Operations Research programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their operations research programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 43 schools to find the best for operations research students.
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Choosing a Great Operations Research School
The school you choose for operations research can shape your career. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Operations Research rankings. For our Best Overall Operations Research School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Operations Research Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is Texas A And M University College Station, our #1 school for operations research. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 100 operations research students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Students who receive their operations research degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $64,891 in the first couple years of their career. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $20,031 in student loans.
Get the full operations research details for Texas A And M University College Station
Students looking for a strong operations research program will find one at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Atlanta. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 42 operations research degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their operations research degree from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn around $83,560 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete this degree.
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Cornell University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in operations research, landing the #3 spot this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 218 operations research degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, operations research degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $111,094. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
More information about a degree in operations research from Cornell University
University Of California Berkeley came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best operations research schools. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 277 operations research degrees in the most recent data year. Operations Research graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $88,685 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,238.
More information about a degree in operations research from University Of California Berkeley
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in operations research, ranking #5. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 28 operations research degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, operations research degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans.
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University Of Southern California landed the #6 spot for operations research this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 14 operations research degrees in the most recent data year. Operations Research graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in operations research from University Of Southern California
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best operations research schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 operations research students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Operations Research graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $113,129 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,516.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #8 for operations research this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 388 operations research students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Students who receive their operations research degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $110,457 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
More information about a degree in operations research from Columbia University In The City Of New York
Rice University placed #9 among the best operations research schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Houston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 19 operations research degrees were awarded at Rice University in the most recent year. Students who receive their operations research degree from Rice University earn around $75,299 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete this degree.
See the full operations research program report for Rice University
Princeton University earned the #10 position for operations research this year. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 98% of students finish within six years. Princeton University awarded about 105 operations research degrees in the most recent data year. Operations Research graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $100,354 early in their careers. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #11 among the best operations research schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. About 16 operations research degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Graduates of the operations research program make about $59,622 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,113.
See the full operations research program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Case Western Reserve University came in at #12 for operations research this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 operations research degrees were awarded at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, operations research degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $74,459. Case Western Reserve University graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans.
More information about a degree in operations research from Case Western Reserve University
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best operations research schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public university. About 72% of students finish within six years. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College awarded about 20 operations research degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their operations research degree from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earn around $99,947 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,691 to complete this degree.
See the full operations research program report for Cuny Bernard M Baruch College
Southern Methodist University placed #14 among the best operations research schools. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 26 operations research students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, operations research degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $72,658. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
Get the full operations research details for Southern Methodist University
Florida Institute Of Technology earned the #15 position for operations research this year. Florida Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Melbourne. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 operations research students who graduated with this degree at Florida Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the operations research program make about $69,878 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $32,114 to complete this degree.
Read more about the operations research program at Florida Institute Of Technology
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 43 schools evaluated.
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).
