Best colleges for Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of biomedical and health systems and products such as integrated biomedical systems, instrumentation, medical information systems, artificial organs and prostheses, and health management and care delivery systems.
240 U.S. institutions graduated 14,478 Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 14.0501, a specialization of Biomedical/Medical Engineering (CIP 14.05), and leads most directly to the Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers occupation (BLS SOC 17-2031).
About Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of biomedical and health systems and products such as integrated biomedical systems, instrumentation, medical information systems, artificial organs and prostheses, and health management and care delivery systems.
See also: 31.0505 - Exercise Science and Kinesiology., 26.0913 - Biomechanics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering program prepares students to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development, and evaluation of biomedical systems and products. This program is ideal for individuals interested in improving healthcare through technology, focusing on areas such as integrated biomedical systems, artificial organs, and medical information systems.
Students will gain core skills in engineering and technology, mathematics, biology, and physics. Coursework typically includes topics such as cell and tissue engineering, neural engineering, and biomaterials engineering, equipping graduates with the knowledge to innovate in the biomedical field.
Credentials awarded
What Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree8,777 graduates / yr · 187 institutions61%
- Master's degree3,971 graduates / yr · 167 institutions27%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship1,468 graduates / yr · 132 institutions10%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate153 graduates / yr · 11 institutions1.1%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year53 graduates / yr · 9 institutions0.4%
- Post-master's certificate22 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.2%
- Associate's degree19 graduates / yr · 5 institutions0.1%
- Award of less than 12 weeks15 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 7,256 |
| 2013 | 7,795 |
| 2014 | 8,377 |
| 2015 | 9,115 |
| 2016 | 10,013 |
| 2017 | 10,551 |
| 2018 | 11,393 |
| 2019 | 11,891 |
| 2020 | 12,170 |
| 2021 | 12,712 |
| 2022 | 13,118 |
| 2023 | 13,931 |
| 2024 | 13,836 |
| 2025 | 14,478 |
Top 50 institutions for Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field starting salary* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 487 | 94% | — | $74,562 |
| 2 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoralMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 420 | 94% | $11,888 | $76,928 |
| 3 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 320 | 86% | — | $65,045 |
| 4 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 306 | 93% | — | $70,307 |
| 5 | Purdue University West Lafayette, INPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 295 | 83% | — | $72,749 |
| 6 | Duke University Durham, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert.Doctoral | 264 | 97% | $16,260 | $69,873 |
| 7 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 255 | 89% | $21,956 | $69,209 |
| 8 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 246 | 97% | $22,055 | $93,310 |
| 9 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 230 | 84% | — | $63,249 |
| 10 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 223 | 93% | — | $73,348 |
| 11 | Columbia University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 212 | 96% | $15,315 | $62,895 |
| 12 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 206 | 68% | — | $60,828 |
| 13 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NCPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 202 | 85% | — | $74,016 |
| 14 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NCPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 199 | 91% | — | $70,561 |
| 15 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 195 | 89% | — | $56,045 |
| 16 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 182 | 95% | $17,613 | $61,397 |
| 17 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 180 | 87% | — | $67,170 |
| 18 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WIPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 178 | 90% | — | $74,094 |
| 19 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 164 | 85% | — | $57,062 |
| 20 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 163 | 90% | $32,926 | $78,283 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania State University University Park, PAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 161 | 86% | — | $76,531 |
| 22 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, ILPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 160 | 85% | — | $71,485 |
| 23 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 160 | 85% | — | $67,627 |
| 24 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 159 | 85% | — | $76,184 |
| 25 | Ohio State University Columbus, OHPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 159 | 88% | — | $65,469 |
| 26 | Clemson University Clemson, SCPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 159 | 87% | — | $65,110 |
| 27 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 156 | 91% | — | $60,524 |
| 28 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 148 | 94% | $14,126 | — |
| 29 | University of Virginia Charlottesville, VAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 144 | 96% | — | $66,823 |
| 30 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 143 | 78% | $36,004 | $74,860 |
| 31 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 141 | 87% | $27,976 | $78,815 |
| 32 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 139 | 93% | — | $57,874 |
| 33 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 139 | 76% | — | $58,916 |
| 34 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 134 | 92% | $26,873 | $80,508 |
| 35 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 132 | 86% | — | $81,186 |
| 36 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 128 | 84% | — | $62,097 |
| 37 | University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MDPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 121 | 89% | — | — |
| 38 | Northwestern University Evanston, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 119 | 95% | $14,799 | $68,592 |
| 39 | New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 119 | 73% | — | $63,449 |
| 40 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 114 | 65% | — | $68,783 |
| 41 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 112 | 83% | — | $66,075 |
| 42 | Rice University Houston, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 110 | 95% | $13,264 | $88,307 |
| 43 | University of California-Riverside Riverside, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 109 | 76% | — | $61,342 |
| 44 | University of California-Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 107 | 86% | — | $68,419 |
| 45 | Binghamton University Vestal, NYPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 106 | 82% | — | $58,999 |
| 46 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert.Doctoral | 104 | 94% | $23,803 | — |
| 47 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 104 | 86% | — | — |
| 48 | University of Rochester Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 102 | 85% | $25,874 | $69,414 |
| 49 | University of North Texas Denton, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 102 | 61% | — | — |
| 50 | San Jose State University San Jose, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 97 | 69% | — | — |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Biomedical/Medical Engineering field (CIP 14.05) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 50 states & territories
Where Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering graduates come from. Each state links to all Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-2031, Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as bioengineers and biomedical engineers, with an outlook for job growth at 5.2% and about 1,300 annual openings. The median wage for these professionals is approximately $106,950, with a typical education requirement of a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 14.0501
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineersprimary SOC 17-2031 | $109,370 | +5.2% Faster than average | ~1,300 | Bachelor's degree |
Architectural and Engineering Managers SOC 11-9041 | $171,270 | +3.8% About as fast as average | ~14,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1032 | $109,270 | +8.1% Much faster than average | ~4,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree, as well as a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, mathematics, and science.
What types of jobs can I get?+
You can work as a bioengineer, architectural manager, or engineering teacher.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 5.2%.
What is the CIP code for Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering?+
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering is CIP 14.0501 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Biomedical/Medical Engineering (CIP 14.05). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of biomedical and health systems and products such as integrated biomedical systems, instrumentation, medical information systems, artificial organs and prostheses, and health management and care delivery systems.
How many institutions offer Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering programs?+
240 U.S. institutions reported Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 50 states & territories, awarding 14,478 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Biomedical/Medical Engineering graduates.
How much do Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers occupation, which Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering most directly leads to, pays a median of $109,370 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Biomedical/Medical Engineering field report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $64,298, College Scorecard.
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all Biomedical/Medical Engineering graduates, so its figures match the Biomedical/Medical Engineering program page.
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