Request Username
Can't sign in? Forgot your username?
Enter your email address below and we will send you your username
Submission Fee FAQ
Effective August 1, 2025
As part of an effort to support reproducibility and transparency in published research, Management Science will implement a submission fee beginning August 1, 2025. The following frequently asked questions provide additional context and details for authors and the broader research community.
To learn more about the rationale behind this policy, please see Editor-in-Chief Christoph Loch’s editorial "Reinforcing Research Transparency at Management Science.
- Why is Management Science implementing a submission fee?
To support the journal's data and code disclosure and transparency policy, which has significantly advanced reproducibility in the field. The fee will help ensure the long-term sustainability of this initiative, and increase the visibility of Management Science to academic and wider audiences.
- How much is the submission fee, and how was it determined?
The fee is $79 per original submission.
In late 2024, INFORMS surveyed the Management Science community to gather feedback on the introduction of a fee. As part of the survey, respondents were asked about a range of potential price points, starting at $99 and increasing beyond $500. While some respondents were comfortable with higher fees, not surprisingly, most expressed a preference for lower amounts.
After reviewing the survey data and carefully modeling anticipated costs, concluded that even the lowest amount included in the survey — $99 — was more than necessary to sustain our reproducibility initiative. Based on our financial modeling, a $79 fee will cover those costs, while also enabling us to offer no-cost submissions to INFORMS members, provide waivers for authors from low- and lower-middle-income countries, and include a no-justification, honor-based option for any author unable to pay.
- Are any authors exempt from the fee?
Yes. The submission fee will be waived for any submission where the submitting author is a current INFORMS member at the time of submission, or for authors whose primary affiliation at the time of submission is in a country designated as low-income or lower-middle-income (/page/mnsc/submission-fee-waivers).
- Will there be support for authors who cannot afford the fee?
Authors who are unable to pay the fee — for any reason — will be able to select an honor-based, no-justification option at the time of submission. Importantly, an author's ability to pay will have no bearing on editorial decisions and will not be visible to editors, associate editors, or reviewers at any point during the review process.
- What if my paper is desk rejected — will the fee be refunded?
No. The fee supports editorial operations and reproducibility infrastructure regardless of the outcome of the submission.
- Why did the journal choose a submission fee instead of a publication (acceptance) fee?
We seriously considered a publication fee model but ultimately chose a submission fee for several important reasons. Charging only accepted papers could delay cost recovery by years, since many accepted papers already in the verification pipeline would incur costs without paying the fee. It would also require a much higher fee per paper, raising additional access concerns.
Charging only accepted papers could also introduce inequities based on researchers’ access to funding and might create the perception that ability to pay influences editorial decisions. A submission fee avoids those issues by decoupling payment from publication outcomes.
While a submission fee introduces a financial step earlier in the process, we’ve worked hard to ensure it does not become a barrier. INFORMS members and authors in low- and lower-middle-income countries are exempt, and authors facing financial hardship may select an honor-based, no-justification waiver at the time of submission.
This approach aligns with emerging practices at other journals with reproducibility requirements. By distributing the cost across all original submissions, we can keep the fee modest while supporting the integrity of the review process.
- Will the fee apply to all submissions?
No. The fee applies only to original submissions. Invited revisions will not be subject to the submission fee.
- Will the fee be waived for theoretical papers that do not include data or code?
At the current time, no — but we are evaluating this possibility. Our goal is to implement the policy in a way that is fair across disciplines and research methods.
- What will the money be used for?
Revenue from the submission fee will directly support editorial operations and reproducibility infrastructure — including staff time for verifying materials, external certification, author support, and maintaining the platforms needed to ensure transparency.
If this initiative generates more revenue than is needed to sustain those efforts, any remaining funds will be reinvested directly into INFORMS’ publications program. We are committed to ensuring that these funds are support the scholarly publishing ecosystem rather than general operating expenses.
- How does this compare to other journals?
Our $79 submission fee is lower than fees at many other journals that charge. Waiving the fee for all INFORMS member authors, low-income countries, along with our honor-based, no-justification waiver option, is uncommon in its accessibility and trust-based design.
To provide more context, journals support themselves in different ways depending on their publishing model. Some are managed by for-profit publishers, others by nonprofit associations in partnership with commercial publishers, and some — like INFORMS — are independently published by nonprofit organizations. While submission fees are becoming more common in fields such as economics, finance, and the natural sciences, INFORMS is taking a small, measured step into this model with Management Science to assess its value and impact.
- Does this mean Management Science is becoming a for-profit journal?
No. Management Science is published by INFORMS, a non-profit organization. The purpose of the fee is to support community-driven improvements to research quality and transparency, not to generate profit.
- How were these decisions informed?
We surveyed nearly 1,700 researchers, including current and past authors, and received over 500 thoughtful comments. This feedback shaped the final policy and helped ensure it reflects the values and priorities of the community.
- Is this policy final?
The submission fee will be implemented in 2025. As with all INFORMS programs, we are committed to monitoring its impact and will adjust if needed. We’ll be assessing how often the no-fee options are used, how the member benefit is received, and how the fee structure is functioning overall. We’ll continue to listen to feedback and refine the policy to ensure it aligns with our goals.
- Will other INFORMS journals adopt similar fees?
Not at this time. Management Science is the only INFORMS journal currently implementing a submission fee. This reflects the journal’s high volume of submissions and the resource-intensive nature of its reproducibility policy.
- Will the fee discourage submissions or harm the journal’s reputation?
We do not expect it to. Management Science remains one of the most selective and respected journals in the field, and demand for publication continues to be strong. Before implementing this policy, we conducted a large-scale survey and used the responses to guide our decisions on fee level, waivers, and implementation. We will continue to monitor the policy’s impact and make adjustments if needed to ensure the journal remains accessible and healthy.