Master of Science [M.S] (Operations Research)
Field of Study:
$59,616 /Yr
Northeastern University Master of Science in Operations Research is a two-year, full-time, on-campus degree in Boston, Massachusetts. Applicants need a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited institution and a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. This published minimum is approximately 75% to 80% or 7.5 to 8.0 on a 10-point Indian scale.
The Spring 2027 intake has calculated tuition of US$63,232 (INR 60.34 Lakhs) for 32 semester hours, excluding living costs and variable charges. Its distinctive proposition is a compact quantitative curriculum with electives across algorithms, machine learning, statistics, logistics and scheduling, preparing applicants for analytical roles or doctoral study. It suits applicants who enjoy proof-aware modeling and coding, while weak linear algebra or probability preparation creates a material academic risk.
- The 32-semester-hour plan includes 16 elective hours across computer science, industrial engineering, mathematics and operations research.
- Fall and Spring entry give Indian applicants a second annual application route when one intake does not fit their academic calendar.
- The College of Science has graduate co-op support covering Applied Mathematics, Operations Research and Environmental Science and Policy students.
Current Admission Status
Applications for the Spring 2027 intake are Open. International student deadline: 01 November 2026.
The College of Science publishes 01 November for Spring international applications, but no cutoff time or decision date is listed. Indian applicants should submit a complete file before the portal date and retain proof of submission.
Also Check: Northeastern Operations Research admission
Northeastern Operations Research Fees and Living Costs 2027
The 2026-2027 College of Science rate is US$1,976 per credit hour, and the catalog requires 32 semester hours. Multiplying those verified inputs gives calculated tuition of US$63,232 (INR 60.34 Lakhs) before living costs and variable charges.
Northeastern also publishes an international student fee, annual health charges and a Boston graduate comprehensive fee. Northeastern calls its student insurance the Northeastern University Student Health Plan. Eligible students may be able to waive this plan under university rules.
Spring 2027 fee basis: The table combines the current College of Science tuition rate with the required 32 semester hours and current published Boston graduate charges.
| Fee item | Official amount | INR equivalent | Planning meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of Science tuition rate | US$1,976 per credit hour | INR 1.89 Lakhs per credit hour | Use the rate only for the 32-semester-hour Operations Research plan. |
| Calculated degree tuition | US$63,232 | INR 60.34 Lakhs | Calculation: US$1,976 multiplied by 32 semester hours. |
| Master’s application fee | US$0 | INR 0 | The current College of Science page lists no fee for master’s applications. |
| International Student Fee | US$450 one time | INR 42,944 one time | Budget this once after admission and before enrolment. |
| Health and Counseling Fee | US$225 assessed annually | INR 21,472 assessed annually | Include it for each academic year in the two-year plan. |
| Northeastern University Student Health Plan | US$3,049 assessed annually | INR 2.91 Lakhs assessed annually | Ask about the waiver process before accepting the charge as unavoidable. |
| Full-time Boston graduate Comprehensive Fee | US$200 per term, capped at US$400 annually | INR 19,086 per term, capped at INR 38,172 annually | Use the annual cap when building a two-term academic-year estimate. |
| First-year visa funding tuition and fees estimate | US$32,065 | INR 30.60 Lakhs | This is a first-year visa funding estimate, not the full degree tuition. |
All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of USD 1 = INR 95.4309 as of 14 August 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.
Source: Official Northeastern University 2026-2027 tuition and fee schedule and College of Science financial information.
- The calculated degree tuition uses US$1,976 (INR 1.89 Lakhs) multiplied by 32 semester hours, so it is not an annual quote and excludes repeat or extra credits.
- The first-year visa estimate combines US$32,065 (INR 30.60 Lakhs) tuition, US$27,728 (INR 26.46 Lakhs) living costs and US$59,793 (INR 57.06 Lakhs) total funding.
- The combined living allowance is not a room quote, so applicants should price housing separately before choosing a Boston funding plan.
Cost of Living in Boston for Operations Research Students
Northeastern’s official 2026-2027 visa funding estimate assigns US$27,728 (INR 26.46 Lakhs) to living expenses for the academic year. The university presents this as one combined allowance, so it does not provide an Operations Research-specific split for rent, food, transport or personal costs on that page.
The monthly value below is calculated by dividing the official annual allowance by 12. It is useful for cash-flow planning, while the annual figure remains the university’s published amount for funding documentation.
