Three Universities Selected as Finalists for the 2026 UPS George D. Smith Prize

The Georgia Institute of Technology, Northwestern University and the U.S. Military Academy are recognized for excellence in preparing students to become practitioners of operations research, analytics and data science. 

BALTIMORE, April 27, 2026 — INFORMS, the world’s largest association for professionals and students in operations research (O.R.), AI, analytics and data science, has announced three finalists for the 2026 UPS George D. Smith Prize: the U.S. Military Academy, the Georgia Institute of Technology and Northwestern University. The award recognizes excellence in preparing students to become practitioners of O.R. and analytics. 

The three finalist programs reflect distinct approaches to developing analytics and operations research talent. Each combines rigorous technical training with real-world application. 

The Georgia Institute of Technology is recognized for its interdisciplinary Master of Science in Analytics. The program bridges operations research, machine learning, statistics and business decision-making across engineering, computing and business. Offered both on campus and online, it produces practice-ready professionals at scale. With more than 1,000 graduates annually, it is one of the largest analytics programs in the United States. 

Northwestern University’s Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences (IEMS) department has built a nationally recognized program for preparing analytics and operations research practitioners. Housed within the McCormick School of Engineering, IEMS combines core O.R. methodologies with emerging areas such as AI and data science. Grounded in a strong computational foundation and reinforced through industry-driven experiential learning, the program emphasizes applying data and models to decision-making across industries including finance, healthcare, logistics and technology. 

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point has built a mission-driven undergraduate Operations Research program within its Department of Mathematical Sciences. The modern curriculum integrates optimization, data science, statistics and simulation with applied modeling in both national security and industry-relevant contexts. Cadets gain hands-on experience through projects with Defense partners as well as collaborations with industry and research organizations, developing both analytical and leadership capabilities. Many graduates go on to serve in the Army’s Operations Research/Systems Analysis branch. 

The UPS George D. Smith Prize winner will be announced at the 2026 Analytics+ conference on April 13, 2026 in National Harbor, Md. 

Named in honor of the late UPS Chief Executive Officer—a champion of operations researchers at a leading Fortune 500 corporation—the UPS George D. Smith Prize was created to strengthen ties between industry and higher education. The prize is awarded to an academic department or program for effective and innovative preparation of students to be practitioners of O.R. or analytics. 

14 universities have previously won the UPS George D. Smith Prize, including the National University of Singapore (2025), the University of South Carolina (2024), Purdue University (2023) and Eindhoven University of Technology (2022). A full list of past recipients can be found here. 

About INFORMS 
INFORMS is the world’s largest association for professionals and students in operations research, AI, analytics, data science and related disciplines, serving as a global authority in advancing cutting-edge practices and fostering an interdisciplinary community of innovation. With a network of more than 12,000 members spanning academia, industry and government, INFORMS connects thought leaders, experts and emerging professionals who advance and apply AI, mathematics, analytics and other sciences and technologies to solve complex challenges and drive impactful decision-making.  

Through its prestigious peer-reviewed journals, world-class conferences, industry-leading certification programs and a suite of professional resources, INFORMS empowers its community to enhance operational efficiency, elevate organizational performance and promote smarter decisions for a better world. Discover more at www.informs.org. 

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Contact: 
Rebecca Seel 
Public Affairs Specialist 
443-757-3578 
[email protected]