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2024 Best Operations Research Doctor's Degree Schools

College Factual reviewed 13 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for doctor's degree seekers in the field of operations research. Combined, these schools handed out 72 doctor's degrees in operations research to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology

• Best Doctor’s Degree Schools List

Choosing a Great Operations Research School for Your Doctor's Degree

Overall Quality Is a Must

The overall quality of a doctor's degree school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Doctor's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

Average Early-Career Salaries

Average early-career salary of those graduating with their doctor's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. That is, everyone wants their doctor's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.

Other Factors We Consider

In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:

• Major Focus - How many resources a school devotes to operations research students as compared to other majors.
• Major Demand - The number of operations research students who choose to seek a doctor's degree at the school.
• Educational Resources - The amount of money and other resources allocated to students while they are pursuing their degree. These resources include such things as number of students per instructor and education expenditures per student.
• Student Debt - How easy is it for operations research to pay back their student loans after receiving their doctor's degree.
• Accreditation - Whether a school is regionally accredited and/or accredited by a recognized operations research related body.

Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for operations research students working on their doctor's degree.

More Ways to Rank Operations Research Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings , including this Best Operations Research Doctor's Degree Schools list to help you make the college decision.

Best Schools for Doctorate Students to Study Operations Research in the United States

Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing a doctor's degree in operations research.

10 Top Schools for a Doctorate in Operations Research

Every student pursuing a degree in a doctor's degree in operations research needs to take a look at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Located in the midsize city of Cambridge, MIT is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population. More information about a doctorate in operations research from Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It is difficult to beat Columbia University in the City of New York if you wish to pursue a doctor's degree in operations research. Located in the city of New York, Columbia is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. More information about a doctorate in operations research from Columbia University in the City of New York

It's difficult to beat Princeton University if you wish to pursue a doctor's degree in operations research. Princeton is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the city of Princeton. More information about a doctorate in operations research from Princeton University

Every student pursuing a degree in a doctor's degree in operations research has to take a look at University of California - Berkeley. UC Berkeley is a very large public university located in the midsize city of Berkeley. More information about a doctorate in operations research from University of California - Berkeley

Northwestern is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Evanston. More information about a doctorate in operations research from Northwestern University

Located in the large city of Atlanta, Georgia Tech is a public school with a fairly large student population. More information about a doctorate in operations research from Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus

Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. More information about a doctorate in operations research from Carnegie Mellon University

Harvard is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the medium-sized city of Cambridge. More information about a doctorate in operations research from Harvard University

Cornell is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Ithaca. More information about a doctorate in operations research from Cornell University

Located in the large suburb of Dallas, SMU is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. More information about a doctorate in operations research from Southern Methodist University

Operations Research by Region

View the Best Operations Research Doctor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Other Rankings

Best bachelor's degrees in operations research, best overall in operations research, highest paid grads in operations research, best for veterans in operations research, most popular in operations research, most focused in operations research, best master's degrees in operations research, best value in operations research, best for non-traditional students in operations research, best online in operations research, most popular online in operations research.

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Rankings in Majors Related to Operations Research

One of 41 majors within the Engineering area of study, Operations Research has other similar majors worth exploring.

Operations Research Concentrations

Most popular related majors, notes and references.

• The bars on the spread charts above show the distribution of the schools on this list +/- one standard deviation from the mean.
• 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 the rest 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 ). More about our data sources and methodologies .

Popular Reports

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Best Universities for Operations Research in the World

Updated: February 29, 2024

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Below is a list of best universities in the World ranked based on their research performance in Operations Research. A graph of 11.8M citations received by 652K academic papers made by 2,129 universities in the World was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

For Operations Research

2. University of Texas at Austin

3. Stanford University

4. University of California - Berkeley

5. Carnegie Mellon University

6. Delft University of Technology

7. Hong Kong Polytechnic University

8. Georgia Institute of Technology

9. National University of Singapore

10. University of Toronto

11. Cornell University

12. University of Pittsburgh

13. North China Electric Power University

14. University of Tehran

15. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

16. Pennsylvania State University

17. University of Maryland - College Park

18. University of Waterloo

19. University of Hong Kong

20. Tsinghua University

21. Catholic University of Leuven

22. University of Pennsylvania

23. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

24. Purdue University

25. Beijing Jiaotong University

26. Shanghai Jiao Tong University

27. Erasmus University Rotterdam

28. Eindhoven University of Technology

29. Vilnius Gediminas Technical University

30. Columbia University

31. Imperial College London

32. Ohio State University

33. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

34. University of Manchester

35. Texas A&M University - College Station

36. Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

37. Central South University

38. National Chiao Tung University

39. Northwestern University

40. National Technical University of Athens

41. University of Florida

42. Istanbul Technical University

43. Sichuan University

44. University of Southern California

45. Harvard University

46. University of British Columbia

47. Norwegian University of Science and Technology

48. Tongji University

49. University of Washington - Seattle

50. Technical University of Denmark

51. Southeast University

52. University College London

53. Arizona State University - Tempe

54. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

55. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

56. Huazhong University of Science and Technology

57. Paris Dauphine University

58. Iowa State University

59. Iran University of Science and Technology

60. Amirkabir University of Technology

61. University of New South Wales

62. University of Wisconsin - Madison

63. Lancaster University

64. Beihang University

65. University of Montreal

66. University of Warwick

67. City University of Hong Kong

68. Tel Aviv University

69. University of Alberta

70. University of Lisbon

71. University of Sydney

72. Princeton University

73. Polytechnic University of Valencia

74. New York University

75. Duke University

76. Concordia University

77. University of Cambridge

78. Nanyang Technological University

79. Monash University

80. University of Nottingham

81. McMaster University

82. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

83. Laval University

84. Southwest Jiaotong University

85. Tianjin University

86. University of Leeds

87. University of Southampton

88. University at Buffalo

89. Dalian University of Technology

90. Wuhan University of Technology

91. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

92. National Cheng Kung University

93. Zhejiang University

94. University of Arizona

95. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

96. University of Virginia

97. Polytechnic University of Milan

98. McGill University

99. University of California - Los Angeles

100. University of Colorado Boulder

Mathematics subfields in the World

Tepper School of Business

Ph.D. Program in Operations Research

The ph.d. program in operations research stresses optimization techniques leading to decision-making algorithms and the development of new models for management science applications..

The Tepper School's doctoral program in operations research (OR) is designed to encourage students to make contributions toward basic scientific knowledge in the area. This knowledge can take several forms including:

• The derivations of fundamental results of an analytical or mathematical nature that lead to the development of algorithms for aiding decision-making
• The development of new analytical models appropriate for management science applications in areas such as Marketing, Operations, and Finance
• Controlled experimentation that leads to empirical results that make efficiency comparisons possible among algorithms

A major goal of the program is to train students to recognize operations research problems in real-world situations, and to give them the opportunity to learn about the deployment of operations research models in one or more of these substantive areas. Towards this goal, the program provides the opportunity to develop knowledge of functional areas of business to which optimization can be applied such as Marketing, Operations and Finance. There is a rich tradition of graduates from the program going on to successful careers in these areas both in academia (in business schools, engineering schools in IE and OR departments as well as in Math and Computer Science departments) and industry. 

Course of Study

The basic operations research courses offered include: linear, nonlinear, integer and dynamic programming; graph theory and network optimization; convex optimization and convex analysis; and stochastic models. Each course is taught by a faculty member who is actively pursuing research in the subject area. Since classes are usually small, students frequently meet informally with their instructors. The third semester competence examination is based on the areas covered in these courses.

The research papers assigned for the first and second summers of graduate study are designed to give students an early introduction to research work. The paper may be done individually or jointly with other students or faculty members. Easy interaction in the Tepper School with researchers in the other areas of business and economics and in such related areas as computer science, machine learning, and statistics encourages the application of operations research in imaginative new directions.

In many cases, work on these papers leads to the work on the Ph.D. dissertation, which can begin as soon as the student has passed the third-semester qualifying examination.

Almost invariably, by the end of their second year, if not earlier, students have already worked on professional problems with some of the faculty. For this reason, student working papers written in collaboration with a faculty member are common.

Our History

Carnegie Mellon has pioneered several important developments in both theoretical and applied operations research. Geometric programming, chance constrained programming, and the applications of linear programming to capital budgeting and cost management were among the accomplishments of the '50s and early '60s. Since 1968, when the doctoral program in operations research was started, the Tepper School has initiated several new developments in integer and nonconvex programming, enumerative methods, cutting plane theory, disjunctive programming, constraint programming, network design, algorithm design, machine learning, data mining, and scheduling models.  

Recently, the group has pioneered advances in Approximation Algorithms for Network Design, as well as theory and applications of Modern Convex Optimization. Examples on the Selected Research Topics page illustrate the basic research currently in progress, and examples of new operations research applications can be found elsewhere on the Doctoral Program website.

Research Topics

• Mixed-Integer Programming
• Convex Optimization
• Benders Decomposition
• Branch and Price
• Approximation and Online Algorithms
• Network Design
• Analytical Models in Marketing and Operations
• Connections with Artificial Intelligence
• Interplay between Estimation and Optimization
• Bayesian Optimization
• Massively Distributed and Parallel Algorithm Design
• Machine Learning
• Cultural Factors
• Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

Many of our students are very active in the Carnegie Mellon INFORMS Student Chapter . To learn about the joint PhD program in Algorithms, Combinatorics and Optimization, please visit the webpage http://aco.math.cmu.edu/

P lease visit our Ph.D. Student Profiles page t o view the profiles of our current doctoral candidates.