Official living-cost context: No separate Operations Research rent range is published on the checked 2026-2027 allowance page, so the table does not invent category-level amounts.
| Expense | Monthly (USD) | Monthly (INR) | Annual (USD) | Annual (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combined living expenses | US$2,310.67 calculated | INR 2.21 Lakhs calculated | US$27,728 official | INR 26.46 Lakhs |
The calculated two-year core budget is US$126,486 (INR 1.21 Crore). It comprises US$63,232 (INR 60.34 Lakhs) tuition, US$55,456 (INR 52.92 Lakhs) living and US$7,798 (INR 7.44 Lakhs) in listed mandatory charges. This illustration assumes two academic years and the published annual caps, excluding travel, deposits and personal variation.
Read More: Northeastern University courses and fees
Student perspective
Some university-level student reviews describe off-campus housing searches and the pressure of Boston costs. Because those entries are not Operations Research-specific, Indian applicants should use the combined allowance for funding proof and research accommodation separately.
These comments are anecdotal and do not replace official Northeastern University data.
Key insight: The calculated two-year core budget reaches INR 1.21 Crore before travel and personal variation. Secure funding for the full plan rather than relying on part-time income.
Northeastern Operations Research Admission 2027
The academic entry floor is a completed bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university and a minimum GPA of 3.0. Indian applicants should present a clear quantitative record because the curriculum begins with probability, statistics, optimization and mathematical modeling.
The 32-semester-hour structure includes four core courses and 16 elective hours, with options such as algorithms, machine learning, supply chain engineering and logistics. This makes preparation in linear algebra, probability, statistics and programming more useful than an unrelated degree title alone.
Academic eligibility context: The table separates the published minimum from preparation that helps an Indian applicant show readiness for mathematical and computational coursework.
| Requirement | Current programme position | Indian applicant action |
|---|---|---|
| Previous degree | Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university. | Upload transcripts from every institution and provide degree completion evidence. |
| Minimum academic average | GPA 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, approximately 75% to 80% or 7.5 to 8.0 on a 10-point scale as an approximate planning range. | Show the official marksheets and explain the grading scale used by the Indian institution. |
| Quantitative preparation | Previous coursework is evaluated, and the degree plan may be tailored when content proficiency is unclear. | Highlight linear algebra, calculus, probability, statistics, optimization and programming courses. |
| GRE | The current College of Science guidance lists the GRE as not required for master’s applicants. | Use the statement of purpose to demonstrate mathematical reasoning and applied project work instead. |
| Work experience | No programme-specific work-experience requirement is published. | Use internships, research or analytics projects to show how you apply models to decisions. |
| Application file | Online application, transcripts, personal statement, resume and two recommendation letters. | Give recommenders evidence of quantitative work so their letters support the course fit. |
| International documents | Official degree confirmation and transcripts are required, with certified English translations when applicable. | Arrange translation and final official documents before the first day of classes. |
The minimum GPA is a screening floor rather than a promise of admission because the university states that the complete application is reviewed. For Indian applicants, a transcript that makes mathematics, statistics and coding easy to verify reduces avoidable questions about preparation.
English Language Proficiency
Current College of Science guidance accepts TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) iBT, IELTS (International English Language Testing System), PTE (Pearson Test of English) and Duolingo. The accessible page does not publish a target-cycle Operations Research score, so test planning needs direct confirmation.
English proficiency evidence is required unless the applicant qualifies for the university’s documented English-medium or United States degree waiver. The waiver depends on institutional evidence, so an English-taught Indian degree should not be treated as automatically exempt.
- Indian applicants without a documented waiver should choose one accepted test and submit scores through the current university process.
- The Global Pathways route lists separate progression scores of TOEFL 85 or IELTS 7, so those figures should not be treated as direct-admission thresholds.
- Do not convert older TOEFL 0 to 120 scores into the revised 1 to 6 scale without a current Operations Research instruction.
English-score verification
The current checked pages identify accepted tests but do not state an exact Operations Research score for the Spring 2027 cycle. Verify the threshold on the current College of Science admissions page before booking or sending a test.
Tip for Indian students: Treat the 3.0 GPA as the minimum academic screen. Use quantified mathematics and coding evidence to show readiness before the 01 November 2026 Spring deadline.
Northeastern Operations Research Application 2027
The current application route is open for Spring 2027, with the international deadline on 01 November 2026. The checked page publishes no decision date, so submit a complete file by the stated deadline.
Fall is also an entry term, but the target-year schedule is not yet named on the checked page. The current annual schedule supports an Expected 01 July 2027 international deadline for Fall, subject to the next published cycle.
Forward-looking deadline context: The table lists international deadlines for applicants outside the United States. No reliable cutoff time or decision date is published.
| Entry term | International deadline | Indian timing action | Decision date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 | 01 November 2026 | Portal timestamp controls because no cutoff time or timezone is published. | Not published |
| Fall 2027 | Expected 01 July 2027 | Recurring date only; verify it when the target-year schedule appears. | Not published |
The College of Science requires the online application, transcripts, personal statement, resume, two recommendations and English evidence when no waiver applies. Because the file is reviewed as a whole, each document should reinforce quantitative readiness.
