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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Operations Management Schools in the The Plains States Region

11 Colleges in the United States
427 Operations Management Degrees Awarded
$68,086 Avg Early-Career Salary

Operations Management degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 23 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best operations management schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Operations Management in the The Plains States Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall operations management education in the The Plains States Region.

Top Schools in Operations Management

1

University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in operations management. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 75 operations management students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Graduates of the operations management program make about $84,980 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,572 to complete this degree. Get the full operations management details for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities

2

University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best operations management schools. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of St Thomas Minnesota awarded about 32 operations management degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $95,796. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Get the full operations management details for University Of St Thomas Minnesota

3

Students looking for a strong operations management program will find one at Bismarck State College, which ranked #3. Bismarck State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bismarck. Bismarck State College awarded about 51 operations management degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Bismarck State College generally make around $100,668. Bismarck State College graduates carry a median of $15,452 in student loans. Read more about the operations management program at Bismarck State College

4

University Of Nebraska At Kearney is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in operations management, ranking #4. Located in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Nebraska At Kearney awarded about 33 operations management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their operations management degree from University Of Nebraska At Kearney earn around $54,579 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,199. Read more about the operations management program at University Of Nebraska At Kearney

5

A rank of #5 makes University Of North Dakota one of the top schools for operations management. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. University Of North Dakota graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 operations management students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Dakota in the most recent data year. Graduates of the operations management program make about $76,746 in their early career. University Of North Dakota graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. See the full operations management program report for University Of North Dakota

6

Minnesota State University Moorhead landed the #6 spot for operations management this year. Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Moorhead. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 operations management students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State University Moorhead in the most recent data year. Students who receive their operations management degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead earn around $55,013 in the first couple years of their career. Minnesota State University Moorhead graduates carry a median of $22,555 in student loans. Read more about the operations management program at Minnesota State University Moorhead

7

Dakota County Technical College landed the #7 spot for operations management this year. Set in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 12 operations management students who graduated with this degree at Dakota County Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Dakota County Technical College generally make around $45,143. Dakota County Technical College graduates carry a median of $18,649 in student loans. See the full operations management program report for Dakota County Technical College

8

Fort Hays State University placed #8 among the best operations management schools. Located in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public university. Fort Hays State University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 143 operations management students who graduated with this degree at Fort Hays State University in the most recent data year. Operations Management graduates of Fort Hays State University earn a median of $57,805 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full operations management program report for Fort Hays State University

9
Southwestern College crest
Southwestern College
Winfield, KS

Southwestern College earned the #9 position for operations management this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Winfield. Southwestern College graduates 36% of students within six years. Southwestern College awarded about 15 operations management degrees in the most recent data year. Operations Management graduates of Southwestern College earn a median of $57,948 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,833 to complete this degree. Read more about the operations management program at Southwestern College

10

University Of Minnesota Crookston placed #10 among the best operations management schools. University Of Minnesota Crookston is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Crookston. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Minnesota Crookston awarded about 13 operations management degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Crookston generally make around $58,805. University Of Minnesota Crookston graduates carry a median of $27,434 in student loans. More information about a degree in operations management from University Of Minnesota Crookston

11
Avila University crest
Avila University
Kansas City, MO

Avila University placed #11 among the best operations management schools. Avila University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. About 52% of students finish within six years. Avila University awarded about 16 operations management degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the operations management program make about $61,466 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,750 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in operations management from Avila University

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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 · 23 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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