by our College Data Analytics TeamBiomedical Engineers work to improve the quality and effectiveness of patient care. In this major, you will learn how to analyze and design solutions to problems in medicine. Biomedical engineers are able to help improve the quality of life for many patients by designing and building medical devices such as prosthetic limbs or artificial organs. The world of biomedical engineering is exciting and constantly making new advances!
Every college sill have slightly different requirements for this major. However, you can expect to take classes like anatomy, biochemistry, biology, biomaterials, biomechanics, biophysical chemistry, computer programming for engineers, genetics, mathematics, organic chemistry, physics, microbiology, molecular cell biology, and micro-machines and robotics.
A major in Biomedical Engineering involves the study of Biomedical/medical Engineering. Read on to learn the key facts every biomedical engineering student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering biomedical engineering programs.
Across the country, biomedical engineering draws strong interest, with 13,914 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Biomedical Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 235 schools to determine the best overall colleges for biomedical engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of biomedical engineering programs later in this article.
Studies in Biomedical Engineering build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations biomedical engineering graduates commonly enter.
If you like to come up with creative solutions to problems than this major is for you! You will be learning how things work, as well as the basics of medicine and healthcare. Students should be prepared to handle a heavy workload of both math and science. Calculus and other advanced mathematics will be used in analysis and design when working. You will spend long hours working in the lab finding solutions to problems.
You will often work on team projects while in college. This essential to prepare you for a career where you will constantly work with others: fellow engineers, project managers, patients, physicians, and other professionals. Learn to express yourself clearly as well as understand the concerns and needs of others. Don't be afraid to push boundaries in order to improve the biomedical engineering field.
Most colleges require a minimum of a summer internship, but most will want you working in the field during the school year as well.
Skills developed in a biomedical engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a biomedical engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several biomedical engineering degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 11 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 8,633 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,923 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,334 |
People currently working in careers related to biomedical engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 40.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 17.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 12.7% |
| Master’s degree | 12.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.4% |
| First professional degree | 1.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in biomedical engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
There are many different career paths that you may take with a degree in biomedical engineering. This includes pharmaceuticals, medical devices, artificial organs, prosthetics, medical instrumentation, and medical imaging. You may also choose to go into health management systems. This field is constantly advancing so many students decide to go back to school in order to stay knowledgeable on the latest technology and techniques in their specific field.
This field is growing as the baby-boomer generation ages and there is a demand for new medical devices and procedures. As technology advances, so will the biomedical engineering field, thus creating new areas of work.
Majoring in biomedical engineering opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to biomedical engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to biomedical engineering.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | 63,122 | 12.6% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of biomedical engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $68,911 |
| 4 years | $86,935 |
| 5 years | $99,442 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for biomedical engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers biomedical engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $121,651 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
With 235 different biomedical engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased biomedical engineering school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in biomedical engineering, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering | 13,914 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 42,939 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 26,760 |
| Civil Engineering | 20,005 |
| Computer Engineering | 19,986 |
| Engineering, General | 13,411 |
| Chemical Engineering | 10,939 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 9,596 |
| Industrial Engineering | 8,533 |
| Systems Engineering | 3,956 |
| Engineering, Other | 3,529 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
