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Best Schools for Operations Research in the United States
These are the top schools for a bachelor’s degree in operations research, based on student outcomes and program quality.
Top Schools in Operations Research
Cornell University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in operations research. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Cornell University awarded about 56 operations research degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the operations research program make about $96,377 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
Read more about the operations research program at Cornell University
Columbia University In The City Of New York is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in operations research, ranking #2. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 50 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. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree.
See the full operations research program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York
University Of California Berkeley came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best operations research schools. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 52 operations research degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Graduates of the operations research program make about $88,685 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,238.
See the full operations research program report for University Of California Berkeley
Students looking for a strong operations research program will find one at Rice University, which ranked #4. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rice University awarded about 11 operations research degrees in the most recent data 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.
Get the full operations research details for Rice University
A rank of #5 makes Princeton University one of the top schools for operations research. 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. There were roughly 72 operations research students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Operations Research graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $100,354 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in operations research from Princeton University
Southern Methodist University earned the #6 position for operations research this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 operations research students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their operations research degree from Southern Methodist University earn around $72,658 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
See the full operations research program report for Southern Methodist University
Other Operations Research Degree Levels
Explore the best operations research schools at other degree levels:
Notes and References
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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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