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Most Popular Schools for Operations Research

2026 Most Popular Operations Research Schools

There are 43 colleges that offer a degree in Operations Research. The most popular schools, by student demand, are below:

Finding the Best Operations Research School for You

Today’s Operations Research students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendance, there are many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience.

The Most Popular Operations Research Schools ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 43 schools in the United States offering Operations Research programs. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school’s program.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for Operations Research majors.

The most popular school in the United States for Operations Research students is Columbia University in the City of New York. Columbia University in the City of New York is a private nonprofit school located in New York, NY. During the most recent year for which we have data, 388 people earned their degree in Operations Research from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $75,228. Full Operations Research at Columbia University in the City of New York Report

University of California-Berkeley landed the #2 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Operations Research Schools ranking. Located in Berkeley, CA, this is a public institution. This school awarded 282 degrees in Operations Research in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $57,445. Read More…

Naval Postgraduate School comes in at #3 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Operations Research majors. Located in Monterey, CA, this is a public institution. This school awarded 277 degrees in Operations Research in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,669. Read More…

#4

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY

Cornell University comes in at #4 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Operations Research majors. Located in Ithaca, NY, this is a private nonprofit institution. This school awarded 230 degrees in Operations Research in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $70,710. Read full report on Operations Research at Cornell University

#5

Princeton University

Princeton, NJ

Princeton University comes in at #5 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Operations Research majors. Princeton University is a private nonprofit school located in Princeton, NJ. During the most recent year for which we have data, 105 people earned their degree in Operations Research from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $72,064. Read full report on Operations Research at Princeton University

United States Naval Academy comes in at #6 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Operations Research majors. United States Naval Academy is a public school located in Annapolis, MD. During the most recent year for which we have data, 101 people earned their degree in Operations Research from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,669. Read More…

Texas A&M University-College Station landed the #7 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Operations Research Schools ranking. Texas A&M University-College Station is a public school located in College Station, TX. This school awarded 100 degrees in Operations Research in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $54,018. Full Operations Research at Texas A&M University-College Station Report

Air Force Institute of Technology-Graduate School of Engineering & Management comes in at #8 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Operations Research majors. Air Force Institute of Technology-Graduate School of Engineering & Management is a public school located in Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. This school awarded 86 degrees in Operations Research in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,669. Read full report on Operations Research at Air Force Institute of Technology-Graduate School of Engineering & Management

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus comes in at #9 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Operations Research majors. Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus is a public school located in Atlanta, GA. This school awarded 42 degrees in Operations Research in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $87,556. Full Operations Research at Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Report

#10

United States Air Force Academy

USAF Academy, CO

United States Air Force Academy comes in at #10 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Operations Research majors. Located in USAF Academy, CO, this is a public institution. This school awarded 35 degrees in Operations Research in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,669. Read More…

Case Western Reserve University comes in at #11 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Operations Research majors. Case Western Reserve University is a private nonprofit school located in Cleveland, OH. During the most recent year for which we have data, 29 people earned their degree in Operations Research from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $67,614. Read full report on Operations Research at Case Western Reserve University

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign comes in at #12 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Operations Research majors. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a public school located in Champaign, IL. This school awarded 28 degrees in Operations Research in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $53,513. Read More…

Southern Methodist University landed the #13 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Operations Research Schools ranking. Located in Dallas, TX, this is a private nonprofit institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 26 people earned their degree in Operations Research from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $67,114. Read More…

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College comes in at #14 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Operations Research majors. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College is a public school located in New York, NY. This school awarded 20 degrees in Operations Research in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $51,920. Read full report on Operations Research at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

#15

Rice University

Houston, TX

Rice University landed the #15 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Operations Research Schools ranking. Rice University is a private nonprofit school located in Houston, TX. During the most recent year for which we have data, 19 people earned their degree in Operations Research from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $71,544. Full Operations Research at Rice University Report

Massachusetts Institute of Technology comes in at #16 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Operations Research majors. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private nonprofit school located in Cambridge, MA. During the most recent year for which we have data, 16 people earned their degree in Operations Research from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $109,923. Read More…

North Carolina State University at Raleigh landed the #17 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Operations Research Schools ranking. North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public school located in Raleigh, NC. During the most recent year for which we have data, 16 people earned their degree in Operations Research from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $50,866. Full Operations Research at North Carolina State University at Raleigh Report

Florida Institute of Technology comes in at #18 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Operations Research majors. Florida Institute of Technology is a private nonprofit school located in Melbourne, FL. During the most recent year for which we have data, 15 people earned their degree in Operations Research from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $69,606. Full Operations Research at Florida Institute of Technology Report

University of Southern California comes in at #19 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Operations Research majors. University of Southern California is a private nonprofit school located in Los Angeles, CA. This school awarded 14 degrees in Operations Research in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $63,275. Read More…

United States Coast Guard Academy landed the #20 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Operations Research Schools ranking. United States Coast Guard Academy is a public school located in New London, CT. During the most recent year for which we have data, 13 people earned their degree in Operations Research from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $40,669. Read full report on Operations Research at United States Coast Guard Academy

United States Military Academy comes in at #21 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Operations Research majors. United States Military Academy is a public school located in West Point, NY. During the most recent year for which we have data, 11 people earned their degree in Operations Research from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $40,669. Read More…

#22

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA

Carnegie Mellon University landed the #22 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Operations Research Schools ranking. Located in Pittsburgh, PA, this is a private nonprofit institution. This school awarded 9 degrees in Operations Research in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $88,268. Full Operations Research at Carnegie Mellon University Report

#23

Georgia State University

Atlanta, GA

Georgia State University comes in at #23 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Operations Research majors. Georgia State University is a public school located in Atlanta, GA. This school awarded 9 degrees in Operations Research in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $37,719. Read More…

#24

Northeastern University

Boston, MA

Northeastern University landed the #24 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Operations Research Schools ranking. Located in Boston, MA, this is a private nonprofit institution. This school awarded 8 degrees in Operations Research in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $74,155. Full Operations Research at Northeastern University Report

#25

University of Dayton

Dayton, OH

University of Dayton comes in at #25 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Operations Research majors. Located in Dayton, OH, this is a private nonprofit institution. This school awarded 7 degrees in Operations Research in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $53,482. Full Operations Research at University of Dayton Report

#27

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL
#28

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA
#29

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS
#30

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, MO
#32

University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR
#33

New York University

New York, NY
#34

Villanova University

Villanova, PA
#35

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA
#36

Morgan State University

Baltimore, MD
#37

Purdue University Global

West Lafayette, IN
#39

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Brunswick, NJ
#40

Stony Brook University

Stony Brook, NY
#41

University of Delaware

Newark, DE
#43

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI

Operations Research by Region

View the Most Popular Operations Research Schools ranking for a specific region near you.

Region
New England
Middle Atlantic
Great Lakes
Plains States
Southeast
Southwest
Rocky Mountains
Far Western US

More Operations Research Rankings

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this Most Popular Operations Research Schools list, to help you choose the best school for you.

Operations Research Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
General Operations Research 1,910
Related Major Annual Graduates
Mechanical Engineering 42,939
Electrical Engineering 26,760
Civil Engineering 20,005
Computer Engineering 19,986
Biomedical Engineering 13,914

References

*The average salary above is for the top 25 schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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