Indian applicants should collect certified translations and final degree confirmation early. Recommenders should describe mathematical work, coding or research because the programme evaluates quantitative preparation.
- Upload readable transcripts from every attended institution and retain the official-document plan for enrolment.
- Use the personal statement to connect an optimization, analytics or systems project with the exact curriculum.
- Ask recommenders to give concrete evidence of mathematical reasoning, research discipline or applied programming.
- Submit English scores through an accepted route only after checking the unpublished direct programme threshold.
Read More: Northeastern application guide for Indian students
Application tip: Spring 2027 is the clearer near-term route because its 01 November 2026 international deadline is published, while Fall 2027 remains an expected recurring date.
Northeastern Operations Research Scholarships 2027
For Spring 2027, the current College of Science page names several graduate awards, but no programme-specific target-cycle deadline or guaranteed amount is published. Funding should therefore remain a separate application risk.
For Indian applicants, the usable routes depend on identity or service conditions rather than nationality alone. International students should not build the budget around federal need-based aid, which the university says is unavailable to them.
Current published scholarship context: The awards below are current published schemes without a stated Spring 2027 deadline.
| Award | Value | Eligibility | Application route and deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Husky | 25% tuition discount | Eligible Northeastern alumni in full-time or part-time master’s study. | Confirm eligibility through current scholarship instructions; deadline not published. |
| Full Circle | 25% tuition discount | Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Teach for America or one year teaching English overseas. | Provide qualifying service evidence through the current process; deadline not published. |
| Parent and Family | 25% tuition discount | Qualifying family member of a current full-time Northeastern undergraduate. | Provide the required family relationship evidence; deadline not published. |
The Martin Luther King Jr. Graduate Fellowship lists six annual awards covering full tuition and fees, excluding insurance. Its stated eligibility is not a general route for Indian applicants, so it should not be treated as base funding.
These discounts are not automatically available to a new international applicant because each requires a specific identity or service condition. The published page also does not provide a target-cycle award deadline for Spring 2027.
Funding action
Because no Spring 2027 scholarship deadline is stated, submit the admission file by 01 November 2026 and request written award terms. Read the official College of Science graduate scholarship rules before assuming a discount.
Scholarship reality: The named discounts are eligibility-based and cycleless, so preserve the calculated INR 1.21 Crore core budget until an award is confirmed in writing.
Northeastern Operations Research Salary 2027
Northeastern does not publish a course-cohort salary, offer rate or placement report for the Master of Science in Operations Research after current official checks. That evidence gap makes role fit and funding discipline central to the career decision.
The closest university-cited market benchmark is a US$91,290 (INR 87.12 Lakhs) median annual wage for operations research analysts in May 2024. The university presents this figure through its operations research industry trends evidence.
BLS means the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. It reports labour-market data rather than Northeastern graduate outcomes. The benchmark is therefore useful for role research, but it is not a salary promise or repayment forecast.
A related College of Science Applied Mathematics page reports that 94% of its graduates land industry-related jobs. That statistic is a related-programme proxy and does not establish an Operations Research placement rate.
An official university student Q&A describes smaller classes, industry-focused teaching and co-ops at Rue Gilt Groupe and Nestle USA. This is one individual case that shows possibility, not typical placement probability.
ROI decision factors: The calculated two-year core budget is US$126,486 (INR 1.21 Crore) before travel, deposits and personal variation. The following factors connect the available evidence to a funding decision.
- The calculated INR 1.21 Crore core budget requires a funding plan beyond tuition, so stress-test two years of living costs before accepting an offer.
- The BLS median is gross United States pay rather than a graduate outcome, so compare actual role offers after tax and benefits before modeling repayment.
- The related-programme 94% employment figure is not course-specific, so request current Operations Research outcome evidence before assigning it financial value.
- The standard post-completion work window is up to 12 months, with a possible 24-month extension under STEM conditions, so verify eligibility before relying on United States earnings.
- No course-specific India-return salary is published, so build a return scenario from written offers rather than the United States benchmark.
US$91,290 (INR 87.12 Lakhs) is gross pay, so take-home income varies with federal tax, state tax, benefits and filing status. Use an official tax calculator before converting the benchmark into a repayment schedule.
Also Check: Northeastern graduate placement information
Student perspective
Some university-level reviews describe industry practitioners connecting coursework with workplace expectations. The theme is anecdotal and not Operations Research-specific, so use it as a prompt to ask about current co-op support.
ROI reality: The benchmark suggests a role market worth researching, but the missing course-cohort report means applicants should value the degree using verified funding and written employment evidence.
