2026 Best Value Biomedical Engineering Schools in California

1

University Of California San Diego
La Jolla, CA

For return on investment in biomedical engineering, no school beat University Of California San Diego this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Biomedical Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Early-career biomedical engineering graduates make about $82,606. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.

2

California State University Long Beach
Long Beach, CA

California State University Long Beach came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value biomedical engineering schools. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,374 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Students borrow a median of $15,720 to complete the biomedical engineering program here. Biomedical Engineering graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $66,090 early in their careers. Set against $15,720 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.

3

Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Stanford University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value biomedical engineering schools. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Biomedical Engineering graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Biomedical Engineering graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $50,487 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.

4

University Of California Irvine
Irvine, CA

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Irvine earned it the #4 place for biomedical engineering. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Students borrow a median of $17,390 to complete the biomedical engineering program here. Early-career biomedical engineering graduates make about $76,583. Set against $17,390 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.

5

San Jose State University
San Jose, CA

San Jose State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value biomedical engineering schools. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. Students from in state pay about $8,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.

6

University Of California Merced
Merced, CA

University Of California Merced earned the #6 position for value in biomedical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Merced, University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,653, while out-of-state students pay about $46,541. Biomedical Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,234 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biomedical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Merced generally make around $57,223. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Merced admits about 90% of applicants.

7

University Of California Riverside
Riverside, CA

University Of California Riverside placed #7 among the best values for biomedical engineering. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,636, compared with $46,524 for out-of-state students. Biomedical Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,877 in student loans. Early-career biomedical engineering graduates make about $61,342. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.

8

University Of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA

University Of California Los Angeles placed #8 among the best values for biomedical engineering. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Biomedical Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biomedical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $57,874. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.

9

University Of California Berkeley
Berkeley, CA

University Of California Berkeley earned the #9 position for value in biomedical engineering this year. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Biomedical Engineering graduates carry a median of $14,896 in student loans. Biomedical Engineering graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $78,954 early in their careers. Set against $14,896 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.

10

University Of California Davis
Davis, CA

University Of California Davis earned the #10 position for value in biomedical engineering this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. In-state tuition and fees average $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,977 to complete the biomedical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, biomedical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $68,419. Set against $15,977 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.

11

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #11 position for value in biomedical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,161, with out-of-state students paying around $33,230. Biomedical Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Early-career biomedical engineering graduates make about $84,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 31%.

12

San Diego State University
San Diego, CA

San Diego State University placed #12 among the best values for biomedical engineering. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,328 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,417 to complete the biomedical engineering program here. Early-career biomedical engineering graduates make about $51,162. Set against $16,417 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. San Diego State University admits about 36% of applicants.

13

California Institute Of Technology
Pasadena, CA

California Institute Of Technology placed #13 among the best values for biomedical engineering. Located in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,898. Early-career biomedical engineering graduates make about $173,344. The acceptance rate is 3%.

14

University Of The Pacific
Stockton, CA

University Of The Pacific ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value biomedical engineering schools. University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. In-state tuition and fees average $57,080. Typical student debt for biomedical engineering graduates is $26,033. Early-career biomedical engineering graduates make about $77,099. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of The Pacific admits about 71% of applicants.

15

California Baptist University
Riverside, CA

California Baptist University landed the #15 spot for biomedical engineering value this year. Set in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,228. Typical student debt for biomedical engineering graduates is $28,169. Soon after graduation, biomedical engineering degree recipients from California Baptist University generally make around $51,999. That is a strong return on a $28,169 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.

16

University Of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA

University Of Southern California landed the #16 spot for biomedical engineering value this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. Typical student debt for biomedical engineering graduates is $14,500. Soon after graduation, biomedical engineering degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $83,005. Set against $14,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 10%.

17

Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA

Loyola Marymount University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value biomedical engineering schools. Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $61,867 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,248 to complete the biomedical engineering program here. Early-career biomedical engineering graduates make about $52,935. Set against $22,248 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.

18

Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University landed the #18 spot for biomedical engineering value this year. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,293 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for biomedical engineering graduates is $21,390. Early-career biomedical engineering graduates make about $73,710. That is a strong return on a $21,390 median debt. The acceptance rate is 48%.