Dozens of colleges, universities, and institutes have solid programs that can prepare you for a career in biomedical engineering. What you want to find is the best one for you.
Any biomedical engineering program can confidently say that it combines academic excellence with real-world impact. That’s great … but that doesn’t really help identify the best biomedical engineering degree program. So, the answer to the question, “Which college is best for biomedical engineering?” really depends on your goals.
You need to ask questions that address your wants and needs. Do you want access to cutting-edge research and modern facilities? Does the degree program focus on the area of biomedical engineering that matters to you? Do you want a collegial and collaborative environment? Are you looking for a strong pre-med track? (A biomedical engineering degree is a solid foundation for med school, after all.) Do you want to attend a big university? Are you looking for small class sizes? Is affordability the bottom line?
These questions — and others that pop into your head as you conduct your search — should form the checklist that helps you find your ideal experience. Let’s walk through some considerations for evaluating biomedical engineering programs.
Which college is best for biomedical engineering in the USA?
There are rankings out there that attempt to answer this question, using varying methodologies. One popular rankings source, U.S. News & World Report, will give you a ranked list, with schools such as Johns Hopkins, Georgia Tech, and MIT atop the 2025 rundown. But as U.S. News states in its methodology explanation, “A school’s ‘Best Engineering Schools’ rank should be one consideration — not the lone determinant — in where a student applies.”
An early step you should take: check the list of colleges and universities with biomedical engineering majors that are accredited by ABET (formerly known as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). Each year, 2,200 experts from 34 member societies contribute to ABET’s goal of assuring confidence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. In other words, programs on the list are the real deal.
Another aspect to consider: concentration of biomedical engineering bachelor’s degrees awarded. This is calculated by taking the biomedical engineering bachelor’s degrees conferred divided by total undergraduate enrollment. It indicates the sort of footprint the biomedical engineering program has on campus. Students are choosing the major and completing the program in sizable numbers.
Below you’ll find the top 10 colleges by concentration among institutions both large (at least 20,000 total enrollment) and small (fewer than 20K total enrollment), along with their recent tuition costs.
| Institution | State | In-state cost* | Out-of-state cost* |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | North Carolina | $8,989 | $39,330 |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | North Carolina | $8,895 | $31,767 |
| Clemson University | South Carolina | $15,554 | $39,498 |
| University of Iowa | Iowa | $10,964 | $32,927 |
| University of Texas at Dallas | Texas | $14,564 | $40,064 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Michigan | $17,228 | $58,072 |
| University of California-Irvine | California | $14,237 | $45,014 |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | New Jersey | $17,239 | $36,001 |
| University of California-Riverside | California | $14,170 | $44,947 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | Wisconsin | $11,205 | $40,603 |
Source: IPEDS, 2023-24 completions in biomedical engineering
* — Cost comprises tuition and fees.
| Institution | State | Cost* |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Massachusetts | $59,070 |
| Johns Hopkins University | Maryland | $63,340 |
| California Institute of Technology | California | $63,255 |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | New Jersey | $60,952 |
| Case Western Reserve University | Ohio | $64,671 |
| Duke University | North Carolina | $65,805 |
| Union College | New York | $66,456 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | Georgia | $11,764 / $32,876 |
| Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Indiana | $56,674 |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering | Wisconsin | $48,421 |
Source: IPEDS, 2023-24 completions in biomedical engineering
* — Cost comprises tuition and fees. If two figures are listed, institution has both in- and out-of-state tuition amounts.
Which college is best for biomedical engineering in the world?
Even if we broaden the scope to “the world,” your priorities — research leadership, hands-on learning experiences, or entrepreneurial opportunities — should shape the answer to this question. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some leading institutions in various global regions.
North America
Best for research reputation
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): Leads in synthetic biology, brain–computer interfaces, and NIH-funded projects.
- Harvard University: Pioneering stem cell, imaging, and regenerative medicine work.
- Stanford University: Major driver in biomedical research and digital health platforms.
- University of California, San Diego (UCSD): Globally ranked, especially in bioinformatics, systems biology, and tissue engineering.
Best for access to a medical setting
- Johns Hopkins University: Tightly coupled with a world-renowned medical center; rich in applied, translational research.
- University of Iowa: Offers hospital-embedded learning through UI Health Care Medical Center, one of the nation’s top academic medical centers. Students join design teams early, work with real patients and clinicians, and benefit from four focused tracks (bioinformatics, biomechanics, biomaterials, cardiovascular/bioimaging). A practical choice for students eyeing med school, translational research, or hands-on patient impact.
- Case Western Reserve University: Home to strong biomedical and clinical partnerships, particularly with Cleveland Clinic.
- Washington University in St. Louis (commonly referred to as WashU): Strong BME department with integrated med-school research; especially good for those pursuing MD/PhD or medtech careers.
Best for innovation and entrepreneurship
- Stanford University: The birthplace of dozens of biotech startups; unparalleled proximity to Silicon Valley.
- MIT: Ecosystem of biotech accelerators, hackathons, and commercialization pathways.
- Duke University: Top BME program with major focus on innovation, design, and entrepreneurship.
- University of Toronto: Canada's largest research university with a growing medtech startup pipeline, particularly in AI-driven health.
Best “public ivy” state universities
- University of Iowa: A quiet powerhouse in clinical integration and real-world BME design. Offers four specialization tracks, capstone design, and undergrad research starting early. High med school placement and standout hospital access.
- Georgia Institute of Technology: Nationally ranked BME program; strong pipeline into industry and grad school. Known for co-op opportunities and career return on investment.
- University of Florida: Large, well-funded engineering program with rising rankings and an increasingly competitive BME track.
- Purdue University: Especially strong in engineering fundamentals, with solid BME placements in medtech and grad school.