Program Details

• Requirements

New Research Interest – Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

Ethics and AI is an emerging research interest among faculty members in Operations Research and Ethics. Research topics include algorithmic bias, models of equity and efficiency, machine ethics, and OR/AI for the common good. Given the importance and timeliness of this topic, Tepper faculty members have submitted a grant proposal to the National Science Foundation to support research in this domain.

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Operations Research Center

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Phd in operations research.

MIT’s doctoral degree (PhD) program in operations research (OR) provides you with thorough understanding of the theory of OR while teaching you to how to develop and apply OR methods in practice.

We offer a general degree track as well as three optional degree tracks in operations management , networked systems , and analytics . All doctoral students must complete the general degree track requirements; those who choose an optional degree track will have additional, specialized requirements to fulfill. 

General Degree Track

In addition to the writing competency requirements, our rigorous curriculum includes challenging coursework, action learning, and innovative research.

You’ll take eight graduate-level classes that have been approved by the ORC co-directors, including at least two courses in optimization, at least three in applied probability and statistics, and at least one in OR modeling.

You’ll put OR theory into practice through valuable, hands-on learning experiences, completing one of the following:

• Option 1: Participate in a summer internship, during which you’ll create OR models that address a real-world problem.
• Option 2: Undertake a project with an ORC faculty member, either as part of a supervised research activity or as an extra part of a regular course offering.
• Option 3: Take part in a class, for which you’ll build and implement OR models that have practical applications.

And, you’ll conduct in-depth research on a topic that complements your academic interests and career goals. You’ll write a thesis based on the independent research you conduct under the guidance of our expert faculty.

Qualifying Process and General Examination

All students enrolled in an ORC doctoral program must complete the Qualifying Process and receive a passing score on the General Examination.

• Students must choose one approved course from the three different categories (Optimization, Probability, and Machine Learning/Statistics). 
• Students must satisfactorily complete these three courses with a minimum of 2 As and 1 B or a combined GPA of 4.6 or higher by the end of their third semester at MIT.
• Students are required to register and take for credit the software tools course 15.S60 offered during IAP (January) led by current ORC students.
• During the student’s first summer at MIT (month of August), doctoral students will engage in a Common Experience project where students will work in teams to address an important problem for an organization.   
• General Examination : Students are required to take the General Examination once they have passed the Qualifying Process.  The General Exam is comprised of a research-oriented (RO) paper and an oral presentation of the RO paper and a discussion on a research paper selected by the General Exam Committee.

Upon completion of our doctoral program, you’ll have the specialized knowledge and technical skills to have a positive impact in a variety of fields, including business, education, and research. Many of our graduates have gone on to careers in academia, in the U.S. and abroad, while others have found success in business and industry as researchers and consultants.

  Analytics Track

In addition to the general PhD degree requirements, you will also:

• complete a summer internship with an organization related to analytics for your hands-on learning experience.
• take two specialized courses in analytics; these classes may count toward your eight required graduate-level classes.
• serve as a teaching assistant in courses related to analytics, or an approved equivalent.
• write a thesis on a topic related to analytics; one member of your thesis committee should be among the ORC faculty who specialize in analytics.

Networked Systems Track

• complete a summer internship with an organization related to networked systems for your hands-on learning experience.
• take two specialized courses in networked systems; these classes may count toward your eight required graduate-level classes.
• serve as a teaching assistant in courses related to networked systems, or an approved equivalent.
• write a thesis on a topic related to networked systems; one member of your thesis committee should be among the ORC faculty who specialize in networked systems.

Operations Management Track

• complete a summer internship with an organization related to operations management for your hands-on learning experience.
• take two specialized courses in operations management; these classes may count toward your eight required graduate-level classes. 
• serve as a teaching assistant in two MBA courses related to operations management or assist in one and take another one for credit. At least one of the classes for which you’re a teaching assistant must include recitation.
• write a thesis on a topic related to operations management; one member of your thesis committee should be among the ORC faculty who specialize in operations management.

For more information about our PhD program, please see our General Exam Syllabus .

For more information about ORC course offerings, please go here .

What is Operations Research?

Operations research (OR) is the discipline of applying advanced analytical methods—such as optimization, statistics, machine learning, and probability — to  make better decisions that impact society and the world positively.

The mission of the PhD program is intimately linked to the mission of the ORC.

Phone:  617-253-3601 Email:   [email protected]

Best Operations Research colleges in the U.S. 2024

Best operations research colleges in the u.s. for 2024.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers 2 Operations Research degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 23 Operations Research students graduated with students earning 17 Doctoral degrees, and 6 Master's degrees.

Cornell University offers 3 Operations Research degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 228 Operations Research students graduated with students earning 144 Master's degrees, 80 Bachelor's degrees, and 4 Doctoral degrees.

Northwestern University offers 2 Operations Research degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 5 Operations Research students graduated with students earning 4 Doctoral degrees, and 1 Master's degree.

University of California-Berkeley offers 3 Operations Research degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 261 Operations Research students graduated with students earning 186 Master's degrees, 71 Bachelor's degrees, and 4 Doctoral degrees.

Columbia University in the City of New York offers 4 Operations Research degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 376 Operations Research students graduated with students earning 281 Master's degrees, 73 Bachelor's degrees, 12 Doctoral degrees, and 10 Certificates.

Rice University offers 2 Operations Research degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 10 Operations Research students graduated with students earning 9 Master's degrees, and 1 Bachelor's degree.

Carnegie Mellon University offers 3 Operations Research degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 9 Operations Research students graduated with students earning 8 Doctoral degrees, and 1 Master's degree.

University of Southern California offers 1 Operations Research degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 10 Operations Research students graduated with students earning 10 Master's degrees.

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus offers 2 Operations Research degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 51 Operations Research students graduated with students earning 33 Master's degrees, and 18 Doctoral degrees.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers 1 Operations Research degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 22 Operations Research students graduated with students earning 22 Master's degrees.

Find local colleges with Operations Research majors in the U.S.

List of all operations research colleges in the u.s..

Operations Research (Ph.D.)

Focus: advancing knowledge and research in areas such as mathematical optimization; stochastic and probabilistic methods; statistical modeling and analysis; design and analysis of algorithms; and computational and numerical methods.

Department of Technology, Operations, and Statistics | Doctoral Program in Operations Management

Doctoral program in operations management.

Overview of the OM Doctoral Program

• Program Requirements
• S ample 5-year Schedule
• Recent Doctoral Courses Offered

Mission To educate and train scholars capable of producing high quality operations management research and to place our graduates as faculty members in top-tier universities. Admissions and performance We enroll an average of two students per year out of many highly qualified applicants. Students admitted typically have GRE scores over 310 with scores in the quantitative section of the GRE exam in the 90th percentile or higher. International students typically have TOEFL scores of 600 or higher. Our students are highly competitive with their peers globally and give talks and invited presentations at national and international conferences. Advising and evaluation The operations management doctoral program coordinator advises all first-year doctoral students. During their first year, students have many opportunities to learn the research interests of departmental faculty by taking classes, attending seminars and enrolling in research practica.  By the beginning of their second year, students will typically have selected an advisor who begins to introduce them to potential research topics. By the middle of their third year, students will have selected a thesis advisor. Each year, every student’s academic progress is reviewed and plans for the following year are considered.  This review includes a formal letter to the student assessing the previous year's work and offering guidance for the following year's work.  All students take a comprehensive written and oral exam during their second year in the program.  Students are expected to defend their thesis proposal by March of their fourth year and students typically defend their completed dissertation at the end of their fourth year or during their fifth year. Research and interaction with faculty Stern's operations management group has historically included faculty with strong operations management and operations research backgrounds. These two disciplines, along with statistics, data science, economics and computer science, continue to have a significant influence on the teaching and research directions of the operations management faculty. In today's business environment, there is a strong interest in using operations to provide a competitive advantage to organizations. Doctoral students in operations management take core courses in optimization theory, stochastic processes, and data science. A wide range of electives based on faculty expertise are offered including inventory theory, game theory, service operations, assortment optimization, supply chain finance and more. Students are also encouraged either to assist faculty members who are actively working with firms or to develop first-hand expertise through individual contacts with industrial organizations. The faculty members focus their research on current and emerging themes in managing operations in today's fast changing economy. They use a combination of analytical, empirical and theory building methodologies to understand: how to design operating systems, contracts and quality systems for the management of decentralized supply chains; best practices in retailing; vehicle routing; call center management; task and workforce scheduling; internet business models and strategies; and how to forecast new product sales. Faculty members hold editorial positions on numerous journals and are active in the major societies such as the Institute for Operations Research and Management Science. As a result of Stern's New York City location, the school and its operations management faculty have strong ties with the world's technology and financial organizations as well as chemical, computer, consumer goods and pharmaceutical companies in the tri-state area. Click on the links on the right to learn how to apply, to attend an information session, and to contact the Stern School Doctoral Office. Wenqiang Xiao Coordinator, Operations Management Doctoral Program TOPS Department

Back-to-Top

Program Requirements Doctoral students in operations management are expected to achieve expertise in the areas of operations management and operations research. All students in the NYU Stern doctoral program must demonstrate competence in probability, statistics and microeconomics either through courses taken in a prior degree program or by taking a similar course offered at NYU. As part of the operations management doctoral curriculum, students must also take 3 methodological core courses in the areas of optimization, stochastic processes and data science.  After completing their course requirements, students may enroll in elective courses relevant to their chosen field of research. Recent PhD electives offered by the operations management group include

• Pricing in the Sharing Economy
• Stochastic Inventory Theory
• Supply Chain Finance
• Service Operations Management
• Game Theory
• Choice Models in Operations
• Applied Game Theory

In addition to required coursework, doctoral students must complete 5 research practica prior to graduation. Each research practicum is a 1 credit course graded Pass or Fail in which students work closely with a faculty member to conduct joint research. By working closely with faculty members, students are expected to develop their own independent research skills. After their core coursework is complete, students are required to take written and oral comprehensive exams before October 1st of their third year. Students must also complete a teaching practicum in their third year of studies during which they assist a faculty member in their class preparation. Students are expected to complete their thesis proposal by March of their 4th year and the doctoral program concludes with the proposal, writing and defense of a dissertation. All students are required to complete the doctoral program within six years, however most students graduate within 5 years. A sample 5-year schedule is given below.

