2026 Best Value Operations Research Schools
Looking for the best-value Operations Research programs programs in the United States? This list ranks 43 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Operations Research Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
University Of Dayton tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Operations Research programs schools in the United States. Located in Dayton, OH, University Of Dayton is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $49,140 in tuition and fees. Typical Operations Research student debt is $25,033. Graduates go on to earn a median of $75,537 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $25,033 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted. More on University Of Dayton
A rank of #2 makes Saint Louis University Main Campus one of the best values in the United States. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Louis, MO. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,760. Students borrow a median of $26,586 to complete their Operations Research program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $70,783. Set against $26,586 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Louis University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants. Read more about Saint Louis University Main Campus
Out of the 43 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus landed the #3 spot. Set in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. The median Operations Research program debt is $24,323. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $102,772. That is a strong return on a $24,323 median debt. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 14%. Get the full Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus report
University Of California Berkeley came in at #4 on this year's best-value Operations Research ranking in the United States. Located in Berkeley, CA, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,377 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete their Operations Research program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $92,446. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. About 11% of those who apply are admitted. More on University Of California Berkeley
You'll get strong value at Kansas State University, which ranked #5 this year. Based in Manhattan, KS, Kansas State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $57,262. That is a strong return on a $23,546 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted. See the full Kansas State University profile
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in Raleigh, NC. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,113 to complete their Operations Research program here. Median earnings reach $68,758 ten years out. Set against $22,113 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%. Get the full North Carolina State University At Raleigh report
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. Set in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,396. Typical Operations Research student debt is $13,516. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $143,372. Set against $13,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology has an acceptance rate of 4%. More on Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. This public school is set in College Station, TX. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete their Operations Research program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $72,097. Set against $20,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 57% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Texas A And M University College Station profile
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Based in Champaign, IL, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. The median Operations Research program debt is $20,778. Median earnings reach $81,054 ten years out. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted. Read more about University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Northeastern University offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit school based in Boston, MA. Students from in state pay about $66,162 in tuition and fees. The median Operations Research program debt is $25,611. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $92,538. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%. See the full Northeastern University profile
Rice University offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Houston, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,247. Rice University Operations Research students take on a median of $11,904 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $89,718. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted. See the full Rice University profile
Florida Institute Of Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Melbourne, FL, Florida Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,900. Typical Operations Research student debt is $32,114. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $43,137. That is a strong return on a $32,114 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%. Read more about Florida Institute Of Technology
Princeton University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. Princeton University is a private not-for-profit school based in Princeton, NJ. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Princeton University Operations Research students take on a median of $10,888 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $110,066. That is a strong return on a $10,888 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Princeton University
Carnegie Mellon University placed #14 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit school based in Pittsburgh, PA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,636. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete their Operations Research program here. Median earnings reach $114,862 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted. More on Carnegie Mellon University
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in New York, NY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Columbia University In The City Of New York Operations Research students take on a median of $23,258 in debt. Median earnings reach $102,491 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants. More on Columbia University In The City Of New York
Cornell University placed #16 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. Located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $69,314. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete their Operations Research program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $104,043. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants. Read the full report on Cornell University
Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. Based in Chicago, IL, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,202. The median Operations Research program debt is $26,774. Illinois Institute Of Technology alumni report median earnings of $82,592 a decade after entry. Set against $26,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 55% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Illinois Institute Of Technology
Case Western Reserve University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. Set in Cleveland, OH, Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,608. The median Operations Research program debt is $25,106. Case Western Reserve University alumni report median earnings of $87,989 a decade after entry. Set against $25,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted. See the full Case Western Reserve University profile
George Mason University came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. George Mason University is a public school based in Fairfax, VA. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. The median Operations Research program debt is $23,529. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $76,343. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 88% of those who apply are admitted. See the full George Mason University profile
Southern Methodist University landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Dallas, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $67,040. Typical Operations Research student debt is $20,500. Median earnings reach $78,354 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Southern Methodist University admits about 63% of applicants. Read the full report on Southern Methodist University
New York University offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in New York, NY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete their Operations Research program here. New York University alumni report median earnings of $82,509 a decade after entry. Set against $21,897 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New York University admits about 9% of applicants. More on New York University
University Of Southern California ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Los Angeles, CA. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete their Operations Research program here. Median earnings reach $92,498 ten years out. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 10% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full University Of Southern California report
United States Military Academy came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Read more about United States Military Academy
University Of Delaware placed #24 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. More on University Of Delaware
United States Coast Guard Academy placed #25 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. Read the full report on United States Coast Guard Academy
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Operations Research Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Rutgers University New Brunswick report
Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management placed #27 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. Read the full report on Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute placed #28 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. Read the full report on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Southern New Hampshire University offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Read more about Southern New Hampshire University
Purdue University Global came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. More on Purdue University Global
Harvard University came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. See the full Harvard University profile
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Villanova University offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. Get the full Villanova University report
Georgia State University offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. Read the full report on Georgia State University
Northwestern University landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Northwestern University
University Of Arkansas placed #36 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. More on University Of Arkansas
United States Naval Academy placed #37 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. More on United States Naval Academy
Western Michigan University landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Western Michigan University profile
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. More on Cuny Bernard M Baruch College
Morgan State University offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Read more about Morgan State University
United States Air Force Academy landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on United States Air Force Academy
Naval Postgraduate School placed #42 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. Read more about Naval Postgraduate School
Stony Brook University placed #43 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. Get the full Stony Brook University report
Best Value Operations Research Schools by Degree Level
See the best values at each degree level:
- Best Value Operations Research Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Operations Research Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Operations Research Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Operations Research Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Operations Research Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Operations Research Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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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