2026 Best Operations Research Schools
Looking for the best Operations Research programs programs in the United States? This list ranks 43 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Operations Research Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. Located in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $62,396. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Operations Research students take on a median of $13,516 in debt. Read the full report on Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
The strong Operations Research programs at Princeton University earned it the #2 place in the United States. Set in Princeton, NJ, Princeton University is a private not-for-profit institution. Princeton University graduates 98% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $62,688. Typical Operations Research student debt is $10,888. See the full Princeton University profile
A rank of #3 makes Rice University one of the top choices in the United States. Based in Houston, TX, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. Rice University graduates 95% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. The median Operations Research program debt is $11,904. Read more about Rice University
The strong Operations Research programs at Columbia University In The City Of New York earned it the #4 place in the United States. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $70,517. The median Operations Research program debt is $23,258. Get the full Columbia University In The City Of New York report
Out of the 43 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Texas A And M University College Station landed the #5 spot. Set in College Station, TX, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Typical Operations Research student debt is $20,031. Read the full report on Texas A And M University College Station
University Of California Berkeley ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Located in Berkeley, CA, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. University Of California Berkeley posts a six-year graduation rate of 93%. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete their Operations Research program here. Read the full report on University Of California Berkeley
Carnegie Mellon University did well this year, earning the #7 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Pittsburgh, PA. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,636. Graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. More on Carnegie Mellon University
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Atlanta, GA. About 94% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans. Get the full Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus report
Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Louis, MO. Saint Louis University Main Campus graduates 80% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $55,760. Saint Louis University Main Campus Operations Research students take on a median of $26,586 in debt. Read the full report on Saint Louis University Main Campus
Case Western Reserve University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Cleveland, OH. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,608. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete their Operations Research program here. See the full Case Western Reserve University profile
University Of Southern California came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Located in Los Angeles, CA, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. University Of Southern California Operations Research students take on a median of $15,625 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Southern California
University Of Dayton came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Based in Dayton, OH, University Of Dayton is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. In-state tuition and fees average $49,140. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete their Operations Research program here. Read the full report on University Of Dayton
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #13 among Operations Research schools in the United States. Based in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Typical Operations Research student debt is $22,113. Read the full report on North Carolina State University At Raleigh
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #14 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Champaign, IL. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. The median Operations Research program debt is $20,778. Read more about University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Southern Methodist University placed #15 among Operations Research schools in the United States. Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Dallas, TX. About 84% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,040. Graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. More on Southern Methodist University
Cornell University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Based in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $69,314 in tuition and fees. The median Operations Research program debt is $15,000. Read more about Cornell University
Kansas State University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Based in Manhattan, KS, Kansas State University is a public institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Graduates carry a median of $23,546 in student loans. Get the full Kansas State University report
Northeastern University landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit school based in Boston, MA. Northeastern University posts a six-year graduation rate of 90%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,162. Northeastern University Operations Research students take on a median of $25,611 in debt. Get the full Northeastern University report
George Mason University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. This public school is set in Fairfax, VA. About 68% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. George Mason University Operations Research students take on a median of $23,529 in debt. More on George Mason University
Illinois Institute Of Technology placed #20 among Operations Research schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. In-state tuition and fees average $52,202. Illinois Institute Of Technology Operations Research students take on a median of $26,774 in debt. See the full Illinois Institute Of Technology profile
Florida Institute Of Technology ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Melbourne, FL. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $45,900. Graduates carry a median of $32,114 in student loans. See the full Florida Institute Of Technology profile
New York University did well this year, earning the #22 position. New York University is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. In-state tuition and fees run about $62,796. Typical Operations Research student debt is $21,897. See the full New York University profile
United States Coast Guard Academy placed #23 among Operations Research schools in the United States. Read more about United States Coast Guard Academy
Villanova University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. More on Villanova University
Western Michigan University placed #25 among Operations Research schools in the United States. Read the full report on Western Michigan University
Rest of the Top 15% Best Operations Research Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Stony Brook University landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. See the full Stony Brook University profile
United States Air Force Academy did well this year, earning the #27 position. Read more about United States Air Force Academy
Morgan State University landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Morgan State University
University Of Delaware came in at #29 in this year's ranking. Get the full University Of Delaware report
United States Naval Academy ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Get the full United States Naval Academy report
Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Get the full Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management report
Harvard University came in at #32 in this year's ranking. Get the full Harvard University report
Southern New Hampshire University ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Get the full Southern New Hampshire University report
Purdue University Global ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. See the full Purdue University Global profile
Georgia State University landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. See the full Georgia State University profile
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. More on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
University Of Washington Seattle Campus did well this year, earning the #37 position. Get the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus report
Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #38 among Operations Research schools in the United States. Read the full report on Rutgers University New Brunswick
University Of Arkansas ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Read the full report on University Of Arkansas
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College placed #40 among Operations Research schools in the United States. More on Cuny Bernard M Baruch College
Northwestern University landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Northwestern University
United States Military Academy ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. More on United States Military Academy
Naval Postgraduate School did well this year, earning the #43 position. Read the full report on Naval Postgraduate School
Best Operations Research Schools by Degree Level
See the best schools at each degree level:
- Best Operations Research Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Operations Research Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Operations Research Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Operations Research Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Operations Research Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Operations Research Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 43 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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