Sample 5-year Schedule

Recent Doctoral Courses Offered OPMG-GB.3321.P1 Stochastic Processes OPMG-GB.3392.P1 Pricing in the Sharing Economy OPMG-GB.4317.01 Stochastic Inventory Theory OPMG-GB.4334.01 Convex Optimization OPMG-GB.4313.20 Supply Chain Finance OPMG-GB.4331.20 Service Operations Management OPMG-GB.4306.01 Dynamic Programming OPMG-GB.4321.20 Choice Models in Operations OPMG-GB.4330.01 Linear Programming OPMG-GB.4340.02 Applied Game Theory

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Operations Research Graduate Programs in America

1-25 of 26 results

MIT Sloan School of Management

• Cambridge, MA ·
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology ·
• Graduate School
• · Rating 4.9 out of 5   10 reviews

Massachusetts Institute of Technology ,

Graduate School ,

CAMBRIDGE, MA ,

10 Niche users give it an average review of 4.9 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says I am an incoming MBA student to MIT Sloan. The application and enrollment process has been incredibly informative. I’ve been able to network with numerous current students and have worked on mapping... .

Read 10 reviews.

Princeton University

• Princeton, NJ ·
• · Rating 4.33 out of 5   3 reviews

PRINCETON, NJ ,

3 Niche users give it an average review of 4.3 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The best part of the Princeton University mechanical engineering graduate degree is the excellent faculty that teach the courses. They are incredibly knowledgeable and also very willing to help... .

Read 3 reviews.

Viterbi School of Engineering

• Los Angeles, CA ·
• University of Southern California ·
• · Rating 5 out of 5   2 reviews

University of Southern California ,

LOS ANGELES, CA ,

2 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says Best experience is that I have the ability to engage with other students and my professors in real time. My worst experience would have to be; moments of not being able to hear what is being talked about during a lecture due to classroom audio issues. .

Read 2 reviews.

Cornell Tech

• New York, NY ·
• Cornell University ·
• · Rating 4.25 out of 5   4 reviews

Cornell University ,

NEW YORK, NY ,

4 Niche users give it an average review of 4.3 stars.

Featured Review: Current Master's student says Cornell Tech has a fantastic campus, the programs here are very industry-friendly and the professors are very experienced. .

Read 4 reviews.

College of Engineering - Carnegie Mellon University

• Pittsburgh, PA ·
• Carnegie Mellon University ·
• · Rating 4.8 out of 5   5 reviews

Blue checkmark.

Carnegie Mellon University ,

PITTSBURGH, PA ,

5 Niche users give it an average review of 4.8 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says If you are interested in research, CMU Engineering is an excellent option with newly built state of the art laboratories. There isn't much individual attention though, so be prepared to find... .

Read 5 reviews.

Georgia Tech College of Engineering

• Atlanta, GA ·
• Georgia Institute of Technology ·
• · Rating 5 out of 5   1 review

Georgia Institute of Technology ,

ATLANTA, GA ,

1 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The best part is sitting through top professors of the world’s lecture! The worst part is the time of classes! They are offered in the middle of the day! .

Read 1 reviews.

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UC Berkeley College of Engineering

• Berkeley, CA ·
• University of California - Berkeley ·

University of California - Berkeley ,

BERKELEY, CA ,

Featured Review: Master's Student says It seems like a really cool program. I hope to recive some financial aid so that I can attend. The staff has been kind and helpful. .

Northeastern University College of Engineering

• Boston, MA ·
• Northeastern University ·

Northeastern University ,

BOSTON, MA ,

Featured Review: Master's Student says BEST PARTS OF THIS PROGRAM OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN DATA ANALYTICS ENGINEERING IN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING FROM NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY IS THAT, THIS PROGRAM IS ONLINE, AND FLEXIBLE AND TIME RESTRICTION... .

Grainger College of Engineering

• Urbana, IL ·
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ·

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ,

URBANA, IL ,

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute School of Science

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ·

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ,

Lyle School of Engineering

• Dallas, TX ·
• Southern Methodist University ·

Southern Methodist University ,

DALLAS, TX ,

Weatherhead School of Management

• Cleveland, OH ·
• Case Western Reserve University ·
• · Rating 2.8 out of 5   5 reviews

Case Western Reserve University ,

CLEVELAND, OH ,

5 Niche users give it an average review of 2.8 stars.

Featured Review: Current Master's student says My time so far at the Weatherhead School of Management has been challenging, yet it has also been extremely rewarding and has opened up so many doors for me in terms of networking and expanding my... .

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Colorado School of Mines

• Golden, CO ·
• · Rating 4.3 out of 5   10 reviews

GOLDEN, CO ,

10 Niche users give it an average review of 4.3 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says Some classes were better than others. There were many professors that wanted to see you succeed and were willing to work with you, and then there were some that would not work with you. Overall, I... .

NC State College of Sciences

• Raleigh, NC ·
• North Carolina State University ·

North Carolina State University ,

RALEIGH, NC ,

Rutgers Business School - New Brunswick

• Piscataway, NJ ·
• Rutgers University–New Brunswick ·
• · Rating 5 out of 5   3 reviews

Rutgers University–New Brunswick ,

PISCATAWAY, NJ ,

3 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says Rutgers University is an outstanding school who are truly invested in the success of their students. They are present in their students' academic journeys. .

Kansas State University College of Arts and Sciences

• Manhattan, KS ·
• Kansas State University ·

Kansas State University ,

MANHATTAN, KS ,

Marxe School of Public and International Affairs

• CUNY Baruch College ·
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Main-jindal-menu, phd in management science, operations management concentration.

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Program Contact

Research ranking, student placements, student publications.

• Admissions Procedures

Program Overview

The PhD program in Operations Management emphasizes the development of models, methods, applications and algorithms as they apply to problems in industrial manufacturing, complex logistics and supply chains, and services. Students are exposed to deterministic and stochastic modeling and may apply and develop these and new methods to solve problems in their selected topics. Students may combine a major in finance, information systems or marketing with one in operations management/supply chain management.

The goal of the PhD program in Operations Management is to educate future practitioners and researchers in the concepts and analytical techniques needed to develop scientific solutions to the problems currently faced by operations managers.

Ganesh Janakiraman

Phd area coordinator, operations management.

[email protected] | (972) 883-5846 | JSOM 3.403

The Operations Management Ph.D. program is designed to train students for successful academic careers in research universities. The Operations Management group is top-ranked among public universities in North America and #3 in the world in research productivity, with large faculty specializing in such diverse areas as inventory, revenue and supply chain management, control theory, behavioral operations and empirical operations management. Our world-class faculty is committed to training and mentoring students to become productive independent researchers and excellent teachers.

The Operations Management faculty are highly visible, active researchers currently ranked #1 in research based on publications in four operations management journals.

Faculty research pursuits range from quantitative modeling to empirical studies, mathematical programming, applied stochastic processes, statistics, econometrics, and economics.

Possessing latitude and depth in technical strength, their research renders a big impact both on academia and industry.

The UTD Top 100 Worldwide Rankings of Business Schools Based on Research Contribution in Management Science, Manufacturing and Service Operations Management, Operations Research, Production and Operations Management 2017-2021:

With a strong emphasis on rigorous coursework and student research, the Operations Management degree program immerses students in a challenging and dynamic learning environment.

Our faculty are committed to student success and innovation, and extensively collaborate with students on research papers. Students are also given the flexibility to determine their research interests and are provided access to both academic and industry resources and connections.

The goal of the Operations Management program is to educate future practitioners and researchers in the concepts and analytical techniques needed to understand and advance scientific solutions to the problems currently faced by operations managers. Students graduate from the Operations Management degree program with the knowledge and skill set to produce quality research, effectively teach, and lead in industry.

*The placements reported here are typically the first placements. For graduates who moved out of their first placement relatively quickly, their second placement might be reported.

With degree backgrounds ranging from Purdue, Tsinghua University, Penn State, and the Indian Institute of Technology, our Operations Management students are diligent, explorative, resourceful, and progressive.

Our intensive program attracts quality students that both challenge and support one another. They share a unified collegiality in our diverse and interdisciplinary Operations Management degree program.

