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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 67 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for operations management students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the operations management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Joliet Junior College tops our 2026 list of the best value operations management schools in the Great Lakes Region. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Early-career operations management graduates make about $39,887. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lewis And Clark Community College earned it the #2 place for operations management. Located in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,340, with out-of-state students paying around $7,840. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the operations management program here. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Lewis And Clark Community College generally make around $41,313. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Central State College earned it the #3 place for operations management. North Central State College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Mansfield. Students from in state pay about $5,786 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,374. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $12,236 in student loans. Operations Management graduates of North Central State College earn a median of $47,458 early in their careers. Set against $12,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in operations management will find it at Oakton Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,985, compared with $12,462 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $7,750. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Oakton Community College generally make around $48,838. That is a strong return on a $7,750 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Moraine Park Technical College earned it the #5 place for operations management. Located in the city of Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,819, while out-of-state students pay about $7,084. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $13,999. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Moraine Park Technical College generally make around $46,719. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Monroe County Community College came in at #6 for value in operations management this year. Set in the rural area of Monroe, Monroe County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,759, compared with $8,267 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,443 to complete the operations management program here. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Monroe County Community College generally make around $47,729. That is a strong return on a $13,443 median debt.
Mchenry County College came in at #7 for value in operations management this year. Mchenry County College is a large public school located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,162, compared with $14,399 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $7,440. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Mchenry County College generally make around $24,177. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Lakeland Community College earned the #8 position for value in operations management this year. Located in the suburb of Kirtland, Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,872 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,235 for out-of-state students. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $23,200 in student loans. Operations Management graduates of Lakeland Community College earn a median of $51,941 early in their careers. Set against $23,200 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College landed the #9 spot for operations management value this year. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,960, with out-of-state students paying around $7,203. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $16,134. Early-career operations management graduates make about $40,091. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis placed #10 among the best values for operations management. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Students borrow a median of $23,591 to complete the operations management program here. Operations Management graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $48,154 early in their careers. Set against $23,591 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Governors State University came in at #11 for value in operations management this year. Located in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,004. Students borrow a median of $20,207 to complete the operations management program here. Operations Management graduates of Governors State University earn a median of $58,324 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Purdue University Northwest placed #12 among the best values for operations management. Located in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,357 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,504. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Purdue University Northwest generally make around $51,424. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Northcentral Technical College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value operations management schools. Set in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,889 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,132 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $11,266. Early-career operations management graduates make about $51,289. Set against $11,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Edison State Community College came in at #14 for value in operations management this year. Located in the rural area of Piqua, Edison State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,499 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,346. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $15,406. Early-career operations management graduates make about $43,481. That is a strong return on a $15,406 median debt.
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Madison Area Technical College landed the #15 spot for operations management value this year. Located in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,977, compared with $7,141 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $16,500. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $44,279. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Vincennes University placed #16 among the best values for operations management. Vincennes University is a very large public school located in the town of Vincennes. Students from in state pay about $7,126 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,858 for out-of-state students. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $15,306 in student loans. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Vincennes University generally make around $45,976. That is a strong return on a $15,306 median debt.
Ferris State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value operations management schools. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,778. Students borrow a median of $21,713 to complete the operations management program here. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $68,526. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ferris State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University came in at #18 for value in operations management this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Early-career operations management graduates make about $68,932. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value operations management schools. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the operations management program here. Early-career operations management graduates make about $77,454. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern Indiana came in at #20 for value in operations management this year. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,066, compared with $22,907 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $21,602. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from University Of Southern Indiana generally make around $47,216. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern Indiana admits about 96% of applicants.
Oakland University landed the #21 spot for operations management value this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the operations management program here. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $76,869. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #22 spot for operations management value this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $19,175 to complete the operations management program here. Early-career operations management graduates make about $93,621. That is a strong return on a $19,175 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh landed the #23 spot for operations management value this year. Set in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,532 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,446. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career operations management graduates make about $80,885. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater placed #24 among the best values for operations management. Set in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,616, compared with $18,716 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,564 to complete the operations management program here. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater generally make around $55,477. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater admits about 86% of applicants.
Terra State Community College earned the #25 position for value in operations management this year. Terra State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Fremont. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,748, with out-of-state students paying around $8,544. Students borrow a median of $24,070 to complete the operations management program here. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Terra State Community College generally make around $63,495. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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The ranking above is published 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 · 67 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.