Operations Management Degree in Little Rock, AR — Salary & ROI 2026
Operations Management degree analysis for Little Rock, AR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$43K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$78K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.3 yrs
in Little Rock
Cost of Living
85
index (100 = avg)
Operations Management in Little Rock, AR Overview
Little Rock is one of Arkansas's top college towns, with 24 institutions and a student population of 18,659. Public tuition averages $9,312/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Operations Management enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Process Improvement and Lean/Six Sigma. The adjusted starting salary in Little Rock is approximately $42,500, growing to $78,200 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
24
Public Tuition
$9,312/yr
Private Tuition
$13,320/yr
Room & Board
$13,863/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,402/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
49%
Operations Management Salary in Little Rock (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Little Rock's cost of living index of 85 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Operations Management salary: $50,000 starting, $92,000 mid-career, $118,000 senior level.Little Rock adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.
Operations Management ROI Calculator for Little Rock
Estimate your return on investment for a Operations Management degree using local Little Rock tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,312 | Private avg: $13,320
Little Rock avg aid: $15,402/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,700
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,750
vs HS diploma in Little Rock
ROI Payback Period
7.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Little Rock
$519,300
Lifetime earnings premium ($612,000) minus total education cost ($92,700)
Student Loan Payoff for Operations Management in Little Rock
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Little Rock for Operations Management
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
public
$9,312/yr
$37,248 total
Philander Smith University
private
$13,320/yr
$53,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Pulaski Technical College
$3,800/yr
Top Employers for Operations Management in Little Rock
Little Rock offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Operations Management graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Little Rock Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Operations Management Job Titles
Operations Management in Nearby Arkansas Cities
Fayetteville, AR
$45K starting · COL 89
4 colleges
Fort Smith, AR
$39K starting · COL 78.5
4 colleges
Springdale, AR
$43K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Jonesboro, AR
$41K starting · COL 82.5
4 colleges
Rogers, AR
$44K starting · COL 88.2
3 colleges
Conway, AR
$42K starting · COL 84.5
3 colleges
North Little Rock, AR
$43K starting · COL 86.6
3 colleges
Bentonville, AR
$46K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Little Rock
Business Analytics
$66K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$60K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$55K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$43K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$43K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Accounting
$53K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$43K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$49K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Operations Management Degree in Little Rock — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Operations Management ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Little Rock.