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2026 Best Value General Operations Research Schools in the Far Western Region

[General Operations Research](/majors/engineering/operations-research/general-operations-research/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general operations research students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value General Operations Research Schools in the Far Western Region

2026 Best Value General Operations Research Schools in the Far Western Region

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general operations research degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value General Operations Research Schools

1

University Of California Berkeley
Berkeley, CA

$15,377 In-State Tuition & Fees

$14,238 Avg Student Debt

$92,446 Median Earnings (10yr)

Our analysis ranked University Of California Berkeley the best value for a degree in general operations research in the Far Western Region. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. General Operations Research graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. Early-career general operations research graduates make about $88,685. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.

2

University Of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA

$71,647 In-State Tuition & Fees

$15,625 Avg Student Debt

$92,498 Median Earnings (10yr)

Students looking for strong value in general operations research will find it at University Of Southern California, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. Typical student debt for general operations research graduates is $15,625. Soon after graduation, general operations research degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.

View All General Operations Research Rankings >

Notes and References

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 · 4 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.