Below are examples of publications of current/recently graduated students in 24 leading business journals from 2016 onwards.

Kucukgul, Can , S. Wang and O. Ozer. Engineering Social Learning: Information Design of Time-Locked Sales Campaigns for Online Platforms. Management Science, Forthcoming.

Zhang, Minmin , G. Wang, J. Li, W.J. Hopp, D. Lee. Pausing Transplants in the Face of a Global Pandemic: Patient Survival Implications, Production and Operations Management. Forthcoming.

H. Farahani, Mehdi , M. Dawande, G. Janakiraman. Order Now, Pickup in 30 Minutes: Managing Queues with Static Delivery Guarantees. Operations Research, Forthcoming.

Feng, Zhichao , M. Dawande, G. Janakiraman, A. Qi. An Asymptotically Tight Learning Algorithm for Mobile-Promotion Platforms. Management Science, accepted.

Manchiraju, Chandrasekhar , M Dawande, G Janakiraman, Multiproduct Pricing with Discrete Price Sets. Operations Research, Forthcoming.

Qu, Zihao , M. Dawande and G. Janakiraman. A Near-Optimal Algorithm for Real-Time Order Acceptance: An Application in Post-Acute Healthcare Services. Operations Research. Forthcoming.

Dawande, M., Feng, Zhichao , and Janakiraman, G., 2021. On the Structure of Bottlenecks in Processes. Management Science , 67(6): 3853–3870.

Gupta, Shivam , Bansal, S. 2021. Optimal Market Integration Decisions by Policy Makers: Modeling and Analysis of Agriculture Market Data. Forthcoming in Operations Research .

H. Farahani, Mehdi , Dawande, Milind, Gurnani, Haresh, Janakiraman, Ganesh. 2021. Better to Bend than to Break: Sharing Supply Risk Using the Supply-Flexibility Contract. Manufacturing & Service Operations Management . 23(5):1257-1274.

Gupta, Shivam , Wang, S., Dawande, M., Janakiraman, G., 2020. Procurement with Cost and Non-Cost Attributes: Cost-Sharing Mechanisms. Operations Research . Vol. 69, No. 5, September–October 2021, pp. 1349–1367

Shan, Xi , Li, T., and Sethi, S. A responsive-pricing retailer sourcing from competing suppliers facing disruptions. Forthcoming. Manufacturing & Service Operations Management .

Zhang, Wen , Pavlov, V., Katok, E. Optimal Contract Under Asymmetric Information About Fairness. Forthcoming. Manufacturing & Service Operations Management .

Zhang, Wen , Chen, Q, Katok, E. Now or Later?: When to Deploy Qualification Screening in Open-Bid Auction for Re-Sourcing. Forthcoming, Operations Research .

Chen, Jiayu , Qi, A., Dawande, M., 2020. Supplier centrality and auditing priority in socially responsible supply chains. Manufacturing and Service Operations Management , Vol. 22, No. 6, November–December 2020, pp. 1199–1214

Ozer, O., Bensoussan, A., Kadiyala, Bharadwaj , 2020. A mechanism design approach to vendor managed inventory. Management Science , Vol. 66, No. 6, June 2020, pp. 2628–2652

Gao, L., Shi, Jim, J., Gorman, M.F., Luo, Ting , 2020. Business analytics for intermodal capacity management. Manufacturing and Service Operations Management , Vol. 22, No. 2, March–April 2020, pp. 310–329

Guda, Harish , and Subramanian, U., 2019. Your uber is arriving: managing on-demand workers through surge pricing, forecast communication, and worker incentives. Management Science , Vol. 65, No. 5, May 2019, pp. 1995–2014

Bo, Yang , Dawande, M., Huh, W.T., Janakiraman, G., Nagarajan, M., 2019. Determining process capacity: intractability and efficient special cases. Manufacturing and Service Operations Management , Vol. 21, No. 1, Winter 2019, pp. 139–153

Dawande, M., Janakiraman, G., Bo, Yang , 2018. Technical note—Analysis of scrip systems: on an open question in johnson et. al (2014). Operations Research , Vol. 66, No. 3, May–June 2018, pp. 611–619

Dawande, M., Bo, Yang , Janakiraman, G., McCormick, S.T. On integral policies in deterministic and stochastic distribution systems. Operations Research , Vol. 65, No. 3, May–June 2017, pp. 703–711

Gao, L., Yang, N., Luo, Ting , Zhang, R. Dynamic supply risk management with signal-based forecast, multi-sourcing, and discretionary selling. Production and Operations Management , Vol. 26, No. 7, July 2017, pp. 1399–1415

Petruzzi, N., Zhang, J., Li, Meng . Overconfident competing newsvendors. Management Science , Vol. 63, No. 8, August 2017, pp. 2637–2646

Admission Procedures

Applicants should have at least a bachelor’s degree. Admission is based on grade point average, graduate examination test score (GMAT* or GRE), letters of reference (at least three, with two from academic references), business and professional experience (if applicable), a written statement of personal objectives and compatibility with faculty research activities. Since the School of Management starts making first-round admission decisions on December 9, it is best to complete the entire application process no later than December 8. While applications will be accepted after that date, applying after December 8 may significantly lower your chance of acceptance. Applications for admission can be made using the UT Dallas Graduate Application website .

* UT Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management prefers the GMAT admission test, however, we gladly accept the GRE test as well.

Degree Requirements

Calculus, matrix algebra, computer programming and statistics are prerequisites for the doctoral program – every admitted student is responsible for ensuring he/she has satisfied these prerequisite requirements before joining the program.

Doctoral students in Management Science benefit from an exposure to multiple functional areas in management. To ensure this benefit, students who enter the program without an MBA (or equivalent degree) are required to complete a combined minimum of four courses (at the master’s or doctoral level) in at least three functional areas. This cross-functional exposure is particularly useful for students engaging in cross-functional research, in positioning their research for wider appeal, and for effectively teaching business school students with diverse specializations.

The Management Science PhD core curriculum consists of a minimum of 9 courses.

Please visit the Management Science Degree Plan page for core and secondary core course requirements.

Nine hours in any approved field

Students are required to take a sequence of specific Operations Management courses. Students should consult with faculty members in their respective areas to decide on the sequence of courses.

Twelve hours of special topics and seminars in the operations management area.

Students are required to write original research papers in both their first and second summers. The second year paper is presented in a seminar attended by faculty and other students, and must be judged to be passing by the faculty before the student can advance to candidacy.

Operations Management PhD students take a written preliminary exam at the end of their first year in the program over a set of core methodology courses ( OPRE 7310 Probability & Stochastic Processes, OPRE 7311 Stochastic Models in Operations Research, OPRE 7320 Optimal Control Theory, OPRE 7353 Optimization). Students will take a qualifying exam (consisting of a completed research paper) at the end of their second year in the program (effective for students entering the program in Fall 2020 and beyond).

PhD students must successfully complete the preliminary and qualifying examinations, respectively, to enter PhD candidacy. The area faculty will determine whether a student has successfully completed the exam requirements based on the student’s performance. Criteria to evaluate students may include results from the in-class written portion of the exams, quality of research papers and/or presentations, performance in special courses (e.g. seminar courses), satisfactory GPA as determined by area faculty, and other forms of assessment as required by the student’s area. An unsatisfactory performance in any one criteria for either the preliminary examination or the qualifying examination may result in dismissal from the program.

Once the student has passed qualifying exam and paper requirements, work on the dissertation can commence. The dissertation is written under the direction of the dissertation committee. Twelve to 24 semester hours may be granted for the dissertation toward the minimum 75-hour requirement for the degree. At a time mutually agreeable to the candidate and the dissertation committee, the candidate must orally defend the dissertation to the committee.

The Dissertation Proposal must be successfully defended at least one semester prior to the term of graduation. The requirements for the proposal defense should be discussed with the dissertation committee prior to scheduling the defense. Dissertation Proposal Defenses will be open to all faculty and PhD students of the Jindal School of Management.

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The Ohio State University

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Graduate-Programs-MS and PhD Operations Research

Operations research.

Operations Research (OR) applies advanced analytical methods to help make better decisions. Employing techniques such as:

• mathematical modeling,
• statistical analysis, and
• mathematical optimization

Operations research arrives at optimal or near-optimal solutions to complex decision-making problems.

The ISE Department at the Ohio State University has a premier graduate program in operations research. The research focus is both on:

• methodology (data analytics, optimization, and stochastic processes)
• applications (cloud computing, cyber and homeland security, energy systems, logistics and supply chain, social networks, sustainable mobility, water resources management)

Up to 3 University and College Scholarships and Fellowships are available for first-year PhD students. To be considered, please complete your application by November 30th .

To be considered for Department Teaching and Research Assistantships and Scholarships , please complete your application by January 1st.

Operations Research Degree Programs

The ISE department at the Ohio State University offers two degree programs (MS and PhD) in OR:

• Master of Science (MS) in OR builds fundamental OR skills with an emphasis on the application of these skills in practice
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in OR is academically rigorous with an emphasis on scholarly research and achievement. PhD students are prepared for academic placements and research-oriented positions in government and industry

Graduates of the OR PhD program at the Ohio State University lead successful careers in:

• Academia: Air Force Institute of Technology, Bowling Green State, Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, National University of Singapore, University of Alabama, University of Ghana Business School

Why Study Operations Research?

