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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Operations Research (Income $48-$75k)

17 Ranked Colleges
1,049 Degrees Awarded
$37,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master's For Those Making $48-$75k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 1,760 people earned their degree in operations research, making the major the 198th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, operations research graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $79,967 and had an average of $28,139 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,049 operations research graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 17 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in operations research. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great operations research programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the operations research program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 17 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Operations Research (Income $48-$75k)

#1

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Massachusetts Institute of Technology landed the #1 spot on the list. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 8 masters’s operations research degrees in 2019-2020.

MIT also took the #2 spot in our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at MIT are $56,719, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Operations Research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

#2

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Princeton University landed the #2 spot on the list. Princeton University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Princeton, New Jersey. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Princeton, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Princeton are $56,470.

Full Princeton University Operations Research Report

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in New York, New York, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 328 degrees to qualified masters’s operations research students in 2019-2020.

Columbia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia University in the City of New York are $51,194, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Columbia Operations Research Report

#4

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Cornell University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k. Located in Ithaca, New York, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 160 diplomas to qualified masters’s operations research students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree operations research students whose families make $48-$75k list, Cornell has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell University are $30,042, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Operations Research at Cornell

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of California - Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 147 masters’s operations research degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree operations research students whose families make $48-$75k list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Operations Research at UC Berkeley

#9 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s operations research degrees to 62 students in 2019-2020.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Operations Research Report

#6 in overall quality

Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this large public school handed out 36 degrees to qualified masters’s operations research students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree operations research students whose families make $48-$75k list, Georgia Tech has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgia Tech are $31,334, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus Operations Research Report

#8

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#11 in overall quality

North Carolina State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. NC State is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 masters’s operations research degrees to qualified students.

NC State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at NC State are $28,999, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Operations Research at North Carolina State University

#9

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts
#10 in overall quality

Northeastern University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Northeastern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 23 masters’s operations research degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern are $25,558, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Operations Research at Northeastern University

#10

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Carnegie Mellon University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified masters’s operations research students in 2019-2020.

Carnegie Mellon also took the #0 spot in our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Carnegie Mellon are $47,326.

Read more about Operations Research at Carnegie Mellon

#7 in overall quality

Case Western Reserve University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s operations research degrees to 31 students in 2019-2020.

Case Western not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Case Western Reserve University are $47,958.

Read more about Operations Research at Case Western

#12

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#14 in overall quality

Kansas State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Manhattan, Kansas, and it awarded 9 masters’s operations research degrees in 2019-2020.

K -State also made our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #14. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at K -State are $24,115.

Read more about Operations Research at K -State

#13

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#8 in overall quality

University of Southern California did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #13. USC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715.

Full USC Operations Research Report

#14

Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Brunswick, New Jersey

Rutgers University - New Brunswick did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. Rutgers New Brunswick is a public institution located in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rutgers New Brunswick, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rutgers University - New Brunswick are $32,132, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Rutgers University - New Brunswick Operations Research Report

#15 in overall quality

Illinois Institute of Technology came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Illinois Tech is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 4 masters’s operations research degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois Tech also took the #15 spot in our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois Tech are $30,695, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Illinois Tech Operations Research Report

#12 in overall quality

Southern Methodist University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #16. Southern Methodist University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Dallas, Texas. It awarded 13 masters’s operations research degrees in 2019-2020.

SMU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SMU are $47,478, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Southern Methodist University Operations Research Report

#17

Florida Institute of Technology

Melbourne, Florida
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Florida Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Operations Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Florida Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution located in Melbourne, Florida. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Florida Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Operations Research Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida Tech are $22,588, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Operations Research at Florida Tech

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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