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Operations Research

Instructional content is defined in code 14.3701.

Types of Degrees Operations Research Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing Operations Research can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	441
Master’s Degree	1,384
Doctor’s Degree	85

What Operations Research Majors Need to Know

Programs in Operations Research emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Operations Research graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Operations Research emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Mathematics — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5.3 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5.2 / 7.
• Engineering and Technology — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Design — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills built by a Operations Research program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Operations Research careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Speech Clarity — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Operations Research graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.3 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.3 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.3 / 7
Working with Computers	4.3 / 7
Processing Information	4.2 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.2 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	4.1 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.1 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Operations Research professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
The MathWorks MATLAB	Analytical or scientific software	—
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—
Python	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Dassault Systemes CATIA	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Google Docs	Word processing software	—
C++	Object or component oriented development software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Operations Research graduates include:

• Chemical Engineering Professor
• Theoretical Mechanics Teacher
• Electrical Engineering Lecturer
• Radio Engineering Teacher
• Instructor
• Ship Design Teacher
• Chemical Engineering Teacher
• Metallurgy Teacher
• Mechanical Drawing Teacher
• Television Engineering Teacher
• Sanitary Engineering Teacher
• Industrial Engineering Professor
• Research Professor
• Aeronautical Engineering Professor
• Electrical Engineering Teacher

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Operations Research graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Doctoral degree	36.1%
Bachelor’s degree	21.2%
Master’s degree	11.7%
Post-doctoral training	11.7%
Post-master’s certificate	9.8%
Postsecondary certificate	2.4%
Some college courses	1.9%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	1.8%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	1.8%
High school diploma or equivalent	1.5%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Operations Research?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 63% of Operations Research degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	706	37.0%
Men	1,204	63.0%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Operations Research graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	554	29.0%
Asian	218	11.4%
Hispanic or Latino	129	6.8%
Black or African American	37	1.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native	1	0.1%
Two or More Races	44	2.3%
Race Unknown	46	2.4%
International Students	881	46.1%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Operations Research Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Operations Research graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$85,170
4 years	$126,482
5 years	$163,394

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $163,394 — roughly 92% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Operations Research Programs

Online study is reported by IPEDS for Operations Research. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Master’s	1	8
Doctoral (Research)	1	1

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Operations Research Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Operations Research graduates earn a median of $126,482 four years after completion — roughly 233% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Engineering	197,615
Mechanical Engineering	42,939
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	26,760
Civil Engineering	20,005
Computer Engineering	19,986
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	13,914
Engineering, General	13,411
Chemical Engineering	10,939
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering	9,596
Industrial Engineering	8,533
Systems Engineering	3,956
Engineering, Other	3,529

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.