• One of the Best Business Jobs: Operations Research Analyst Ranked #2 Best Business Job. Source: U.S. News and World Report
• Increasing Job Opportunities: Operations Research Analyst (increase 22% by 2018) Management analyst (increase 24%) Computer systems analyst (increase 20%). Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Graduates of the OR MS and PhD programs at the Ohio State University lead successful careers in:

• Industry : American Woodmark Co., Bell Labs, Flexis North America, General Motors, Goodyear, Honda, J.P. Morgan Chase, Lightning Bolt Solutions, Pacific Gas and Electric, Qualcomm, SABRE, Samsung
• Government : Battelle Memorial Institute, Center for Naval Research, the Coast Guard

INFORMS Student Chapter at OSU

The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) is the largest society in the world for professionals in the field OR, Management Science, and Analytics.

The INFORMS Student Chapter at OSU serves as a forum to forge intellectual connections with faculty, students, alumni, and professionals that lead to publications, job opportunities, consulting relationships, and internships.

INFORMS Student Chapter at OSU activities include:

• OSU INFORMS Lecture Series
• Volunteering in regional workshops and conferences
• Tutorials on software (e.g., LaTeX, MATLAB, Cplex)
• Social events (e.g., monthly happy hours, potlucks)

Student Demographics : Female: 28% PhD: 45% MS: 55% (2018)

Operations Research Graduate Curriculum

• Optimization:  ISE 5200 Linear Optimization, ISE 7250 Operations Research Models and Methods
• Stochastic Processes:  ISE 6300 Simulation for System Analytics and Decision-Making
• Statistics:  ISE 5110 Forecasting, Regression, and Design of Engineering Experiments
• Optimization:  ISE 7200 Advanced Nonlinear Optimization
• Stochastic Processes:  ISE 7300 Stochastic Processes 
• Optimization:  ISE 5220 Complementarity Modeling and Applications (in Spring 2015, this course was offered as ISE 5194 (32873 and 32874)), ISE 6220 Network Optimization, ISE 6290 Stochastic Optimization, ISE 7210 Large-Scale Optimization, ISE 7230 Integer Optimization, ISE 7420 Sequencing and Scheduling
• Stochastic Processes:  ISE 5350 Probabilistic Models and Methods in Operations Research (in Spring 2015, this course was offered as ISE 5194 (32871 and 32872)), ISE 7100 Advanced Simulation 
• Optimization:  ISE 8299 Special Topics in Optimization. Topics can include: Heuristics and Global Optimization, Graphs and Networks 
• Stochastic Processes:  ISE 8399 Special Topics in Stochastic Processes. Topics can include: Queuing Networks ,Stochastic Control, Electricity Markets, Energy Systems , Water Management 
• ISE 5410 Quantitative Methods in Production and Distribution Logistics, ISE 5830 Decision Analysis, ISE 5840 Market Engineering

Prior to admission, students intent on graduate studies in operations research should be proficient in the following areas (Students without evidence of this material on their transcripts will have to demonstrate proficiency with the subject matter. This can be accomplished via appropriate coursework, at either the undergraduate or graduate level, to be determined in consultation with the academic adviser.):

• Vector calculus
• Optimization
• Calculus-based probability
• Probability-based statistics
• Linear algebra
• Computer programming (e.g., C, C++, Java)

All OR Graduate Students must satisfy degree requirements defined in the Industrial and Systems Engineering Graduate Student Handbook. Specific requirements for OR students include “OR Fundamentals,” “Non-OR ISE Fundamentals,” and a course sequence in an application area, as indicated below:

• OR Fundamentals: 5110, 5200, 6300, 7250, 7883 (2 semesters)
• Non-OR ISE Fundamentals: One 5000-level or higher ISE course in human factors or manufacturing engineering, subject to approval of the advisory committee
• Application Area: At least 3 units in an application, subject to approval of the advisory committee
• M.S. thesis
• pass the OR M.S. exit exam
• earn a B or higher in a 6000 or higherlevel course in operations research (in addition to OR fundamentals for MS students) that is at least 3 units and has a project requirement (more details are shown later)
• OR Fundamentals: 5110, 5200, 6300, 7200, 7250, 7300, 7883 (3 semesters)
• Application Area: At least 6 units in an application, subject to approval of the advisory committee
• Special Topics: Dedicated OR Ph.D. students are expected to take as many elective and special topics courses as their schedules permit

During the first three semesters, Ph.D. students are expected to identify a potential research topic of interest and a faculty adviser. Undertaking independent study (ISE 6193 or ISE 7193) is the recommended method of accomplishing this.

2.1 M.S. Exit Examination for ISE M.S. students studying operations research

• The M.S. Exit Examination is administered annually during the week after Spring final complete. Any ISE graduate student who achieves an overall GPA (including all courses taken at OSU) of 3.00 is eligible to take the exam. Those students who are planning to graduate in Fall should take the exam in the preceding Spring semester. The process to sign-up for the exam will be announced during Spring semester. Students intending to take the exam must sign-up before the announced deadline, so there is sufficient time to check that the grade eligibility requirement is satisfied.
• Optimization : Integer and Linear Programming Formulations and Solution Methods; Linear Programming Theory and Duality; Complexity Theory; Convexity
• Stochastic Processes : Random Variables; Probability Distributions; Conditional Probability and Expectations; Markov Chains; Random Number Generation; Simulation Theory
• Statistics : Parametric and Non-Parametric Hypothesis Testing; Distribution Fitting; Regression
• After the exams have been completed, the OR Faculty meet to discuss each student’s performance on the exam and performance in classes taken. Based on this, the faculty determine whether each student has “passed” or “failed” the examination.
• A student who has failed the examination, may be deemed eligible to retake it. Students who are deemed eligible to retake the exam must do so the next time that it is offered. No student will be eligible to take the exam more than twice.

2.2 A project-based operations research course with at least a B grade

• Student must earn a B or higher in a 6000 or higher-level course in operations research. This course must have a project requirement, and it must be at least 3 units.
• This course cannot be any of the OR fundamentals for M.S. students (ISE 6300, 7250).
• This course cannot be counted toward any of the other minimal degree requirements. For instance, this course cannot be the same as the only 3-unit course that is counted toward an application course. It cannot be a non-OR ISE course as well; observe that such a course is a non-OR course.
• The project must be done as an individual.
• ISE 6220 Network Optimization
• ISE 6290 Stochastic Optimization
• ISE 7100 Advanced Simulation
• ISE 7210 Large-Scale Optimization
• ISE 7230 Integer Optimization
• ISE 7420 Sequencing and Scheduling
• ISE 7300 Stochastic Processes
• An independent study with a report at the end.
• You may be asked to bring a copy of your project topic and report to make sure this requirement is fulfilled.

Both options 2.1 and 2.2 require a two-member committee for graduation by the graduate school. The first member of the committee should be the M.S. adviser. The second committee member is typically the professor who taught the project-based course in option 2.2, and the faculty coordinator for the OR M.S. Exit exam in option 2.1

Qualifying Examination for ISE Ph.D. students studying operations research

• Successful completion of the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination is a prerequisite for taking the Candidacy examination. Thus, students who do not pass the Qualifying Examination are not able pursue a Ph.D. in operations research.
• The OR Ph.D. Qualifying Examination is administered annually during the week after Spring finals complete.
• Any ISE graduate student who achieves a GPA of 3.30 or higher in the OR Fundamentals (ISE 5110, ISE 5200, ISE 6300, ISE 7200, ISE 7250, and ISE 7300) is eligible to take the exam. This GPA requirement pertains solely to courses taken at OSU. Students who have taken their “fundamentals” elsewhere are eligible to take the exam, provided that their OSU GPA in any remaining fundamentals courses taken at OSU is at least 3.30.
• Optimization : Integer, Linear, and Non-Linear Programming Formulations and Solution Methods; Linear and Non-Linear Programming Theory and Duality; Complexity Theory; Convexity
• Stochastic Processes : Random Variables; Probability Distributions; Conditional Probability and Expectations; Poisson Processes; Markov Chains; Random Number Generation; Simulation Theory; Basic Queuing Theory
• After the exams have been completed the OR Faculty meet to discuss each student’s performance on the exam, performance in classes taken, and academic and research interests and goals. Based on this, the faculty determine whether or not each student has “passed” or “failed” the examination.

Minor degree requirements

PhD students are required to complete 2 minors. Popular minors include:

• Computer Science
• Mathematics

Best Production-Operations MBA Programs

Ranked in 2024, part of Best Business Schools

Production and operations management involves lessons

Production and operations management involves lessons in supply chain management, quality control and manufacturing. Graduates may become managers or consultants. These are the top business schools for production/operations MBAs. Read the methodology »

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Here are the Best Production-Operations MBA Programs

Massachusetts institute of technology (sloan), carnegie mellon university (tepper), purdue university--main campus (daniels), university of michigan--ann arbor (ross), stanford university, university of pennsylvania (wharton), georgia institute of technology (scheller), ohio state university (fisher), michigan state university (broad).

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Cambridge , MA

• # 1 in Production / Operations
• # 5 in Best Business Schools

N/A TUITION AND FEES

817 ENROLLMENT (FULL-TIME)

The Sloan School of Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan) offers these departments and... Read More »

Business school

Tuition and fees, enrollment (full-time), average gmat (full-time).

