Illinois · Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

Best colleges for Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods in Illinois

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, National Louis University and DePaul University are the top bachelor's Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $72,527, College Scorecard. Northwestern University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and University of Chicago award the most Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods degrees in Illinois: 1,717, 1,342 and 1,297 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 31 Illinois colleges offer Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods and award 6,182 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods program focuses on the application of analytical and quantitative techniques to solve complex business problems. This program is ideal for students interested in enhancing their…

Institutions
31
offering CIP 52.13
States & territories
52
with a program page
Degrees / yr
6,182
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$51,128
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
13
College Scorecard
Median net price
$19,899
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
62%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · General and Operations Managers
$135,540
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree
$72,5271,34285%—$21,000
2National Louis University
Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$59,0842730%$18,904$26,094
3DePaul University
Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$51,52222968%$28,141$24,500
4Northern Illinois University
Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree
$51,12815649%—$21,600
5Roosevelt University
Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$48,7153935%$21,085$25,000
6Illinois State University
Normal Public · Bachelor's degree
$47,55314665%—$23,250
7University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree
$45,66518062%—$17,750
8Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
Carbondale Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,7115562%—$27,000
9Eastern Illinois University
Charleston Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,5002447%—$25,000
10North Central College
Naperville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$85,168564%$20,052$26,851

Colleges awarding the most Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods degrees in Illinois

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Northwestern University
Evanston Private not-for-profit
1,717Not reported
2University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign Public
1,342$72,527
3University of Chicago
Chicago Private not-for-profit
1,297Not reported
4Lewis University
Romeoville Private not-for-profit
320Not reported
5DePaul University
Chicago Private not-for-profit
229$51,522
6Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville Public
221Not reported
7University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago Public
180$45,665
8Northern Illinois University
Dekalb Public
156$51,128
9Illinois State University
Normal Public
146$47,553
10Loyola University Chicago
Chicago Private not-for-profit
113Not reported
Show the other 21 Illinois colleges offering Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicagoPrivate not-for-profit102
Southern Illinois University - CarbondaleCarbondalePublic55
Governors State UniversityUniversity ParkPublic52
Roosevelt UniversityChicagoPrivate not-for-profit39
Elmhurst UniversityElmhurstPrivate not-for-profit27
National Louis UniversityChicagoPrivate not-for-profit27
Eastern Illinois UniversityCharlestonPublic24
Quincy UniversityQuincyPrivate not-for-profit21
Western Illinois UniversityMacombPublic21
University of St FrancisJolietPrivate not-for-profit19
Bradley UniversityPeoriaPrivate not-for-profit15
Benedictine UniversityLislePrivate not-for-profit13
Illinois CollegeJacksonvillePrivate not-for-profit10
McKendree UniversityLebanonPrivate not-for-profit10
Millikin UniversityDecaturPrivate not-for-profit8
North Central CollegeNapervillePrivate not-for-profit5
Heartland Community CollegeNormalPublic5
Aurora UniversityAuroraPrivate not-for-profit3
Olivet Nazarene UniversityBourbonnaisPrivate not-for-profit3
Augustana CollegeRock IslandPrivate not-for-profit1
Wheaton CollegeWheatonPrivate not-for-profit1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.4%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~308,700
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$102,950
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingMonitoringCritical ThinkingActive Learning

What General and Operations Managers earn in Illinois

Jobs in Illinois
171,300
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$135,540
median $103,570
Best-paying metro
$143,740
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Related careers

General and Operations Managers
$135,540 avg · 171,300 jobs
Management Analysts
$114,410 avg · 45,820 jobs
Data Scientists
$117,870 avg · 10,520 jobs
Operations Research Analysts
$104,580 avg · 5,180 jobs
Chief Executives
$347,550 avg · 4,620 jobs
Business Teachers, Postsecondary
$108,900 avg · 3,580 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods programs in Illinois.

Which Illinois colleges award the most Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods degrees?+

Northwestern University (1,717 graduates a year), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (1,342 graduates a year) and University of Chicago (1,297 graduates a year) award the most Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 31 Illinois colleges offer Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods.

What is the best college for Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods in Illinois?+

By graduate earnings, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads among bachelor's Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $72,527, College Scorecard. National Louis University and DePaul University follow. By degrees awarded, Northwestern University is the largest, with 1,717 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tops the list at $72,527. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do General and Operations Managers earn in Illinois?+

The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in Illinois is $135,540 (median $103,570), across about 171,300 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods program?+

The Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods program focuses on the application of analytical and quantitative techniques to solve complex business problems. This program is ideal for students interested in enhancing their…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, monitoring, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for General and Operations Managers?+

The national job outlook is about +4.4% growth with around 308,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods in other statesDistrict of ColumbiaWisconsinMassachusettsUtahMinnesotaVirginiaNew HampshireNebraska

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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