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# Best Management Science Programs in the Midwest (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Part of [Best Business Colleges in the Midwest](/rankings/best-business-colleges-in-the-midwest/)

Regional list from [Top Programs in Management Science and Quantitative Methods](/rankings/best-management-science-and-quantitative-methods-programs/)

This page ranks 40 Management Science and Quantitative Methods programs in the Midwest by median earnings of Management Science and Quantitative Methods graduates four years after completing. [University of Notre Dame](/school/university-of-notre-dame/majors/) leads the list at $124,557, followed by [Ohio State University-Main Campus](/school/ohio-state-university-main-campus/majors/) at $111,500 and University of St Thomas at $108,187.

Across the listed schools, median earnings range from $124,557 to $51,392, with a median of $77,771. For 3 of the 40 programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

Public institutions account for 58% of the list, with 23 public and 17 private nonprofit schools represented. Oakland University posts the lowest average net price at $9,120, while University of Illinois Chicago ranks 17th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

## The ranked list

40 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | University of Notre Dame · Notre Dame, IN | $124,557 | $26,780 | $7,244 | 11.3% |
|  | [University of Notre Dame](/school/university-of-notre-dame/majors/) ranks 1st on this list, with [median earnings of $124,557](/school/university-of-notre-dame/outcomes/) for its Management Science and Quantitative Methods graduates four years after completing. |
| 2 | Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH | $111,500 | $17,339 | $4,885 | 60.6% |
|  | A public university in Columbus, [Ohio State University-Main Campus](/school/ohio-state-university-main-campus/majors/) posts an [admission rate of 61%](/school/ohio-state-university-main-campus/admissions/) and median program earnings of $111,500 four years after completing. |
| 3 | University of St Thomas · Saint Paul, MN | $108,187 | $29,155 | $28,131 | 85.4% |
|  | University of St Thomas reports median federal debt of $18,500 among Management Science and Quantitative Methods completers who borrowed, alongside earnings of $108,187 four years after completing. |
| 4 | University of Kansas · Lawrence, KS | $107,635 | $18,059 | $12,544 | 93.5% |
|  | With an [average net price of $18,059,](/school/university-of-kansas/cost/) [University of Kansas](/school/university-of-kansas/majors/) shows median earnings of $107,635 for its Management Science and Quantitative Methods graduates four years after completing. |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI | $106,521 | $17,354 | $4,200 | 45.2% |
|  | [University of Wisconsin-Madison](/school/university-of-wisconsin-madison/majors/) [ranks 82nd on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-wisconsin-madison/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median program earnings of $106,521 four years after completing. |
| 6 | North Central College · Naperville, IL | $105,350 | $21,044 | $12,507 | 77.3% |
|  | [North Central College](/school/north-central-college/majors/) posts [median earnings of $105,350](/school/north-central-college/outcomes/) for its Management Science and Quantitative Methods graduates four years after completing, from a cohort of 5 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 7 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL | $104,172 | $14,355 | $2,038 | 42.4% |
|  | An [average net price of $2,038](/school/university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 coincides with median program earnings of $104,172 at [University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign](/school/university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign/majors/) four years after completing. |
| 8 | Miami University-Oxford · Oxford, OH | $102,249 | $28,384 | $16,015 | 75.4% |
|  | [Miami University-Oxford](/school/miami-university-oxford/majors/) [admits 75% of applicants](/school/miami-university-oxford/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $102,249 for its Management Science and Quantitative Methods graduates four years after completing. |
| 9 | Michigan State University · East Lansing, MI | $97,236 | $19,680 | $7,068 | 84.8% |
|  | [Michigan State University](/school/michigan-state-university/majors/) [ranks 69th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/michigan-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, with median program earnings of $97,236 four years after completing. |
| 10 | Drake University · Des Moines, IA | $97,132 | $29,127 | $25,824 | 63.9% |
|  | [Drake University](/school/drake-university/majors/) reports [median federal debt of $23,979](/school/drake-university/cost/) among Management Science and Quantitative Methods completers who borrowed and median earnings of $97,132 four years after completing. |
| 11 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln · Lincoln, NE | $96,087 | $17,747 | $12,751 | 87.5% |
|  | A public university in Lincoln, [University of Nebraska-Lincoln](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/majors/) posts an [average net price of $17,747](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/cost/) and median program earnings of $96,087 four years after completing. |
| 12 | Purdue University-Main Campus · West Lafayette, IN | $93,976 | $14,600 | $5,098 | 49.9% |
