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Operations Research at University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
59 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
60
Optimistic
59
Base Case
55
Pessimistic
Earnings $88,685/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (54% exposed)
Job Market Medium (22,200 openings/yr)
ROI 14.5x earnings multiple (4.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #5 of 6 Operations Research programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Operations Research graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $876K $858K $707K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.8x 14.5x 11.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.8x 4.7x 3.9x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 70% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 60 59 55

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,400
Out-of-state: $182,508 (4.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,916
-1% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

University of California-Berkeley's Operations Research program produces graduates earning $88,685/yr — within striking distance of the $87,034 national average for this field.

The 14.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 54% task exposure — and the 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With only 6 programs offering Operations Research nationally, this is a niche field. University of California-Berkeley ranks #5 among them.

About University of California-Berkeley

Only 12% of applicants gain admission to University of California-Berkeley, reflecting elite selectivity, serving a student body of 33,073 in Berkeley, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Berkeley →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
Operations research analysts $91,290/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 6 schools offering Operations Research →

Operations Research at Other Schools

Columbia University in the City of New York ($110,457) Princeton University ($100,354) Cornell University ($96,377) Southern Methodist University ($72,658) California State University-Northridge ($53,677)

Other Majors at University of California-Berkeley

Computer Science ($149,866) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($137,295) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($90,008) Mechanical Engineering ($88,497) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($88,030) Statistics ($83,227) Chemical Engineering ($81,553) Economics ($80,446)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-Berkeley's Operations Research program score?
A score of 59/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of California-Berkeley trails the majority of Operations Research programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Operations Research to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Operations Research careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 54% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →