by our College Data Analytics Team
[Management Science](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/management-science-quantitative-methods/management-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 407 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value management science schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in management science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Stanford University earned the #1 spot for value among management science schools in the United States. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $10,492. Early-career management science graduates make about $100,827. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the best values for management science. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Students borrow a median of $15,117 to complete the management science program here. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $61,361. That is a strong return on a $15,117 median debt. The acceptance rate is 15%.
A rank of #3 makes Florida State University one of the best values for management science. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete the management science program here. Early-career management science graduates make about $62,578. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
California State University East Bay came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value management science schools. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,583, while out-of-state students pay about $20,183. Management Science graduates carry a median of $18,073 in student loans. Early-career management science graduates make about $58,951. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University East Bay admits about 97% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of California San Diego one of the best values for management science. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. In-state tuition and fees average $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $17,500. Early-career management science graduates make about $60,973. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value management science schools. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,781 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,381. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $17,226. Management Science graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $49,427 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,226 median debt. California State Polytechnic University Pomona admits about 75% of applicants.
Florida International University landed the #7 spot for management science value this year. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Students borrow a median of $19,349 to complete the management science program here. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $52,517. That is a strong return on a $19,349 median debt. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #8 among the best values for management science. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete the management science program here. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $121,795. That is a strong return on a $24,323 median debt. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus admits about 14% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #9 among the best values for management science. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $17,750. Management Science graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $92,010 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #10 for value in management science this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete the management science program here. Management Science graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $95,189 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value management science schools. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Management Science graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans. Management Science graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $169,099 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,097 median debt. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value management science schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Management Science graduates carry a median of $18,284 in student loans. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $70,903. That is a strong return on a $18,284 median debt. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of California Irvine ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value management science schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Students borrow a median of $16,539 to complete the management science program here. Early-career management science graduates make about $73,209. Set against $16,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
San Francisco State University earned the #14 position for value in management science this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,846, with out-of-state students paying around $20,446. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $48,546. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
San Jose State University came in at #15 for value in management science this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. San Jose State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Weber State University earned the #16 position for value in management science this year. Weber State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ogden. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,557, compared with $17,545 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,176 to complete the management science program here. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $53,920. Set against $19,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #17 position for value in management science this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Management Science graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Management Science graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $66,254 early in their careers. Set against $19,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 16%.
University Of California Berkeley ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value management science schools. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $14,238. Early-career management science graduates make about $202,958. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
University Of The Cumberlands placed #19 among the best values for management science. Set in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,875. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $22,868. Early-career management science graduates make about $50,547. Set against $22,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Utah State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value management science schools. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. In-state tuition and fees average $8,560, compared with $24,993 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,191 to complete the management science program here. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from Utah State University generally make around $50,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Utah State University admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of California Merced earned the #21 position for value in management science this year. University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Merced. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,653, with out-of-state students paying around $46,541. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $18,318. Early-career management science graduates make about $42,071. That is a strong return on a $18,318 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Utah landed the #22 spot for management science value this year. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,798 to complete the management science program here. Management Science graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $90,201 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #23 spot for management science value this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,444, compared with $47,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,128 to complete the management science program here. Early-career management science graduates make about $66,099. That is a strong return on a $11,128 median debt. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value management science schools. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Management Science graduates carry a median of $21,600 in student loans. Management Science graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $51,128 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,600 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Governors State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value management science schools. Set in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,004. Management Science graduates carry a median of $24,990 in student loans. Early-career management science graduates make about $51,711. Set against $24,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 48%.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s management science value ranking:
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Explore the best-value management science schools at other degree levels:
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 · 407 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 152 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
