by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Management Science involves the study of Management Science. A General Program That Focuses On The Application Of Statistical Modeling, Data Warehousing, Data Mining, Programming, Forecasting And Operations Research Techniques To The Analysis Of Problems Of Business Organization And Performance. Includes Instruction In Optimization Theory And Mathematical Techniques, Data Mining, Data Warehousing, Stochastic And Dynamic Modeling, Operations Analysis, And The Design And Testing Of Prototype Systems And Evaluation Models. Examples: [Business Intelligence], [Competitive Intelligence]. Continue reading for the important information every management science major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering management science programs.
In the U.S., management science is a popular field of study, with 34,245 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Management Science Schools ranking analyzes these 348 schools to determine the best overall colleges for management science students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of management science programs later in this article.
Programs in Management Science emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations management science graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a management science program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a management science major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several management science degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 61 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 22 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 8,318 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 25,616 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 226 |
People currently working in careers related to management science tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 45.6% |
| Master’s degree | 32.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 6.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.0% |
| Some college courses | 2.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.3% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in management science careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying management science opens doors to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to management science.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to management science.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 585,851 | 1.3% |
| Data Scientists | 507,848 | 8.1% |
| Management Analysts | 484,759 | 12.6% |
| Chief Sustainability Officers | 440,982 | 0.5% |
| Chief Executives | 374,558 | -2.8% |
| Clinical Data Managers | 300,656 | -0.9% |
| Operations Research Analysts | 285,136 | 3.1% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of management science graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $88,001 |
| 4 years | $83,500 |
| 5 years | $95,189 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for management science graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers management science grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $149,694 |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | $143,840 |
| Chief Executives | $138,534 |
| Data Scientists | $106,295 |
| Clinical Data Managers | $99,475 |
| Chief Sustainability Officers | $96,628 |
| Operations Research Analysts | $83,596 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
With 348 different management science programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased management science school rankings to help you.
Students interested in management science, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other | 21,232 |
| Business Statistics | 5,396 |
| Actuarial Science | 1,363 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
