2026 Best Value Operations Research Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Operations Research doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 43 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce 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 Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
University Of California Berkeley tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Operations Research doctoral degree schools in the United States. Set 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. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete their Operations Research program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $92,446. Set against $14,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%. Get the full University Of California Berkeley report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned it the #2 place in the United States. Set in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans. Median earnings reach $102,772 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $24,323 median debt. About 14% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus profile
A rank of #3 makes North Carolina State University At Raleigh one of the best values in the United States. Set in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Typical Operations Research student debt is $22,113. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $68,758. Set against $22,113 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #4 on this year's best-value Operations Research ranking in the United States. Based 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. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology alumni report median earnings of $143,372 a decade after entry. Set against $13,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology admits about 4% of applicants. Read more about Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Out of the 43 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Princeton University landed the #5 spot. Set in Princeton, NJ, Princeton University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,688. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete their Operations Research program here. Median earnings reach $110,066 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $10,888 median debt. Princeton University admits about 5% of applicants. Read the full report on Princeton University
Cornell University placed #6 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Ithaca, NY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. Typical Operations Research student debt is $15,000. Cornell University alumni report median earnings of $104,043 a decade after entry. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants. See the full Cornell University profile
Carnegie Mellon University placed #7 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. Located in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,636. The median Operations Research program debt is $23,529. Carnegie Mellon University alumni report median earnings of $114,862 a decade after entry. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Carnegie Mellon University
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in New York, NY. In-state tuition and fees run about $70,517. The median Operations Research program debt is $23,258. Median earnings reach $102,491 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants. Read the full report on Columbia University In The City Of New York
New York University placed #9 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $82,509 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted. Read more about New York University
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Rutgers University New Brunswick
University Of Delaware landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Delaware
Georgia State University placed #12 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. Read more about Georgia State University
United States Military Academy ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. Read the full report on United States Military Academy
United States Naval Academy offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. More on United States Naval Academy
Kansas State University came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. More on Kansas State University
Northeastern University landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Northeastern University report
Rice University
Rice University offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Get the full Rice University report
Illinois Institute Of Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Get the full Illinois Institute Of Technology report
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. Read more about University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Northwestern University landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Northwestern University
Harvard University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. Get the full Harvard University report
University Of Southern California ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. Read the full report on University Of Southern California
Western Michigan University placed #23 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. Get the full Western Michigan University report
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute profile
Villanova University offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. More on Villanova University
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Operations Research Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
University Of Dayton came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Dayton report
Stony Brook University ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. See the full Stony Brook University profile
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. See the full Cuny Bernard M Baruch College profile
Case Western Reserve University placed #29 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. More on Case Western Reserve University
George Mason University ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. Read more about George Mason University
University Of Washington Seattle Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. Read the full report on University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Purdue University Global ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. See the full Purdue University Global profile
Florida Institute Of Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. Read more about Florida Institute Of Technology
Morgan State University landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Morgan State University report
Southern Methodist University came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. See the full Southern Methodist University profile
University Of Arkansas placed #36 among the best-value Operations Research schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Arkansas
Naval Postgraduate School came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Naval Postgraduate School
Saint Louis University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. Read more about Saint Louis University Main Campus
Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. See the full Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management profile
United States Air Force Academy offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Read the full report on United States Air Force Academy
United States Coast Guard Academy ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Operations Research schools. Read more about United States Coast Guard Academy
Texas A And M University College Station offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Read the full report on Texas A And M University College Station
Southern New Hampshire University came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. See the full Southern New Hampshire University profile
Related Operations Research Value Rankings
Explore 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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Operations Research Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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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