Pittsburgh , PA

• # 2 in Production / Operations
• # 16 in Best Business Schools  (tie)

$75,712 total program (full-time) TUITION AND FEES

359 ENROLLMENT (FULL-TIME)

The Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper) offers these departments and concentrations... Read More »

$75,712 total program (full-time)

West Lafayette , IN

• # 3 in Production / Operations  (tie)
• Unranked in Best Business Schools

0 ENROLLMENT (FULL-TIME)

The Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business at Purdue University--Main Campus (Daniels) offers these departments... Read More »

Ann Arbor , MI

• # 12 in Best Business Schools  (tie)

$70,392 per year (in-state, full-time) TUITION AND FEES

$75,392 per year (out-of-state, full-time) TUITION AND FEES

734 ENROLLMENT (FULL-TIME)

The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at University of Michigan--Ann Arbor (Ross) offers these departments and... Read More »

$70,392 per year (in-state, full-time)

$75,392 per year (out-of-state, full-time)

Stanford , CA

• # 5 in Production / Operations
• # 1 in Best Business Schools  (tie)

$79,860 per year (full-time) TUITION AND FEES

873 ENROLLMENT (FULL-TIME)

The Graduate School of Business at Stanford University offers these departments and concentrations: accounting... Read More »

$79,860 per year (full-time)

Philadelphia , PA

• # 6 in Production / Operations

$79,800 per year (full-time) TUITION AND FEES

1,754 ENROLLMENT (FULL-TIME)

The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) offers these departments and concentrations: accounting... Read More »

$79,800 per year (full-time)

Atlanta , GA

• # 7 in Production / Operations
• # 25 in Best Business Schools

$29,508 per year (in-state, full-time) TUITION AND FEES

$40,752 per year (out-of-state, full-time) TUITION AND FEES

145 ENROLLMENT (FULL-TIME)

The Scheller College of Business at Georgia Institute of Technology (Scheller) offers these departments and... Read More »

$29,508 per year (in-state, full-time)

$40,752 per year (out-of-state, full-time)

Columbus , OH

• # 8 in Production / Operations
• # 30 in Best Business Schools  (tie)

$30,231 per year (in-state, full-time) TUITION AND FEES

$57,960 per year (out-of-state, full-time) TUITION AND FEES

98 ENROLLMENT (FULL-TIME)

The Max M. Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University (Fisher) offers these departments and concentrations... Read More »

$30,231 per year (in-state, full-time)

$57,960 per year (out-of-state, full-time)

East Lansing , MI

• # 9 in Production / Operations  (tie)
• # 41 in Best Business Schools  (tie)

$34,420 per year (in-state, full-time) TUITION AND FEES

$54,616 per year (out-of-state, full-time) TUITION AND FEES

126 ENROLLMENT (FULL-TIME)

The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management at Michigan State University (Broad) offers these departments and... Read More »

$34,420 per year (in-state, full-time)

$54,616 per year (out-of-state, full-time)

Pennsylvania State University--University Park (Smeal)

University Park , PA

The Smeal College of Business at Pennsylvania State University--University Park (Smeal) offers these departments and... Read More »

Arizona State University (W.P. Carey)

• # 11 in Production / Operations  (tie)
• # 32 in Best Business Schools  (tie)

$29,376 per year (in-state, full-time) TUITION AND FEES

$51,290 per year (out-of-state, full-time) TUITION AND FEES

115 ENROLLMENT (FULL-TIME)

The W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University (W.P. Carey) offers these departments and... Read More »

$29,376 per year (in-state, full-time)

$51,290 per year (out-of-state, full-time)

Columbia University

New York , NY

$84,496 per year (full-time) TUITION AND FEES

1,512 ENROLLMENT (FULL-TIME)

The Columbia Business School at Columbia University offers these departments and concentrations: accounting, business... Read More »

$84,496 per year (full-time)

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More Schools in this List (Alphabetical)

Cornell University (Johnson)

Ithaca , NY

• in Production / Operations
• # 15 in Best Business Schools

$79,910 per year (full-time) TUITION AND FEES

577 ENROLLMENT (FULL-TIME)

The Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University (Johnson) offers these departments and... Read More »

$79,910 per year (full-time)

Duke University (Fuqua)

Durham , NC

$75,000 per year (full-time) TUITION AND FEES

787 ENROLLMENT (FULL-TIME)

The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University (Fuqua) offers these departments and concentrations: accounting... Read More »

$75,000 per year (full-time)

Harvard University

Allston , MA

• # 6 in Best Business Schools

$74,910 per year (full-time) TUITION AND FEES

1,953 ENROLLMENT (FULL-TIME)

The Business School at Harvard University offers these departments and concentrations: accounting, business analytics... Read More »

$74,910 per year (full-time)

Indiana University (Kelley)

Bloomington , IN

• # 20 in Best Business Schools  (tie)

$28,992 per year (in-state, full-time) TUITION AND FEES

$54,602 per year (out-of-state, full-time) TUITION AND FEES

219 ENROLLMENT (FULL-TIME)

The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University (Kelley) offers these departments and concentrations: accounting... Read More »

$28,992 per year (in-state, full-time)

$54,602 per year (out-of-state, full-time)

10 Best Operational Research Master Degrees

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Like a lot of areas of study, “operations research” is a term that’s a bit confusing to decode. Despite sounding vague, operational research is hugely important for modern-day life.

So what is operations research? It uses advanced analytical methods to help businesses make smarter decisions. Getting a Master of Science in Operations Research is a smart choice. Both for you and for your career, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a major with a high salary and excellent job growth.

Just about every industry and every sector relies on operations research. That’s one reason why earning an operations research masters is a great choice. An operations research master’s degree will provide you with the skills you need to work in a variety of industries. From air travel to telecommunications. Banking to manufacturing. Government agencies. Consulting. Whatever it is, you’ll have the skills you need. The list goes on and on! Businesses need skilled people like you to crunch data and make smart decisions.

Are you looking for a Master of Science in a growing career field?

Operations research is just about everywhere, and its reach will only expand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , there were 109,700 operations research analyst jobs in the U.S. in 2018. There will likely be about 28,100 more by 2028. That’s a job growth rate of 26% ! This is more than five times the national average for all occupations.

The bulk of these jobs are in California, Texas, and Virginia. Virginia has the most operations research analysts. This is not surprising, considering its proximity to Washington, DC). 

What will you learn in an operations research graduate program? The curriculum of the many operation research programs in the United States varies by school. There is a strong tradition of success. MIT’s operations research masters degree goes back 60 years, as does Carnegie Mellon’s.

Operations research masters programs today take advantage of new technology. This is technology that’s essential for solving complex problems. Coursework builds upon highly technical fields like:

• mathematics
• probability

Often, you’ll take courses with long, intimidating names, such as:

• Discrete Probability and Stochastic Processes (MIT)
• Integer Programming and Combinatorial Optimization (Kansas State)
• Algorithmic Methods in Nonlinear Programming (North Carolina State)
• Optimization Theory and Algorithms: Numerical Optimization (USC)

See Also: 10 Best Master’s in Industrial Engineering

OUR RANKING CRITERIA 

What are the best master’s degrees in operations research .

We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue, but you may not know where to start. The editors of Master’s Programs Guide utilize a unique ranking  methodology  based on the following five aspects:

25% Overall Degree Affordability:  Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school

25% Graduation Rate:  Number of students who start at the university and actually finish there

20% Earnings Potential:  Average mid-career salary of school alumni

20% Selectivity:  The number of students who apply versus the number who actually get accepted

10% Online Graduate Offerings:  The number of programs offered online in each department

At Master’s Programs Guide, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals.

Check out our operations research graduate programs rankings to get started!

See Also: 50 Best Online Masters of Engineering Management

#1. PURDUE UNIVERSITY

Master of engineering with a specialization in operations research.

West Lafayette, IN is about 70 miles northwest of Indianapolis. It is here that you will find Purdue University. This school is one of the Midwest’s most esteemed universities. U.S. News & World Report ranks it at No. 57 among National Universities. More specific to its operations research program, it is also ranked No. 8 in Best Engineering Schools for graduate studies. You’ll also find one of the best master’s degrees in operations research here.

Purdue’s College of Engineering has 14 individual departments. These range from Aeronautics and Astronautics to Nuclear Engineering. The masters degree operations research is found in the School of Industrial Engineering. Operations research is one of the four specializations offered in the school. You can choose from a long list of graduate courses . Classes include:

• Stochastic Models in Operations Research I
• Nonlinear Optimization Algorithms and Models

Almost as long is a list of Purdue’s research in operations research with 16 research faculty. This research underscores the rigor of Purdue’s program.

Students are encouraged to apply with backgrounds in:

• engineering

There’s no set GPA or specific undergraduate major listed on the program website. A GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale is recommended. Some “recommended” prerequisites include mathematics through:

• Multivariate calculus
• Differential equations
• Linear algebra

Applicants with skills in computer programming are also preferred.

Don’t have those courses on your transcript? That’s okay. You can take most of them at Purdue as part of the masters degree operations research curriculum. Only some graduate-level courses can be taken at the same time as the prerequisites. They also won’t count toward the master’s degree. The graduate-level classes aren’t offered every year, either. You will need to plan accordingly.

Prospective students need to submit GRE scores, a statement of purpose, and recommendation letters. You’ll also need a résumé, an optional “ diversity essay ,” and transcripts. The operations research program offers both thesis and non-thesis options. Each of these requires 30 graduate credit hours with21 credit hours of coursework. You will be able to customize your plan of study. You must maintain a 3.0 to earn a degree.

