2025 Best Operations Research Schools
12
Colleges in the United States
1,718
Operations Research Degrees Awarded
$93,496
Avg Early-Career Salary
Operations Research isn't the most popular major in the world, but it's not the least popular either. To be more precise it ranks #203 in popularity out of 395 majors in the country. As such, the degree program isn't offered at every college in the United States, but there are schools that do have a program in the field that are top-notch when it comes to quality.
College Factual looked at 12 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Operations Research Schools ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 1,718 degrees in operations research to qualified students.
What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings
Choosing a Great Operations Research School
Your choice of operations research school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. For our Best Overall Operations Research School rankings, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Operations Research Rankings by Degree Level
The operations research school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best Operations Research Schools.
You can also filter this list by location to find schools closer to you.
In addition to College Factual's rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you.
When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.
More information on how we come up with our rankings can be found here: College Factual's Data Methodology.
Best Schools for Operations Research in the United States
The schools below may not offer all types of operations research degrees so you may want to filter by degree level first. However, they are great for the degree levels they do offer.
10 Top Schools in Operations Research
Doctor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
2nd
Most Popular In MA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a degree in operations research. MIT is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. A Best Colleges rank of #1 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means MIT is a great school overall.
There were about 23 operations research students who graduated with this degree at MIT in the most recent year we have data available.
More information about a degree in operations research from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cornell University is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a degree in operations research. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #9 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Cornell is a great university overall.
There were approximately 228 operations research students who graduated with this degree at Cornell in the most recent data year. Those operations research students who get their degree from Cornell University receive $8,768 more than the standard operations research student.
More information about a degree in operations research from Cornell University
Columbia University in the City of New York is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a degree in operations research. Columbia is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of New York. A Best Colleges rank of #15 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Columbia is a great university overall.
There were about 376 operations research students who graduated with this degree at Columbia in the most recent data year. Those operations research students who get their degree from Columbia University in the City of New York earn $16,961 more than the standard operations research graduate.
More information about a degree in operations research from Columbia University in the City of New York
University of California - Berkeley is one of the best schools in the country for getting a degree in operations research. Located in the medium-sized city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #14 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UC Berkeley is a great university overall.
There were approximately 261 operations research students who graduated with this degree at UC Berkeley in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the operations research program state that they receive average early career earnings of $88,685.
More information about a degree in operations research from University of California - Berkeley
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
2nd
Most Popular In TX
Located in the large city of Houston, Rice is a private not-for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population. This university ranks 3rd out of 115 schools for overall quality in the state of Texas.
There were approximately 10 operations research students who graduated with this degree at Rice in the most recent year we have data available.
More information about a degree in operations research from Rice University
Doctor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
1st
Most Popular In GA
51
Operations Research Degrees Awarded
Georgia Tech is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. A Best Colleges rank of #19 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Georgia Tech is a great school overall.
There were about 51 operations research students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Tech in the most recent year we have data available.
More information about a degree in operations research from Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus
Located in the large city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #13 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means USC is a great university overall.
There were approximately 10 operations research students who graduated with this degree at USC in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in operations research from University of Southern California
Doctor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
1st
Most Popular In NC
Located in the city of Raleigh, NC State is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 4th out of 93 colleges for overall quality in the state of North Carolina.
There were approximately 10 operations research students who graduated with this degree at NC State in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in operations research from North Carolina State University
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
1st
Most Popular In IL
UIUC is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Champaign. This university ranks 3rd out of 85 schools for overall quality in the state of Illinois.
There were about 22 operations research students who graduated with this degree at UIUC in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in operations research from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
1st
Most Popular In MA
Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. This university ranks 6th out of 63 schools for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.
There were roughly 19 operations research students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in operations research from Northeastern University
