oregon Institute Of Technology admits about 95% of applicants.
Western Washington University landed the #10 spot for operations management value this year. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,582, compared with $28,707 for out-of-state students. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $17,375 in student loans. Early-career operations management graduates make about $64,435. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Oregon State University earned the #11 position for value in operations management this year. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $24,738. Operations Management graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $68,474 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,738 median debt. Oregon State University admits about 77% of applicants.
Ashford University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value operations management schools. Located in the city of San Diego, Ashford University is a very large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,960. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $35,861. Early-career operations management graduates make about $67,902. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Seattle University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value operations management schools. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,721. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $22,979 in student loans. Early-career operations management graduates make about $63,214. Set against $22,979 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
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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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.