Field of study · CIP 14.37
Operations Research
Offered at 57 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 2 | — | — | — |
| Bachelor's | 11 | $102,318 | $154,509 | — |
| Master's | 23 | — | — | — |
| Doctoral | 15 | — | — | — |
| Graduate certificate | 6 | — | — | — |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University in the City of New York | NY | $125,285 | $185,733 | — |
| 2 | Cornell University | NY | $102,318 | $154,509 | $13,500 |
| 3 | Princeton University | NJ | $131,721 | — | — |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley | CA | $95,812 | — | $8,857 |
| 5 | California State University-Northridge | CA | — | $80,693 | — |
| 6 | Southern Methodist University | TX | $80,235 | — | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning master's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cornell University | NY | $130,294 | $202,072 | — |
| 2 | Columbia University in the City of New York | NY | — | $201,081 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
Civil EngineeringBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $89,879Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $104,754Mechanical EngineeringBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $96,217Engineering, OtherBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $97,855Engineering, GeneralBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $92,793Biomedical/Medical EngineeringBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $99,147Computer EngineeringBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $115,326Materials EngineeringBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $97,394
Quick answers
- How much do operations research graduates earn?
- One year after finishing, a typical bachelor's program in operations research reports median earnings of $102,318. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field of study data.