|  | [Purdue University-Main Campus](/school/purdue-university-main-campus/majors/) reports [median earnings of $93,976](/school/purdue-university-main-campus/outcomes/) for its Management Science and Quantitative Methods graduates four years after completing, from a cohort of 147 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 13 | Indiana State University · Terre Haute, IN | $92,741 | $10,873 | $6,455 | 80.8% |
|  | [Indiana State University](/school/indiana-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $92,741](/school/indiana-state-university/outcomes/) for its Management Science and Quantitative Methods graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $10,873. |
| 14 | University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA | $91,720 | $22,531 | $15,316 | 83.6% |
|  | [University of Iowa](/school/university-of-iowa/majors/) shows a [median federal debt of $20,500](/school/university-of-iowa/cost/) among Management Science and Quantitative Methods completers who borrowed, and its earnings cohort numbered 201 graduates. |
| 15 | Oakland University · Rochester Hills, MI | $87,119 | $9,120 | $4,422 | 87.8% |
|  | [Oakland University](/school/oakland-university/majors/) [admits 88% of applicants](/school/oakland-university/admissions/) and ranks 147th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 16 | Valparaiso University · Valparaiso, IN | $86,317 | $18,578 | $11,043 | 89.4% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Valparaiso, [Valparaiso University](/school/valparaiso-university/majors/) shows [median earnings of $86,317](/school/valparaiso-university/outcomes/) for its Management Science and Quantitative Methods graduates four years after completing. |
| 17 | Benedictine University · Lisle, IL | $85,904 | $22,313 | $20,168 | 95.2% |
|  | [Benedictine University](/school/benedictine-university/majors/) carries an [average net price of $20,168](/school/benedictine-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 and a median federal debt of $25,000 among Management Science and Quantitative Methods completers who borrowed. |
| 18 | Creighton University · Omaha, NE | $85,268 | $31,568 | $20,472 | 79.8% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 80%](/school/creighton-university/admissions/), [Creighton University](/school/creighton-university/majors/) reports median earnings of $85,268 for its Management Science and Quantitative Methods graduates four years after completing. |
| 19 | Maryville University of Saint Louis · Saint Louis, MO | $83,328 | $22,066 | $16,528 | 95.1% |
|  | [Maryville University of Saint Louis](/school/maryville-university-of-saint-louis/majors/) ranks 19th on this list and posts an [average net price of $22,066](/school/maryville-university-of-saint-louis/cost/). |
| 20 | Ball State University · Muncie, IN | $77,774 | $14,940 | $7,834 | 85.5% |
|  | [Ball State University](/school/ball-state-university/majors/) reports a [median federal debt of $16,654](/school/ball-state-university/cost/) among Management Science and Quantitative Methods completers who borrowed, and its graduates four years after completing earned a median of $77,774. |
| 21 | Central Michigan University · Mount Pleasant, MI | $77,768 | $17,597 | $12,185 | 89.8% |
|  | [Central Michigan University](/school/central-michigan-university/majors/) [admits 90% of applicants](/school/central-michigan-university/admissions/) and shows an average net price of $12,185 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 22 | DePaul University · Chicago, IL | $76,420 | $30,902 | $27,359 | 75.9% |
|  | [DePaul University](/school/depaul-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $76,420](/school/depaul-university/outcomes/) for its Management Science and Quantitative Methods graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 103 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 23 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · Milwaukee, WI | $75,055 | $15,014 | $10,329 | 90.7% |
|  | [University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee](/school/university-of-wisconsin-milwaukee/majors/) [ranks 214th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-wisconsin-milwaukee/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and carries a school-wide median federal debt of $23,000 across all of its borrowers who completed. |
| 24 | Saint Ambrose University · Davenport, IA | $74,438 | $24,691 | $22,037 | 77.3% |
|  | Saint Ambrose University reports an average net price of $24,691 and a median federal debt of $26,600 among Management Science and Quantitative Methods completers who borrowed. |
| 25 | National Louis University · Chicago, IL | $74,144 | $12,641 | $12,462 | 95.1% |
|  | [National Louis University](/school/national-louis-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $74,144](/school/national-louis-university/outcomes/) for its Management Science and Quantitative Methods graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $12,641. |
| 26 | Northern Illinois University · Dekalb, IL | $71,040 | $13,391 | $10,126 | 69.8% |
|  | [Northern Illinois University](/school/northern-illinois-university/majors/) ranks 26th on this list and shows a [median federal debt of $20,000](/school/northern-illinois-university/cost/) among Management Science and Quantitative Methods completers who borrowed. |
| 27 | Illinois State University · Normal, IL | $70,671 | $19,398 | $11,568 | 88.2% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 88%](/school/illinois-state-university/admissions/), [Illinois State University](/school/illinois-state-university/majors/) posts median earnings of $70,671 for its Management Science and Quantitative Methods graduates four years after completing. |
