2026 Best Value Operations Management Schools in the The Plains States Region
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong operations management education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for operations management students.
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2026 Best Value Operations Management Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in operations management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Operations Management Schools
For return on investment in operations management, no school beat Bismarck State College this year. Bismarck State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bismarck. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,247, compared with $7,331 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,452 to complete the operations management program here. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Bismarck State College generally make around $100,668. Set against $15,452 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in operations management will find it at Wichita Area Technical College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,237. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $11,828 in student loans. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Wichita Area Technical College generally make around $35,358. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Minnesota Crookston earned it the #3 place for operations management. Set in the town of Crookston, University Of Minnesota Crookston is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,288. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $27,434. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Crookston generally make around $58,805. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in operations management will find it at Dakota County Technical College, which ranked #4. Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rosemount. In-state tuition and fees average $6,679. Students borrow a median of $18,649 to complete the operations management program here. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Dakota County Technical College generally make around $45,143. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northland Community And Technical College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value operations management schools. Located in the town of Thief River Falls, Northland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,289 in tuition and fees. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $18,550 in student loans. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Northland Community And Technical College generally make around $46,528. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fort Hays State University placed #6 among the best values for operations management. Located in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,923, with out-of-state students paying around $17,741. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $27,000. Operations Management graduates of Fort Hays State University earn a median of $57,805 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney came in at #7 for value in operations management this year. University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kearney. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,564, compared with $16,484 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $20,199. Early-career operations management graduates make about $54,579. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Park University came in at #8 for value in operations management this year. Located in the suburb of Parkville, Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,116. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $18,586 in student loans. Operations Management graduates of Park University earn a median of $60,208 early in their careers. Set against $18,586 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #9 spot for operations management value this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $20,572 in student loans. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $84,980. That is a strong return on a $20,572 median debt. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Kansas earned the #10 position for value in operations management this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $21,469 in student loans. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $56,289. That is a strong return on a $21,469 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Avila University landed the #11 spot for operations management value this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Avila University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,200. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Operations Management graduates of Avila University earn a median of $61,466 early in their careers. Set against $29,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Iowa State University came in at #12 for value in operations management this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $22,250. Early-career operations management graduates make about $53,900. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Moorhead came in at #13 for value in operations management this year. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,428. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $22,555 in student loans. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Minnesota State University Moorhead generally make around $55,013. That is a strong return on a $22,555 median debt. The acceptance rate is 59%.
University Of North Dakota landed the #14 spot for operations management value this year. University Of North Dakota is a large public school located in the city of Grand Forks. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,951, compared with $15,570 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $23,000. Early-career operations management graduates make about $76,746. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Metropolitan State University landed the #15 spot for operations management value this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,840 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $29,250. Operations Management graduates of Metropolitan State University earn a median of $54,195 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
St Catherine University placed #16 among the best values for operations management. Located in the city of Saint Paul, St Catherine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,428. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $35,410 in student loans. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from St Catherine University generally make around $60,427. That is a strong return on a $35,410 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Briar Cliff University came in at #17 for value in operations management this year. Briar Cliff University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,642. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $25,191. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Briar Cliff University generally make around $63,566. Set against $25,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mount Marty College landed the #18 spot for operations management value this year. Mount Marty College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Yankton. In-state tuition and fees average $34,600. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the operations management program here. Early-career operations management graduates make about $108,425. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
Mount Mercy University came in at #19 for value in operations management this year. Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Students from in state pay about $40,878 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the operations management program here. Operations Management graduates of Mount Mercy University earn a median of $58,464 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mount Mercy University admits about 82% of applicants.
Southwestern College landed the #20 spot for operations management value this year. Located in the town of Winfield, Southwestern College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,822. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $20,833 in student loans. Operations Management graduates of Southwestern College earn a median of $57,948 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #21 spot for operations management value this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $54,398. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $95,796. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
- 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.
