2026 Best Operations Research Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Operations Research bachelor’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 43 institutions 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 analyzed schools to build 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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Princeton University tops our 2026 ranking of the best Operations Research bachelor's degree schools in the United States. Set in Princeton, NJ, Princeton University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. The median Operations Research program debt is $10,888. Read more about Princeton University
Out of the 43 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of California Berkeley landed the #2 spot. University Of California Berkeley is a public school based in Berkeley, CA. University Of California Berkeley posts a six-year graduation rate of 93%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. University Of California Berkeley Operations Research students take on a median of $14,238 in debt. See the full University Of California Berkeley profile
Out of the 43 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #3 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in New York, NY. Columbia University In The City Of New York posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Typical Operations Research student debt is $23,258. Get the full Columbia University In The City Of New York report
The strong Operations Research programs at Southern Methodist University earned it the #4 place in the United States. Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Dallas, TX. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,040. Typical Operations Research student debt is $20,500. More on Southern Methodist University
You'll be in good company at Cornell University, which ranked #5 this year. Set in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Students from in state pay about $69,314 in tuition and fees. The median Operations Research program debt is $15,000. See the full Cornell University profile
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #6 among Operations Research schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus report
Stony Brook University did well this year, earning the #7 position. See the full Stony Brook University profile
Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. More on Illinois Institute Of Technology
Saint Louis University Main Campus came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Read more about Saint Louis University Main Campus
Southern New Hampshire University placed #10 among Operations Research schools in the United States. See the full Southern New Hampshire University profile
Purdue University Global came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Read more about Purdue University Global
Naval Postgraduate School ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. See the full Naval Postgraduate School profile
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #13 among Operations Research schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign report
Georgia State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Get the full Georgia State University report
United States Naval Academy landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. More on United States Naval Academy
University Of Delaware placed #16 among Operations Research schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Delaware
University Of Dayton ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. See the full University Of Dayton profile
George Mason University landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on George Mason University
University Of Arkansas did well this year, earning the #19 position. More on University Of Arkansas
Northwestern University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Read more about Northwestern University
Carnegie Mellon University placed #21 among Operations Research schools in the United States. More on Carnegie Mellon University
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College did well this year, earning the #22 position. See the full Cuny Bernard M Baruch College profile
Morgan State University did well this year, earning the #23 position. Read the full report on Morgan State University
Case Western Reserve University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. More on Case Western Reserve University
United States Air Force Academy did well this year, earning the #25 position. Read more about United States Air Force Academy
Rest of the Top 15% Best Operations Research Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Harvard University did well this year, earning the #27 position. Read the full report on Harvard University
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus did well this year, earning the #28 position. More on Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Kansas State University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Read the full report on Kansas State University
United States Military Academy placed #30 among Operations Research schools in the United States. See the full United States Military Academy profile
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #31 among Operations Research schools in the United States. Read the full report on North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute did well this year, earning the #32 position. See the full Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute profile
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Get the full Rutgers University New Brunswick report
Villanova University landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Villanova University report
Rice University
Rice University did well this year, earning the #35 position. Read the full report on Rice University
United States Coast Guard Academy landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. Get the full United States Coast Guard Academy report
University Of Southern California landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of Southern California profile
Florida Institute Of Technology landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. See the full Florida Institute Of Technology profile
Northeastern University ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Read more about Northeastern University
Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. More on Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management
New York University did well this year, earning the #41 position. Read more about New York University
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Read more about Texas A And M University College Station
Western Michigan University placed #43 among Operations Research schools in the United States. See the full Western Michigan University profile
Related Operations Research Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Operations Research Schools (All Levels)
- Best Operations Research Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Operations Research Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Operations Research Associate’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
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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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