Best Operations Research Degrees in the US by ROI
Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
4
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$691,539
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$68,021
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Columbia University in the City of New York
Grad rate: 95.1% |
NY | +$1,068,412 | $112,629 | $86,042 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Cornell University
Grad rate: 95.2% |
NY | +$878,646 | $103,584 | $83,196 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Southern Methodist University
Grad rate: 82.8% |
TX | +$588,577 | $89,319 | $82,532 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
California State University-Northridge
Grad rate: 56.1% |
CA | +$230,522 | $58,602 | $20,317 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Operations Research Degrees by State
Browse Operations Research programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.