At $11,693, Purdue’s program is the least expensive of the schools on this list, making it extra attractive for that No. 1 spot. 

See Also: Best Online Cybersecurity Master’s Degree

#2. KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Master of science in operations research.

The Master of Science in Operations Research is available online. It is one of the best master’s degrees in operations research. It’s offered by the Kansas State Global Campus. This is an interdisciplinary program at heart. It focuses on applied mathematics and business decision-making.

In this program, you will develop a mathematical model of a real-world problem. Over the course of your studies, you’ll work to solve that problem.

You must have a bachelor’s with a 3.0 GPA for this graduate degree. Bachelor’s degrees must be in majors like:

• Industrial Engineering
• Engineering
• Mathematics

You must also have an advanced mathematical background. You may also need to have some experience in computer programming.

You will need at least a 159 on the GRE, a statement of objectives, three professional/academic references. Of course, you’ll also need unofficial transcripts from each college attended. You will need 30 credit hours to complete the graduate degree.

This is a coursework program, so there’s no thesis. Timing is everything. That’s because the eight-core courses are offered once every two years. Master’s students only need to take three of them to earn their nine hours of core credits. The school encourages prospective students to take all six core classes. The core courses are divided into three sections:

• continuous optimization
• discrete optimization
• stochastic processes

Sounds easy enough! You will work with a team of advisors to plan out your courses. You’ll culminate your experience with a master’s presentation to test how well you grasped the information you learned in your courses. This presentation will also help you to get a jump start on your career!

The program is entirely online. Prospective students who live within 250 miles of Manhattan, KS will need to travel to the campus for the final experience. Everyone else can request a conference call. Online class formats vary. They generally include:

• Chat discussions

You will need to find a proctor via a local library or university for your exams.

At $18,002, Kansas State offers one of the least expensive programs. It also offers scholarships just for distance learners. All of that makes K State tough to beat.

See Also: Top 50 Best Masters Degree Programs

#3. NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY

Operations research goes back more than 60 years at NC State. This is when it began as an introductory course. After that, it became a minor for statistics and electrical engineering majors. By 1970, it was an independent major. Today, operations research remains an interdisciplinary major. NC State’s College of Engineering and College of Sciences share it.

That makes sense. The program’s website notes that operations research is, by its nature, interdisciplinary. The Master of Science pulls from:

• Mathematical Sciences
• The Physical Sciences

Because it draws from those worlds, operations research is also quite versatile. NC State aims to make its graduates just as versatile as their field of study.

Don’t come to Raleigh – home to the university – without some serious math in your background, though. To get into NC State’s MS in operations research program, prospective students need an undergraduate degree in a related field. The school doesn’t specify a base GPA or GRE score for admission to the graduate degree. Applicants also need an official transcript from all colleges they have attended.

The school is one of the cheapest on this list, coming in at $14,771 per year. Students must complete 31 credit hours. 15 should be in core courses, three to six from a master’s research thesis, and a one-credit seminar. You can earn another nine credits by choosing three courses in a “minor field of study.” Need more to reach the 31-credit threshold? You can draw from a long list of OR coursework.

NC State’s demanding program produces strong results. The site lists 39 publications from its students and faculty in 2016. These are centered around hot-button topics. These include Augmented Immersed Finite Element Methods for Some Elliptic Partial Differential Equations.

NC State also has a dedicated Military operations research group. This helps prospective students prepare for a career in the military. They do this by studying real-world issues. Examples of issues include veterans’ health care and expeditionary military logistics and risk analysis. People interested in military OR won’t have to go far to practice it, either. Seventy miles south of Raleigh is Fort Bragg. This is the largest military base in the world.

#4. GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Operations research is an interdisciplinary field with a wide variety of applications. No two students will have the same career goals. Georgia Tech makes it easy by designing its curriculum around one common goal. This goal is to help students use their advanced skills to make an immediate impact in industry and government. Headquartered in Atlanta, the school dates to 1885. This is when it opened to help industrialize and modernize the post-Civil War South. 

Thinking ahead has long been part of Georgia Tech’s mission. The Master of Science in Operations Research program follows suit. This is one reason why it’s one of the best master’s degrees around. The curriculum focuses on deterministic and stochastic operations research. The goal of the program is to provide a training in the basics and technical applications of operational research. They can go out and make an immediate impact. It may be surprising that Georgia Tech isn’t especially rigorous with its admissions prerequisites. A background in operations research is not required. Applicants should have a bachelor’s in either:

Applicants need to take the GRE, but the specifics end there – no degree rules, no set scores. You will need a personal statement and some letters of reference. At $16,950 per academic year, Georgia Tech falls below the average costs of other programs on this list. The program lasts around 12-15 months. Low-key requirements + cheapish tuition = yes. Also yes: not having to write a thesis or complete a final project.

Georgia Tech describes its coursework as “ rigorous ,” so it won’t be a cakewalk. The school generally limits the program to 20 students, so admission is competitive. Thirty credit hours are required for a master’s. Students can focus on specific applications. These include:

• Optimization
• Stochastics
• Computational Science
• Other Electives

If this all sounds great except for the “living in Atlanta” part, don’t fret. Georgia Tech’s MS in operations research program can be taken online . 

#5. CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Master of engineering in operations research and information engineering.

Cornell University is an Ivy League school in Ithaca, NY. Its Cornell Tech campus lies on Roosevelt Island, near Manhattan. (It’s the place with the c o ol tram .) The difference between the locales speaks to their differing missions. Cornell’s campus in Ithaca is home to a storied university full of tradition that dates back to 1865.

Cornell Tech’s sleek and energy-efficient campus is part of NYC’s tech hub. The school has a year-long ME ORIE program. The Master of Science provides students with skills in data analytics and mathematical modeling. Their skills help them to turn data into effective business decisions. It’s ideal for students who want to work at major tech companies or startup ventures.

To be eligible for admission, you must have a passion for data, business, and analytics. You’ll also need courses in:

• Probability and statistics
• Programming

You may have to complete a test to gauge your skills in programming and advanced mathematics. Otherwise, no specific academic background is needed. You will also need to provide a resume and GRE scores. You may have to record an interview, too.

This program has a number of merit-based scholarships for the top students. An example is the WiTNY fellowship for women.

The most interesting part of Cornell’s operations research program? The Studio courses. Students take these each semester. These courses allow you to take real-world classes in other departments. In the Product Studio, students develop a new tech product or service based on a challenge. These are organized with tech companies like Uber or Robin Hood. You will graduate with real, marketable experience. You will also have a portfolio of completed projects that will help you land jobs.

You will take courses over a period of two semesters. You will be able to choose from two concentrations. These include operations analytics or data science. You can use those choices to guide your course selections. After the two semesters, you can travel to the main campus in Ithaca if you’d like to take more classes. Here, you can continue to build skills in engineering and operations research math.

The entire program costs around $28,890. This is expensive, but not the most expensive on this list. This is surprising, especially given that Cornell is an Ivy League Institution. It’s one of the best master’s degrees you’ll find.

See Also: 10 Online Master’s in Computer Engineering

#6. CARNEGIE MELLON

Master of business administration with operations research concentration.

You’ll find another top operations research graduate program at Carnegie Mellon. The Tepper School of Business plays host to the operations research Master of Science. It’s one of the best master’s degrees around. Carnegie Mellon’s business school debuted in Pittsburgh. The Tepper School of Business does not play by the rules. It offers a revolutionary, one-of-a-kind curriculum.

Tepper’s OR program draws from that history. You’ll tackle complex business problems and develop unique solutions for them. The operations research program is an area of concentration within the MBA program. Carnegie Mellon offers four operations research-specific courses. These include Applications of Operations Research and The Art and Science of Predictions. It also has a project credit in business analytics.

Though you will take fewer courses in mathematics in this Master of Science, it’s still quite rigorous. Analytics plays a big part in Carnegie Mellon’s curriculum. The school’s devotion to analytics and leadership sets its MBA program apart from all others. You’ll graduate with an understanding of analytics that goes beyond mathematical modeling. You’ll also receive a well-rounded business education here.

The school operates on what it calls a “mini-semester” system or the quarter system. The academic year includes four quarters that last 6.5 weeks each. This doubles the number of courses in a semester so you can graduate faster. The program lasts two years for full-time students.

Tepper also offers part-time and hybrid programs. These are half online, half on-campus. They are meant for working professionals. Students need 192 units to graduate. The coursework allows for a lot of electives and immersion workshops. There are also plenty of built-in networking opportunities. These can help fuel your job growth. It finishes up with a capstone project. This comes in three forms. There is a Study Abroad option. This is a four-week trip to Germany, Hong Kong, or Mainland China. It concludes with a summary presentation. You can also do a Management Game. This is a computer simulation of a multinational company. There is also Strategic Management of the Enterprise. This consists of consulting for real companies.

The program costs $14,760 per academic year. Carnegie Mellon has flexible admissions prerequisites that make it easy to apply. No piece of the application is more important than others. You’ll need to submit a resume and GMAT or GRE scores. You’ll also need an essay and a professional letter of recommendation. Unofficial transcripts and an on-campus interview are also required. Carnegie Mellon accepts students from any educational background.

#7. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Master of science in operations research engineering.

