Biomedical Engineering: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Biomedical Engineering is an interdisciplinary field that merges engineering principles with biological and medical sciences to innovate solutions for healthcare challenges. This program equips students with the analytical and technical expertise needed to design, develop, and assess advanced biomedical technologies and systems that improve patient outcomes and healthcare delivery.
- Biomedical Instrumentation: Focuses on the development and application of devices that measure, monitor, and analyze physiological signals, such as ECGs, blood pressure monitors, and imaging systems.
- Medical Imaging and Signal Processing: Involves the acquisition, enhancement, and interpretation of medical images using computational methods, enabling clearer diagnostics and treatment planning.
- Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering: Explores the design and application of materials that interact with biological systems, including scaffolds for regenerating tissues and materials used in implants and prosthetics.
- Biomechanics: Applies mechanical principles to understand the structure, function, and movement of biological systems, from cellular mechanics to human locomotion and orthopedic device design.
- Health Information Systems: Centers on the integration of data, software, and communication technologies to manage patient records, streamline clinical workflows, and support decision-making in healthcare settings.
- Artificial Organs and Prosthetics: Involves the design and evaluation of engineered devices that replicate or replace the function of failing biological organs, including pacemakers, cochlear implants, and advanced limb prostheses.
- Health Systems and Care Delivery Engineering: Addresses the optimization of healthcare processes, resource allocation, and system-level performance to enhance efficiency, safety, and accessibility in medical environments.
Biomedical Engineering Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Biomedical Engineering Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Biomedical Engineering degrees, including Architectural and Engineering Managers, Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers and Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 272,110 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers 11-9041 | $167,740 | $111,450 - $239,200 | 210,340 | $80.64 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers 17-2031 | $106,950 | $71,860 - $165,060 | 21,860 | $51.42 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1032 | $106,120 | $59,790 - $200,650 | 39,910 | N/A |
Biomedical Engineering Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $104,080 in Nebraska to $152,217 in California—a 46% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Hawaii, and Louisiana. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 272,110 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Biomedical Engineering by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Biomedical Engineering programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Biomedical Engineering is found at Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Main Campus (423 graduates), Johns Hopkins University (JHU) (372 graduates), University of California (UCSD), San Diego (322 graduates), Duke University (274 graduates), and Columbia University in the City of New York (265 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 11,796 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
423 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gatech.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
372 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
322 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| Duke University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
274 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
265 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
259 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
259 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
249 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
226 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
211 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| University of California (UCB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
207 | Berkeley, California | Public | berkeley.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
204 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Clemson University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
200 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
191 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
183 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| Drexel University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
180 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| Cornell University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
176 | Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
173 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
166 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Public | unc.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
165 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
157 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
150 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
149 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | wpi.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
148 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
144 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
143 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
142 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
139 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
139 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
136 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
133 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
133 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
132 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
131 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
126 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
126 | Richardson, Texas | Public | utdallas.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
125 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
124 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
124 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
120 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
119 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| Tufts University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
111 | Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
107 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | calpoly.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
107 | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
106 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
105 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
105 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Yale University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
104 | New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
104 | Troy, New York | Private | rpi.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
104 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| Binghamton University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
100 | Vestal, New York | Public | binghamton.edu |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
98 | Newark, New Jersey | Public | njit.edu |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
95 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | web.mit.edu |
| Stevens Institute of Technology |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
88 | Hoboken, New Jersey | Private | stevens.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
87 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Stanford University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
86 | Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
| Rice University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
85 | Houston, Texas | Private | rice.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
81 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
80 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
80 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
79 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
78 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
78 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
76 | Arlington, Texas | Public | uta.edu |
| Brown University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
75 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | brown.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
75 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
73 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
71 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
70 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
68 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| Marquette University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
68 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | marquette.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
66 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
66 | Lowell, Massachusetts | Public | uml.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
62 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
62 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
60 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
60 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
59 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
59 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| Michigan Technological University (MTU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
58 | Houghton, Michigan | Public | mtu.edu |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
57 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ucdenver.edu |
| Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
57 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | iit.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
57 | Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
56 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| George Mason University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
56 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
55 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTSA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
55 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | utsa.edu |
| University of Memphis (UofM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
54 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
|
53 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
52 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) |
Bachelor's
|
52 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | lsu.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
52 | Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
51 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
51 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico |
Bachelor's
|
51 | Hato Rey, Puerto Rico | Private | pupr.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
50 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| University of Akron |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
50 | Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
49 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| North Carolina A & T State University (NC A&T) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
49 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | ncat.edu |
| Lehigh University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
48 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Private | lehigh.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Biomedical Engineering programs
How much can I earn with a Biomedical Engineering degree?
Salaries for Biomedical Engineering graduates vary by role and location. Architectural and Engineering Managers earn a median of $167,740 annually, while Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers earn around $106,950. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $152,217 compared to $104,080 in Nebraska. Approximately 272,110 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Biomedical Engineering programs?
Currently 235 accredited institutions offer Biomedical Engineering degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Main Campus (423 graduates), Johns Hopkins University (JHU) (372 graduates), and University of California (UCSD), San Diego (322 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Biomedical Engineering growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 6,049 in 2010 to 13,914 in 2023-24. This represents a 130% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Biomedical Engineering degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Architectural and Engineering Managers, Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers, and Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 272,110 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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