USA Visa for Northeastern Operations Research Students 2027
Indian students need an F-1 student visa for this full-time Boston programme. Northeastern issues an I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status) after admission and financial proof.
The I-20 supports the visa application but does not guarantee approval. The State Department guidance lists the visa fee as US$185 (INR 17,655), while the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee is US$350 (INR 33,401).
SEVIS is the federal student record system, and both charges should be checked before payment. Optional Practical Training (OPT) is the post-completion work period. It normally permits up to 12 months when the student meets authorization rules. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) describes qualifying technical fields. A STEM extension depends on the degree and employer meeting federal conditions.
- OPT normally permits up to 12 months of post-completion work when the student meets authorization rules.
- A qualifying STEM degree and employer can support a further 24-month extension, so verify the programme’s current classification before relying on the extension.
- The H-1B specialty-occupation route uses the higher of the actual wage or prevailing wage, and it has no single course-specific salary threshold.
- F-2 status can cover a spouse or unmarried minor child, but F-2 dependants cannot work under that status.
A permanent-residence timeline is not fixed by this degree because later status depends on employer sponsorship, category rules and individual eligibility. Indian applicants should treat post-study work as a conditional window rather than guaranteed repayment income.
Read More: USA post-study work options
Visa reality: The visa budget includes US$535 (INR 51,056) in listed application and SEVIS fees, while work after graduation remains authorization-dependent.
Northeastern Operations Research Ranking 2027
Operations Research is a quantitative discipline, so the relevant published subject signal is Physical Sciences rather than an overall university position. Times Higher Education (THE) places Northeastern in the 201-250 band for Physical Sciences in its 2026 table.
THE is a ranking publisher, and its subject band reflects a broad discipline rather than this exact master’s programme. The result is therefore context for academic positioning, not a salary, placement or admission measure.
Ranking evidence: The table records the edition, subject scope and published band without converting it into a programme claim.
| Publisher | Edition | Subject scope | Position | Decision meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Times Higher Education | 2026 | Physical Sciences | 201-250 | Broad subject context only; assess the Operations Research curriculum and outcomes separately. |
The band may help an applicant understand the university’s wider science context, but it cannot resolve the programme’s missing cohort salary evidence. Curriculum depth, tuition exposure and verified career support carry more direct decision weight.
Read More: Northeastern University subject rankings
Honest take: The 201-250 Physical Sciences band is a broad academic signal, so use it as context after checking the course-specific cost, preparation and employment evidence.
Northeastern’s Operations Research degree fits Indian applicants with strong mathematics, statistics and programming preparation who want a compact quantitative curriculum. Its elective range connects theory with optimization, algorithms and systems decisions, while the missing course-cohort salary report limits outcome certainty. The calculated INR 1.21 Crore core budget makes funding and work-authorisation risk material. Applicants targeting Spring 2027 should complete the file by 01 November 2026 and verify the direct English-score threshold before submission.
Northeastern Operations Research FAQs
Ques. Is Northeastern Operations Research suitable for an Indian applicant without work experience?
Ans. Yes, work experience is not listed as a programme requirement. A strong record in linear algebra, probability, statistics and programming is more directly relevant to the published curriculum.
Ques. What total budget should an Indian applicant plan for?
Ans. Calculated tuition is US$63,232 (INR 60.34 Lakhs) for 32 semester hours. Adding two years of published living allowances and listed mandatory charges gives a calculated US$126,486 (INR 1.21 Crore) core budget.
Ques. Is the GRE required, and what English score is needed?
Ans. The current College of Science guidance lists the GRE as not required for master’s applicants. TOEFL iBT, IELTS, PTE and Duolingo are accepted routes, but the direct Operations Research score is unpublished on the checked target-cycle page.
Ques. Which application deadline should Spring and Fall applicants use?
Ans. The published Spring 2027 international deadline is 01 November 2026. Fall 2027 is currently an expected 01 July 2027 date based on the recurring schedule, so verify it when the target-year page is published.
Ques. Does the degree guarantee a salary or post-study job in the United States?
Ans. No course-cohort salary or offer rate is published. The US$91,290 (INR 87.12 Lakhs) figure is a university-cited labour-market benchmark, while post-completion work depends on authorization.
Tuition Fees
| Year | 1st Year Fees |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fees | $59616 |
Other Expenses
| Head | Avg Cost Per Year |
|---|---|
| Housing Allowance | $32400 |
| Food Allowance | $9600 |
Fee per Credit:$1,863
Important Dates
Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis.
Scores Required
Median GRE Score Over Years


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TOP Scholarships
| Scholarship name | Award amount | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Full Circle Scholarship | 25% tuition discount | New, incoming students are eligible to apply for the Full Circle Scholarship. |
| Double Husky Scholarship | 25% tuition discount | No special application is required |
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