2026 Best Value Operations Research Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Operations Research bachelor’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 43 institutions 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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
University Of California Berkeley earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Located in Berkeley, CA, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Typical Operations Research student debt is $14,238. Graduates go on to earn a median of $92,446 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 11% of those who apply are admitted. More on University Of California Berkeley
Out of the 43 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Princeton University landed the #2 spot. Princeton University is a private not-for-profit school based in Princeton, NJ. Students from in state pay about $62,688 in tuition and fees. The median Operations Research program debt is $10,888. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $110,066. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Princeton University has an acceptance rate of 5%. Read more about Princeton University
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #3 on this year's best-value Operations Research ranking in the United States. Located in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $70,517. Typical Operations Research student debt is $23,258. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $102,491. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%. Read more about Columbia University In The City Of New York
A rank of #4 makes Southern Methodist University one of the best values in the United States. Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Dallas, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,040. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete their Operations Research program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $78,354. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Southern Methodist University admits about 63% of applicants. More on Southern Methodist University
Cornell University came in at #5 on this year's best-value Operations Research ranking in the United States. Located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. Graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $104,043. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%. Get the full Cornell University report
George Mason University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. Get the full George Mason University report
United States Air Force Academy came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Get the full United States Air Force Academy report
University Of Dayton placed #8 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. More on University Of Dayton
Naval Postgraduate School placed #9 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. See the full Naval Postgraduate School profile
Southern New Hampshire University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. Read more about Southern New Hampshire University
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. More on Texas A And M University College Station
Harvard University landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Harvard University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. Read more about North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Northeastern University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. More on Northeastern University
Rutgers University New Brunswick offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Read more about Rutgers University New Brunswick
Purdue University Global offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. More on Purdue University Global
University Of Southern California ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. Get the full University Of Southern California report
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus profile
University Of Arkansas placed #19 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Arkansas
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. More on Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management placed #21 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. See the full Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management profile
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #22 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. More on University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Washington Seattle Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. More on University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Georgia State University came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Georgia State University
Kansas State University came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. See the full Kansas State University profile
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Operations Research Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
University Of Delaware offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. See the full University Of Delaware profile
Stony Brook University placed #27 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. Read the full report on Stony Brook University
New York University landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full New York University profile
Carnegie Mellon University offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Get the full Carnegie Mellon University report
Illinois Institute Of Technology placed #30 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. More on Illinois Institute Of Technology
Case Western Reserve University ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. Get the full Case Western Reserve University report
United States Military Academy placed #32 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. More on United States Military Academy
Rice University
Rice University offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. Get the full Rice University report
United States Naval Academy placed #34 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. More on United States Naval Academy
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. Read more about Cuny Bernard M Baruch College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. Get the full Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute report
Morgan State University landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Morgan State University
Florida Institute Of Technology placed #38 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. Read the full report on Florida Institute Of Technology
Northwestern University landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Northwestern University report
Villanova University came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Villanova University
United States Coast Guard Academy ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. Get the full United States Coast Guard Academy report
Western Michigan University came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. See the full Western Michigan University profile
Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. See the full Saint Louis University Main Campus profile
Related Operations Research Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Operations Research Schools (All Levels)
- 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 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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