Best colleges for Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Biomedical/Medical Engineering by graduate earnings are University of Pennsylvania ($93,310), Rice University ($88,307) and California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo ($81,186), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA): $93,310, 246 graduates a year
- Rice University (Houston, TX): $88,307, 110 graduates a year
- California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo, CA): $81,186, 132 graduates a year
- University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA): $80,508, 134 graduates a year
- Wentworth Institute of Technology (Boston, MA): $80,401, 28 graduates a year
Compare 240 U.S. colleges offering Biomedical/Medical Engineering by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 50 states.
Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $64,298 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 14.05 and the Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs
The Biomedical/Medical Engineering program focuses on applying engineering principles and design concepts to the fields of medicine and biology, enhancing healthcare applications. This program is ideal for students interested in improving health care treatment through innovative technology and engineering solutions.
Students in this program will gain core skills in active listening, critical thinking, and mathematics, alongside knowledge in engineering, biology, and physics. Coursework typically includes designing medical equipment, conducting research, and evaluating biomedical systems.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $93,310 | 246 | 97% | $22,055 | $15,593 |
| 2 | Rice University Houston, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $88,307 | 110 | 95% | $13,264 | — |
| 3 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $81,186 | 132 | 86% | — | $20,500 |
| 4 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $80,508 | 134 | 92% | $26,873 | $14,500 |
| 5 | Wentworth Institute of Technology Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $80,401 | 28 | 68% | $32,713 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $78,815 | 141 | 87% | $27,976 | $23,250 |
| 7 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $78,283 | 163 | 90% | $32,926 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,928 | 420 | 94% | $11,888 | $11,207 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $76,531 | 161 | 86% | — | $24,164 |
| 10 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $76,184 | 159 | 85% | — | $21,500 |
| 11 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $74,860 | 143 | 78% | $36,004 | $30,697 |
| 12 | Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,562 | 487 | 94% | — | $22,750 |
| 13 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $74,427 | 83 | 84% | $28,900 | $26,000 |
| 14 | Brown University Providence, RI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $74,180 | 65 | 96% | $14,644 | — |
| 15 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,094 | 178 | 90% | — | $20,492 |
| 16 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,016 | 202 | 85% | — | $18,638 |
| 17 | Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,710 | 36 | 88% | $44,094 | $21,390 |
| 18 | Marquette University Milwaukee, WI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,526 | 51 | 83% | $25,376 | $27,000 |
| 19 | Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, NJ Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,454 | 85 | 87% | $34,827 | $27,000 |
| 20 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,348 | 223 | 93% | — | $14,896 |
| 21 | Purdue University West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,749 | 295 | 83% | — | $19,500 |
| 22 | Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,440 | 46 | 88% | $26,912 | $26,000 |
| 23 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,344 | 51 | 70% | $28,133 | $29,183 |
| 24 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,166 | 96 | 75% | — | $23,250 |
| 25 | University of Delaware Newark, DE Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,980 | 60 | 81% | — | $25,990 |
Specializations within Biomedical/Medical Engineering
1 of the 1 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 14.05 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 50 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-2031, Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Biomedical/Medical Engineering program can expect a favorable job outlook, with a projected growth rate of 5.2% and approximately 1,300 annual openings. The median wage for this field is $106,950, and a typical education requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Biomedical/Medical Engineering
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 14.05.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 14.05 (Biomedical/Medical Engineering) maps to 3 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9041 | Architectural and Engineering Managers |
| 17-2031 | Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineersprimary |
| 25-1032 | Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Evaluate the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of biomedical equipment.
- Prepare technical reports, data summary documents, or research articles for scientific publication, regulatory submissions, or patent applications.
- Design or develop medical diagnostic or clinical instrumentation, equipment, or procedures, using the principles of engineering and biobehavioral sciences.
- Conduct research, along with life scientists, chemists, and medical scientists, on the engineering aspects of the biological systems of humans and animals.
- Adapt or design computer hardware or software for medical science uses.
- Maintain databases of experiment characteristics or results.
Common questions
What is Biomedical/Medical Engineering?+
It is the application of engineering principles to medicine and biology for healthcare applications.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and active learning, among others.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with an expected growth rate of 5.2%.
What is the average salary for Biomedical Engineers?+
The median wage for Biomedical Engineers is $106,950.
How much do Biomedical/Medical Engineering graduates earn?+
Biomedical/Medical Engineering graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $64,298, College Scorecard (2019); the Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers occupation pays about $116,890 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Biomedical/Medical Engineering?+
Biomedical/Medical Engineering maps to CIP 14.05 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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.
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