2026 Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Operations Research master’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 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 reviewed 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 Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Our analysis found Massachusetts Institute Of Technology to be the best Operations Research school in the United States. Based in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. Students from in state pay about $62,396 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete their Operations Research program here. Get the full Massachusetts Institute Of Technology report
A rank of #2 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,247. Rice University Operations Research students take on a median of $11,904 in debt. Read the full report on Rice University
A rank of #3 makes Princeton University one of the top choices in the United States. Princeton University is a private not-for-profit school based in Princeton, NJ. Princeton University posts a six-year graduation rate of 98%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Typical Operations Research student debt is $10,888. See the full Princeton University profile
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #4 on this year's Operations Research ranking in the United States. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete their Operations Research program here. More on Columbia University In The City Of New York
The strong Operations Research programs at Carnegie Mellon University earned it the #5 place in the United States. Set in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,636. The median Operations Research program debt is $23,529. See the full Carnegie Mellon University profile
University Of California Berkeley placed #6 among Operations Research schools in the United States. Located in Berkeley, CA, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $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
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Based in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus Operations Research students take on a median of $24,323 in debt. Get the full Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus report
Case Western Reserve University landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit school based in Cleveland, OH. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,608. The median Operations Research program debt is $25,106. Read more about Case Western Reserve University
University Of Southern California did well this year, earning the #9 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Los Angeles, CA. University Of Southern California posts a six-year graduation rate of 92%. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. Graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. Read more about University Of Southern California
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Based in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. North Carolina State University At Raleigh Operations Research students take on a median of $22,113 in debt. Read more about North Carolina State University At Raleigh
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. Based in Champaign, IL, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign Operations Research students take on a median of $20,778 in debt. Read more about University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Cornell University landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $69,314. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete their Operations Research program here. Read the full report on Cornell University
Kansas State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Based in Manhattan, KS, Kansas State University is a public institution. Kansas State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,546 to complete their Operations Research program here. See the full Kansas State University profile
Southern Methodist University landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Located in Dallas, TX, Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $67,040. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete their Operations Research program here. More on Southern Methodist University
Northeastern University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Boston, MA, Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $66,162 in tuition and fees. Northeastern University Operations Research students take on a median of $25,611 in debt. Read more about Northeastern University
Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Set in Chicago, IL, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates 75% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $52,202. Graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans. Read more about Illinois Institute Of Technology
Florida Institute Of Technology came in at #17 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Melbourne, FL. Florida Institute Of Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. In-state tuition and fees run about $45,900. The median Operations Research program debt is $32,114. Get the full Florida Institute Of Technology report
United States Coast Guard Academy landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. More on United States Coast Guard Academy
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Get the full Cuny Bernard M Baruch College report
United States Air Force Academy did well this year, earning the #20 position. Read the full report on United States Air Force Academy
Rutgers University New Brunswick did well this year, earning the #21 position. Read the full report on Rutgers University New Brunswick
University Of Delaware did well this year, earning the #22 position. Read the full report on University Of Delaware
Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Saint Louis University Main Campus
Texas A And M University College Station placed #24 among Operations Research schools in the United States. Read more about Texas A And M University College Station
Naval Postgraduate School did well this year, earning the #25 position. More on Naval Postgraduate School
Rest of the Top 15% Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
University Of Dayton landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of Dayton profile
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. See the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus profile
United States Naval Academy came in at #28 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on United States Naval Academy
Northwestern University came in at #29 in this year's ranking. See the full Northwestern University profile
Stony Brook University landed the #30 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Stony Brook University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Read more about Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management placed #32 among Operations Research schools in the United States. Get the full Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management report
Purdue University Global landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Purdue University Global report
Morgan State University landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. More on Morgan State University
Western Michigan University placed #35 among Operations Research schools in the United States. Read more about Western Michigan University
New York University ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. See the full New York University profile
University Of Arkansas did well this year, earning the #37 position. Get the full University Of Arkansas report
George Mason University came in at #38 in this year's ranking. See the full George Mason University profile
Villanova University landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. More on Villanova University
Harvard University placed #40 among Operations Research schools in the United States. More on Harvard University
Southern New Hampshire University ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. More on Southern New Hampshire University
United States Military Academy ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Operations Research schools. Get the full United States Military Academy report
Georgia State University did well this year, earning the #43 position. More on Georgia State University
Related Operations Research Rankings
Compare rankings at 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 Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced 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).