- University of Wisconsin-Madison: Recognized for BME innovation, research output, and robust student support structures.
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor: Top-ranked public university with powerhouse research and massive BME infrastructure; slightly more selective and costly, but still technically fits.
Asia
Best for innovation and global reach
- National University of Singapore (NUS): Asia’s highest-ranked BME program; emphasizes innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Tsinghua University (China): Leader in biomedical research and biotech innovation in China; highly competitive and globally recognized.
Best for affordability in English-language instruction
- Indian Institute of Technology (Delhi/Bombay): Strong BME focus, growing global reputation, and low tuition for international students.
Europe
Best for global recognition
- University College London (UCL): Top-ranked in Europe; known for interdisciplinary biomedical engineering with access to NHS-linked hospitals.
- Imperial College London: Combines rigorous engineering training with translational research in health tech and regenerative medicine.
Best for technical excellence
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) (Switzerland): Research powerhouse; excellent for students focused on biomaterials, computational biology, or bioinstrumentation.
Rest of the World
- University of Melbourne (Australia): Offers highly regarded biomedical programs and global industry partnerships, particularly in biotech.
How much does it cost to study biomedical engineering in the US?
What you’ll pay to study biomedical engineering depends on things such as the location of the school and your state of residency, and whether the degree is offered by a public or private institution. The charts we presented in an earlier section — the ones that listed the top schools by concentration of BME degrees awarded — provide a glimpse of what you’ll pay each year. Below you’ll find an average from a larger pool of universities and institutions.
$ 13,131
Public, in-state college/university
$ 33,882
Public, out-of-state college/university
$ 62,201
Private college/university
Source: IPEDS, 2023-24 bachelor’s degree completions in biomedical engineering Methodology: Using data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), we ranked 100 U.S. institutions by the number of BME bachelor’s degrees they awarded. These 100 schools were divided into public and private categories, and then we averaged their 2023-2024 tuition (the most recent data on hand).
If these numbers have you stressed, keep in mind that there are ways to lower your annual cost. Seek out scholarship opportunities wherever you can. At the University of Iowa, incoming first-year students may be considered for competitive scholarship opportunities through the College of Engineering, and current Iowa students can apply for awards based on merit, departmental needs, and an applicant’s financial need.
In addition, get familiar with the acronym FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Apply every year, starting in your senior year of high school. This can lead to grants, work-study, loans, or scholarships.
How to choose the right biomedical engineering school for you
A good starting point when narrowing down your biomedical engineering degree choices: the curriculum offered by each school. Look at the course offerings and areas of concentration to make sure you can meet your end goals.
“If you’re interested in the electrical engineering aspect of biomedical engineering, you should look at the school’s electrical engineering department to see if it is robust — or to make sure there is such a department at all,” says Kim “Avrama” Blackwell, professor and departmental executive officer of biomedical engineering at the University of Iowa.
Direct admission is another factor to consider. Some programs allow you to apply directly into the biomedical engineering major, which allows you to hit the ground running. (Often you can enter as an undecided engineering major and choose biomedical later, if you would rather test the waters.) Direct admission can increase the community feel of a program — since you’re given a seat right off the bat, you don’t have to look at the students around you as cutthroat competitors. Instead, you can spend these collegiate years strengthening one another as you work toward your academic and professional goals. Look for that “community over competition” vibe in your programs of choice, whether they have direct admission or not.
Zoom out a bit and view the institution as a whole and look for undergraduate research opportunities available across campus. And while you’re at it, ask this question: Does the institution have a medical center on campus? If so, the opportunity for valuable experience grows exponentially.
“Having a high-ranked medical campus gives you opportunities to interact and engage with professors and doctors in a variety of fields,” says Josh Atcher, director of academic advising and student support in the University of Iowa College of Engineering. “You can get involved in labs; you can get internships; you can have some really great experiences. You can put what you're learning in the classroom into practice. That gives you a very competitive edge in the job market and helps you figure out where you want to go after graduation.”
“At Iowa, our medical school and health sciences campus is a 15-minute walk from the College of Engineering — not a 30- to 45-minute drive,” Blackwell says. “Our students enjoy the proximity and the numerous experiences they can get in research, be it in medicine, nursing, dentistry, or public health.”
What are the different types of biomedical engineering?
Biomedical engineering is a broad and interdisciplinary field that is constantly evolving alongside advances in medicine, biology, and technology. This means that there are many types of biomedical engineers, each focusing on a unique area and each employed in a very different job.
Some of the more common types of biomedical engineering include:
- Bioinformatics and computational bioengineering
- Bioinstrumentation
- Biomaterials
- Biomechanics
- Cell and tissue engineering
- Clinical engineering
- Medical imaging, biomedical imaging, bioimaging
- Rehabilitation engineering
All these options give you the flexibility to align your education with your passions and professional goals. Many biomedical engineering programs include focus areas designed to enable their students to acquire in-depth knowledge in their specific area of interest.
If you have an idea of the type of biomedical engineering you want to study, make sure the schools you are looking at provide a pathway to do so.
And if you don’t know which type of biomedical engineering you want to focus on, that’s OK. Most schools will not make you choose right away. The University of Iowa College of Engineering, for example, doesn’t require you to decide until the end of your fourth semester. That way, you can take a variety of courses to see what areas you like best.
“Biomedical engineering encompasses a broad range of interests, so make sure the school has the resources to support the track that interests you,” says Kelsey Lyons, a University of Iowa biomedical engineering grad and fourth-year student at Georgetown University School of Medicine. “If you’re more inclined to computer science, make sure your program incorporates coding classes. Interested in product development? Make sure there are courses in computer-aided design or access to 3D printing.”