2026 Best Operations Research Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Operations Research doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 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 arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed 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 Doctoral Degree 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. Set in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,396. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete their Operations Research program here. Get the full Massachusetts Institute Of Technology report
Out of the 43 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Princeton University landed the #2 spot. Set in Princeton, NJ, Princeton University is a private not-for-profit institution. Princeton University graduates 98% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $62,688 in tuition and fees. Princeton University Operations Research students take on a median of $10,888 in debt. Read more about Princeton University
You'll be in good company at Carnegie Mellon University, which ranked #3 this year. Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit school based in Pittsburgh, PA. About 94% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,636. Graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Read the full report on Carnegie Mellon University
The strong Operations Research programs at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned it the #4 place in the United States. Based in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,058, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans. More on Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #5 on this year's Operations Research ranking in the United States. Set in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Columbia University In The City Of New York posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. In-state tuition and fees run about $70,517. The median Operations Research program debt is $23,258. More on Columbia University In The City Of New York
University Of California Berkeley did well this year, earning the #6 position. Set in Berkeley, CA, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $15,377 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. The median Operations Research program debt is $14,238. More on University Of California Berkeley
North Carolina State University At Raleigh did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. North Carolina State University At Raleigh posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. North Carolina State University At Raleigh Operations Research students take on a median of $22,113 in debt. See the full North Carolina State University At Raleigh profile
Cornell University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Cornell University is a private not-for-profit school based in Ithaca, NY. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. Graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Get the full Cornell University report
New York University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in New York, NY, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. The median Operations Research program debt is $21,897. See the full New York University profile
Saint Louis University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #10 position. See the full Saint Louis University Main Campus profile
Georgia State University placed #11 among Operations Research schools in the United States. More on Georgia State University
Rice University
Rice University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Get the full Rice University report
Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management placed #13 among Operations Research schools in the United States. See the full Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management profile
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Read more about Cuny Bernard M Baruch College
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Get the full Rutgers University New Brunswick report
Villanova University placed #16 among Operations Research schools in the United States. More on Villanova University
University Of Delaware ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Get the full University Of Delaware report
Western Michigan University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Read more about Western Michigan University
United States Air Force Academy ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. More on United States Air Force Academy
Harvard University landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Harvard University report
George Mason University placed #21 among Operations Research schools in the United States. Get the full George Mason University report
Northwestern University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Get the full Northwestern University report
Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. See the full Illinois Institute Of Technology profile
Kansas State University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Get the full Kansas State University report
Northeastern University placed #25 among Operations Research schools in the United States. See the full Northeastern University profile
Rest of the Top 15% Best Operations Research Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Dayton ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Get the full University Of Dayton report
Southern New Hampshire University ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Read the full report on Southern New Hampshire University
Stony Brook University came in at #29 in this year's ranking. Get the full Stony Brook University report
Purdue University Global landed the #30 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Purdue University Global
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Read the full report on University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of Arkansas came in at #32 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Arkansas
Morgan State University ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. See the full Morgan State University profile
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute came in at #34 in this year's ranking. More on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Case Western Reserve University ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. See the full Case Western Reserve University profile
United States Military Academy came in at #36 in this year's ranking. Read more about United States Military Academy
United States Naval Academy did well this year, earning the #37 position. Read the full report on United States Naval Academy
Florida Institute Of Technology ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Get the full Florida Institute Of Technology report
University Of Southern California did well this year, earning the #39 position. More on University Of Southern California
Naval Postgraduate School placed #40 among Operations Research schools in the United States. Read more about Naval Postgraduate School
Texas A And M University College Station placed #41 among Operations Research schools in the United States. Read more about Texas A And M University College Station
United States Coast Guard Academy came in at #42 in this year's ranking. See the full United States Coast Guard Academy profile
Southern Methodist University landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Southern Methodist University
Related Operations Research Rankings
See rankings for 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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Operations Research Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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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