100+ Best Operations Research colleges in the US [Rankings]

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Operations Research. A graph of 3.68M citations received by 134K academic papers made by 321 universities in the United States 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

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Operations Research

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

2. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Operations Research

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Operations Research

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

4. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Operations Research

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

5. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Operations Research

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

6. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Operations Research

#6 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

7. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Operations Research

#8 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

8. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Operations Research

#9 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

9. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Operations Research

#10 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

10. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Operations Research

#11 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

11. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Operations Research

#12 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

12. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Operations Research

#14 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

13. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Operations Research

#15 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

14. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Operations Research

#16 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

15. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Operations Research

#17 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

16. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Operations Research

#18 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

17. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Operations Research

#19 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

18. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Operations Research

#20 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

19. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Operations Research

#21 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

20. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Operations Research

#22 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

21. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Operations Research

#23 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

22. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Operations Research

#24 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

23. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Operations Research

#26 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

24. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Operations Research

#27 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

25. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Operations Research

#28 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

26. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Operations Research

#29 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

27. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Operations Research

#30 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

28. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Operations Research

#31 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

29. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Operations Research

#34 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

30. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Operations Research

#35 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

31. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Operations Research

#36 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

32. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Operations Research

#39 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

33. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Operations Research

#41 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

34. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Operations Research

#42 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

35. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Operations Research

#43 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

36. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Operations Research

#45 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

37. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Operations Research

#46 in North America

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

38. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Operations Research

#47 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

39. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Operations Research

#50 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

40. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Operations Research

#51 in North America

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

41. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Operations Research

#52 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

42. Naval Postgraduate School

California | Monterey

For Operations Research

#53 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 2,670
Male:Female: 78:22
Founded: 1909

43. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Operations Research

#54 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

44. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Operations Research

#56 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

45. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Operations Research

#57 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

46. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Operations Research

#58 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

47. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Operations Research

#59 in North America

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

48. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Operations Research

#60 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

49. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Operations Research

#61 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

50. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Operations Research

#62 in North America

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 85%

51. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Operations Research

#63 in North America

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

52. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Operations Research

#64 in North America

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $8,537
Enrollment: 19,722

53. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Operations Research

#65 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

54. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Operations Research

#66 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

55. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Operations Research

#67 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,127

56. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Operations Research

#68 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

57. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Operations Research

#71 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

58. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Operations Research

#72 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

59. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Operations Research

#73 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

60. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Operations Research

#74 in North America

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

61. Lehigh University

Pennsylvania | Bethlehem

For Operations Research

#75 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $30,453

62. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Operations Research

#76 in North America

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

63. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Operations Research

#77 in North America

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,827

64. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Operations Research

#78 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

65. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Operations Research

#79 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

66. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Operations Research

#80 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 79%

67. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Operations Research

#82 in North America

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

68. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Operations Research

#83 in North America

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,260
Enrollment: 34,292

69. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Operations Research

#84 in North America

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

70. Illinois Institute of Technology

Illinois | Chicago

For Operations Research

#85 in North America

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $28,702

71. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Operations Research

#86 in North America

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

72. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Operations Research

#87 in North America

#257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

73. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Operations Research

#89 in North America

#272 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

74. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Operations Research

#90 in North America

#282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

75. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Operations Research

#91 in North America

#283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

76. California State University - Fullerton

California | Fullerton

For Operations Research

#92 in North America

#286 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $9,194
Enrollment: 40,386

77. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Operations Research

#93 in North America

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

78. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Operations Research

#94 in North America

#296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

79. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Operations Research

#95 in North America

#298 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

80. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Operations Research

#96 in North America

#300 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

81. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Operations Research

#97 in North America

#302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

82. University of Texas at Dallas

Texas | Richardson

For Operations Research

#99 in North America

#307 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 75%

83. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Operations Research

#100 in North America

#308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,208

84. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Operations Research

#101 in North America

#320 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 88%

85. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Operations Research

#104 in North America

#325 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

86. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Operations Research

#105 in North America

#326 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

87. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Operations Research

#106 in North America

#327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

88. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Operations Research

#109 in North America

#337 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

89. University of Missouri - St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Operations Research

#110 in North America

#338 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 97%

90. Air Force Institute of Technology - Graduate School of Engineering & Management

Ohio | Wright-Patterson AFB

For Operations Research

#111 in North America

#339 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment: 1,048
Male:Female: 81:19
Founded: 1919

91. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Operations Research

#112 in North America

#347 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

92. Oklahoma State University

Oklahoma State | Stillwater

For Operations Research

#114 in North America

#350 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 98%

93. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Operations Research

#115 in North America

#356 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

94. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Operations Research

#117 in North America

#362 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

95. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Operations Research

#118 in North America

#363 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $5,963

96. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Operations Research

#119 in North America

#366 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

97. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Operations Research

#120 in North America

#368 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $39,267

98. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Operations Research

#122 in North America

#372 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

99. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Operations Research

#123 in North America

#380 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $22,042
Enrollment: 26,809

100. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

North Carolina | Charlotte

For Operations Research

#124 in North America

#381 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 75%

Mathematics subfields in the United States