Bright outlook
Management
Clinical Research Coordinators
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
Operations Research
CIP14.37
30 colleges offer Operations Research. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 30
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $145,296
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $11,989
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 2
- Bachelor's
- 13
- Master's
- 30
- Doctoral
- 15
- First professional
- 1
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 6
What it covers
About Operations Research
A program that focuses on the development and application of complex mathematical or simulation models to solve problems involving operational systems, where the system concerned is subject to human intervention. Includes instruction in advanced multivariate analysis, application of judgment and statistical tests, optimization theory and techniques, resource allocation theory, mathematical modeling, control theory, statistical analysis, and applications to specific research problems.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 14.37.
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 2 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Bachelor's | 13 | $145,2964 yrs after · 4 colleges | $11,9892 colleges |
| Master's | 30 | $203,3404 yrs after · 1 college | $45,6072 colleges |
| Doctoral | 15 | Not reported | Not reported |
| First professional | 1 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 6 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Operations Research graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 50 graduates
$167,572
debt not reported
- 2
Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofit · 68 graduates
$151,709
debt $13,500
- 3
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public · 57 graduates
$138,883
debt $10,479
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Operations Research by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Natural Sciences Managers
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Science
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Bright outlook
Management
Water Resource Specialists
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Bright outlook
Education
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $109,270
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Instructing
- Learning Strategies
- Speaking
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Operations Research Analysts
- Median pay
- $88,940
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Mathematics
- Complex Problem Solving
- Active Listening
More in Engineering
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this area- Engineering, General452 colleges
- Mechanical Engineering395 colleges
- Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering387 colleges
- Computer Engineering367 colleges
- Civil Engineering300 colleges
- Biomedical/Medical Engineering200 colleges
- Chemical Engineering182 colleges
- Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering130 colleges
Questions about Operations Research
How many colleges offer Operations Research?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Operations Research at these degree levels: certificate (2 colleges), bachelor's (13 colleges), master's (30 colleges), doctoral (15 colleges), first professional (1 college), graduate/professional certificate (6 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Operations Research graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Operations Research earn $145,296 a year four years after finishing, across 4 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Operations Research graduates earn the most?
Columbia University in the City of New York reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Operations Research: $167,572 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.