by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering covers 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. Examples: [Cell And Tissue Engineering], [Neural Engineering], [Biomaterials Engineering], [Biomechanics]. Read on to learn the key facts every bioengineering & biomedical engineering major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering bioengineering & biomedical engineering programs.
Nationwide, bioengineering & biomedical engineering is a popular field of study, with 13,914 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 235 schools to determine the best overall colleges for bioengineering & biomedical engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of bioengineering & biomedical engineering programs later in this article.
Studies in Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations bioengineering & biomedical engineering graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a bioengineering & biomedical engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a bioengineering & biomedical engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several bioengineering & 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 bioengineering & 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in bioengineering & biomedical engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in bioengineering & biomedical engineering opens doors to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to bioengineering & biomedical engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to bioengineering & 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% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of bioengineering & biomedical engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 bioengineering & biomedical engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers bioengineering & 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 bioengineering & biomedical engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased bioengineering & biomedical engineering school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