The University of Southern California has racked up plenty of awards. U.S. News & World Report ranks it No. 22 among National Universities and No. 9 in Best Engineering Schools (where its operations research program lives). It takes first place for Best Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs. It’s located near downtown Los Angeles in beautiful Southern California. You will be able to enjoy beautiful weather year-round. There are also plenty of local recreational activities. USC’s campus is close to LA’s large Exposition Park. This is home to many attractions. These include the city’s natural history museum and the LA Memorial Coliseum. You can even visit the brand new Banc of California Stadium. None of that will help you in your studies, but they’re things to consider nonetheless!

The Operations Research Engineering Master of Science at USC is one of the best. It trains students to solve key business problems with mathematics and computers.You will need to complete 21 credits in those required courses. You’ll also take six credit hours of electives. You’ll also take three computer science electives. This will help you earn the 30 credits needed for a master’s. There’s no thesis or capstone project. You’ll move toward job growth in other ways, like networking.

To apply, you will need an undergraduate degree in engineering, mathematics, or science. You should also submit GRE scores and a resume. Submit a personal statement and three letters of recommendation, too.

This program is one of the most expensive on this list. That said, private universities aren’t known for their low prices. You don’t have to battle Los Angeles traffic. You can still benefit from this top-notch (albeit expensive) program. There’s an online version of the program via DEN@Viterbi, the online learning portal. You can also choose a hybrid online/on-campus degree if you can’t decide which fits you best.

See Also: 10 Affordable Online Master’s in Material Science & Engineering

#8. SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY

Master of science with a major in operations research.

Located in Dallas, TX, SMU offers a master of science in operations research. This program has plenty of opportunities for individualization. You can pursue pathways in areas like:

• management consulting
• telecommunications

If price connotes quality, then SMU is the best. At $38,562, it is the most expensive program on our list. It’s well above the average cost of the other schools. Fortunately, there are plenty of financial aid opportunities available. Students should have bachelor’s degrees in:

• Computer science
• A similar technical field

You also need to take six credit hours of calculus and three of linear algebra. You will also need three credits of computer programming e.

The Lyle School of Engineering is home to the operations research program. This degree requires 30 credit hours of study. These credits include core courses like Analytics for Decision Support and Optimization Models for Decision Support. You’ll also be able to take nine hours of a concentration. As mentioned earlier, SMU offers countless options for concentrations. You’ll need advisor approval before studies begin. Options include:

• Engineering management
• Telecommunications
• Another engineering discipline

Not sure what that would entail? The operations research page has sample course schedules for these disciplines. Each of them includes five courses. Expect a fairly small class size. The Lyle School of Engineering’s website notes that it has an 11:1 student to faculty ratio.

Faculty here stay busy outside of the classroom, too. The school receives some of the largest research awards in the nation on a “per faculty basis.” You could study areas like network design or network management. These are two areas that directly impact day-to-day life. Life on campus at SMU is also pretty nice. The campus spreads across a couple of hundred acres in north-central Dallas. This offers a good mix of urban space with greenery. One word of caution. The summers are hot! You can beat the heat by checking out the famous George W. Bush Presidential Library. This is located on SMU’s campus.

#9. JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

Master of science in engineering management.

Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins University was the nation’s first research university. It is in Baltimore, MD. At first, it only offered graduate programs. Undergraduate degrees didn’t arrive until later. The school has been prestigious since its very beginning. In U.S. News & World Report ’s 2020 rankings, Johns Hopkins placed No. 10 for National Universities and No. 23 for Most Innovative Schools. It’s ranked No. 19 for Best Value Schools. It has a cost of $27,868 per academic year for its OR program. It costs more than the average for this list. It still is affordable for a private school. The graduate program in engineering took No. 17 for Best Engineering Schools. As you can see, Johns Hopkins has always offered quality programs – and that probably won’t change any time soon. 

The Master of Science in Engineering Management is offered by the Whiting School of Engineering. You’ll take five advanced courses along with a suite of management classes that you’ll take with a cohort. The cohort model is a major feature of Whiting’s approach. You’ll start building a professional network rights away in this graduate degree. You’ll also take many courses in entrepreneurship.

This is a flexible program. It allows for lots of electives and course substitutions. You can even join the Home2Homewood program. This allows you to take several online courses before you have to head to Baltimore to complete the rest of your classes.

This program even includes an Immersion Experience. Also known as the Practice of Consulting, this project will allow you to head abroad. You may visit sites like Israel, Honduras, Panama, and New Zealand. You’ll work with a team to solve a client problem. This experience occurs during the fall and spring semesters. It provides students with an excellent real-world look at the work they’ve tackled in class.

To apply, students should have bachelor’s degrees in science or engineering. Plan on submitting the GRE. You will also need:

• Letters of recommendation
• A statement of purpose
• Unofficial transcripts

#10. MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Master of operations research.

Some schools offer operations research as a specialization of a larger degree. Others bump it up to degree status, usually as part of the engineering department. MIT took things one step further. It constructed a massive building just for that purpose. It’s fittingly called the Operations Research Center . The Operations Research Center started in 1953 and developed the first-of-its-kind OR curriculum. This was back when applying scientific methods to decision-making and business problems was a revolutionary idea. The primary goal of this program is collaborative investigation.

Students don’t have to have bachelor’s degrees in specific fields to apply. That said, MIT is known for having a competitive admissions process. You will need to submit the GRE a statement of objectives and three letters of recommendation. Transcripts are required. The operations research program only accepts around 40 students each year. This is from a large pool of hundreds of applicants.

The silver lining is that the school only costs $18,971 per academic year. This is a bargain when compared to other prestigious schools of this caliber. U.S. News & World Report ranks it No. 4 in Best Value Schools. That’s low for MIT. It ranks No. 3 in national universities, and No. 1 for Best Engineering Schools for graduate degrees. 

MIT’s vaunted graduate degree emphasizes practical applications of operations research. This is done through coursework and research. The two-year program requires 66 credit units for completion. 42 of these must come from advanced subjects . You’ll take classes in topics such as optimization techniques and probabilistic modeling. You will also take classes that relate to your individual interests.

The coursework is separated into eight groups. These groups include:

• Machine Learning
• Operations Management

You’ll complete a final thesis based on independent research before you graduate.

See Also: 10 Affordable Online Master’s in Mechanical Engineering

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a master’s in operations research.

An operations research masters degree is a program that will teach you how to use mathematical and analytical methods. These methods can help businesses develop better management techniques. You’ll be able to help organizations improve their efficiency and make more money.

This program usually comes with optional concentrations. These might include fields like:

• supply chain management
• stochastic models

What can you do with a masters operations research degree?

Businesses have more data than ever before at their fingertips. Knowing how to use it is where the operation research analyst comes in. This is the most common job enjoyed by a person with a Master of Science in operations research. This is a growing field. It is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the fourth Best Business Job in the country.

Operations research emerged as a major discipline during World War II. There was a need for analysts who could plan efficient supply routes and processes. The military continues to use the work of operations research analysts to this day. People with degrees in operations research now work in a variety of diverse fields. You could find work in logistics, manufacturing, and more.

No matter where you find work, you will likely be a high-level decision maker. Getting a master’s degree will only make this process easier. You’ll know how to use statistics and data tools. Your skills can help businesses draw conclusions from available information. You’ll also have the leadership skills necessary to manage a team.

Are operations research masters programs worth it?

Bachelor’s degree is the typical education needed to get an entry-level job in this field. Many employers prefer to hire applicants with master’s degrees. This is especially true now, in our increasingly competitive work environment.

A Master of Science in Operations Research will provide you with the necessary prerequisite training. You’ll also gain access to industry certifications and on-the-job experience. These can help you move in a more specialized or leadership-focused direction.

How can I get financial aid and scholarships for a master’s in operations research? 

Earning a master’s degree is expensive. There’s no question about it! The good news is that there are ways you can make your degree more affordable. You don’t have to be an analyst to figure them out! One of the best ways to find an affordable program is to take a look at these operations research masters programs rankings next. Consider which is the most affordable for you and go from there.

Look to government scholarships and grants first. Although many of these awards tend to be reserved for undergraduate students there is a select amount of aid set aside for graduate students.

Check with your university. Your department may have funds set aside for top students. You can also check with private organizations and institutes. from the Department of Defense are all excellent places to look. Excellent places to look are:

• The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences
• SMART Program
• The Information Assurance Scholarship Program from the Department of Defense

As a very last resort, you can always lean on student loans to help pay for the difference. Keep in mind that you will have to pay these back – plus interest.

How much can I make with a master’s in operations research?

You’ll earn a respectable salary with a master’s in operations research. The average salary is around $86,200 per year. Workers in the federal government earn the highest wages overall. A master’s degree will qualify you for the top wages.

The future looks bright for individuals with master’s in operations research. These fields are expected to grow by about 25% through the next decade. That’s according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is due in part to the fact that jobs for operations research analysts are available in countless industries. You could work in:

• finance and insurance
• manufacturing
• professional services
• federal government

IF YOU ENJOYED THAT THEN CHECK OUT OUR ARTICLES ON THE BEST ONLINE MASTER’S PROGRAMS IN ECONOMICS & 35 BEST ONLINE MASTER OF MATHEMATICS DEGREE PROGRAMS !

Michael Templeton Managing Editor

Kacey Reynolds Schedler Contributing Editor