2026 Best Operations Research Schools in the Far Western Region

Operations Research is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for operations research students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Operations Research Schools in the Far Western Region

Best Schools for Operations Research in the Far Western Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the operations research degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Operations Research

1

University Of California Berkeley
Berkeley, CA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

277 Operations Research Degrees Awarded

$88,685 Median Starting Salary

University Of California Berkeley is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in operations research. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. About 277 operations research degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, operations research degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $88,685. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete this degree. Get the full operations research details for University Of California Berkeley

2

University Of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

14 Operations Research Degrees Awarded

$75,677 Median Starting Salary

Students looking for a strong operations research program will find one at University Of Southern California, which ranked #2. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 operations research students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Students who receive their operations research degree from University Of Southern California earn around $75,677 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree. See the full operations research program report for University Of Southern California

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 4 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.