| 28 | Grand Valley State University · Allendale, MI | $69,603 | $16,317 | $12,272 | 83.0% |
|  | [Grand Valley State University](/school/grand-valley-state-university/majors/) sits 28th on this page and reports an [average net price of $12,272](/school/grand-valley-state-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
| 29 | Roosevelt University · Chicago, IL | $69,382 | $20,194 | $18,018 | 97.2% |
|  | [Roosevelt University](/school/roosevelt-university/majors/), a private nonprofit university in Chicago, records [median earnings of $69,382](/school/roosevelt-university/outcomes/) for its Management Science and Quantitative Methods graduates four years after completing. |
| 30 | McKendree University · Lebanon, IL | $69,002 | $24,717 | $21,928 | 71.7% |
|  | McKendree University shows a median federal debt of $20,264 among Management Science and Quantitative Methods completers who borrowed, with a cohort of 16 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 31 | University of St Francis · Joliet, IL | $68,599 | $13,006 | $8,547 | 65.3% |
|  | [University of St Francis](/school/university-of-st-francis/majors/) [ranks 331st on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-st-francis/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $68,599 for its Management Science and Quantitative Methods graduates four years after completing. |
| 32 | Cleveland State University · Cleveland, OH | $67,614 | $14,764 | $11,958 | 91.3% |
|  | [Cleveland State University](/school/cleveland-state-university/majors/) [admits 91% of applicants](/school/cleveland-state-university/admissions/) and lists an average net price of $14,764. |
| 33 | University of Illinois Chicago · Chicago, IL | $67,555 | $10,974 | $7,529 | 77.4% |
|  | [University of Illinois Chicago](/school/university-of-illinois-chicago/majors/) [ranks 17th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-illinois-chicago/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Management Science and Quantitative Methods graduates earn a median of $67,555 four years after completing. |
| 34 | Bradley University · Peoria, IL | $64,773 | $22,719 | $17,269 | 76.8% |
|  | [Bradley University](/school/bradley-university/majors/) reports an [average net price of $17,269](/school/bradley-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 and a cohort of 12 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 35 | Eastern Illinois University · Charleston, IL | $60,985 | $12,786 | $9,828 | 65.4% |
|  | [Eastern Illinois University](/school/eastern-illinois-university/majors/) ranks 35th on this list and shows a [median federal debt of $24,000](/school/eastern-illinois-university/cost/) among Management Science and Quantitative Methods completers who borrowed. |
| 36 | Ohio Northern University · Ada, OH | $59,597 | $24,478 | $18,525 | 74.4% |
|  | [Ohio Northern University](/school/ohio-northern-university/majors/), a private nonprofit university in Ada, posts [median earnings of $59,597](/school/ohio-northern-university/outcomes/) for its Management Science and Quantitative Methods graduates four years after completing. |
| 37 | University of Central Missouri · Warrensburg, MO | $59,124 | $14,462 | $10,965 | 63.8% |
|  | [University of Central Missouri](/school/university-of-central-missouri/majors/) reports [median earnings of $59,124](/school/university-of-central-missouri/outcomes/) for its Management Science and Quantitative Methods graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $14,462. |
| 38 | Quincy University · Quincy, IL | $58,745 | $20,359 | $16,502 | 50.9% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Quincy, [Quincy University](/school/quincy-university/majors/) [admits 51% of applicants](/school/quincy-university/admissions/) and shows median federal debt of $25,250 among Management Science and Quantitative Methods completers who borrowed. |
| 39 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale · Carbondale, IL | $56,680 | $13,297 | $9,415 | 86.9% |
|  | [Southern Illinois University-Carbondale](/school/southern-illinois-university-carbondale/majors/) ranks 39th on this list, with [median earnings of $56,680](/school/southern-illinois-university-carbondale/outcomes/) four years after completing and an average net price of $9,415 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 40 | Iowa State University · Ames, IA | $51,392 | $18,589 | $10,582 | 88.7% |
|  | With 45 graduates in the earnings cohort, [Iowa State University](/school/iowa-state-university/majors/) posts [median earnings of $51,392](/school/iowa-state-university/outcomes/) and ranks 194th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Management Science and Quantitative Methods graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the Midwest appear. The figures cover federally aided completers of Management Science and Quantitative Methods who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 3 of the 40 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The gap between University of Notre Dame and Ohio State University-Main Campus is $13,057, with the top program reporting $124,557 in median earnings.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Colleges in the Midwest](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-midwest/)
-   [Best Business Colleges in the Midwest](/rankings/best-business-colleges-in-the-midwest/)
-   Accounting Colleges in the Midwest for Social Mobility
-   Accounting Colleges in the Midwest
-   [Best Business Colleges for Social Mobility in the Midwest](/rankings/best-business-colleges-for-social-mobility-in-the-midwest/)