Which state pays biomedical engineering bachelor's graduates the most?

Pennsylvania, where the median program pays its graduates $72,440 in their first year, the highest of 7 state rankings. Massachusetts is next, at $69,953.

Which biomedical engineering bachelor's program pays the most?

UPenn in Pennsylvania reports the highest first-year pay of the 115 programs ranked here, $93,310. Its median federal debt is $15,593.

How much debt do biomedical engineering bachelor's graduates have?

The median program leaves its graduates with $23,125 in federal debt. Across programs, the median debt is 36% of first-year pay.

Highest-Paying Biomedical Engineering (Bachelor's) Programs in the US

115 programs report first-year pay
7 state rankings
Bachelor's in Biomedical/Medical Engineering

College Scorecard June 2026 release · BLS wages May 2025

The short answer

The median biomedical engineering bachelor's program in the US pays its graduates $64,298 in their first year and $94,356 five years after. Pennsylvania has the highest state median ($72,440), and Illinois the lowest ($55,011). The median program leaves its graduates with $23,125 in federal debt.

Median first-year pay$64,298Across 115 programs

Median pay after 5 years$94,356Across 88 programs

Median federal debt$23,125Across 121 programs

Debt-to-earnings36%Across 110 programs

All 115 programs, ranked by graduate pay

Each program is ranked by the median pay of its graduates one year after they finished, from College Scorecard. This measures what graduates earn, not how good the teaching is. Pay also depends on where graduates live and work. Programs that don't report a figure are listed last when you sort by it.

#	School	Year 1 pay	After cost of living	Year 5 pay	Debt	Debt to pay
1	UPennPhiladelphia, PA · private nonprofit	$93,310	Not adjusted	$121,488	$15,593	17%
2	Rice UniversityHouston, TX · private nonprofit	$88,307	Not adjusted	$89,863	Not reported	Not reported
3	Cal Poly SLOSan Luis Obispo, CA · public	$81,186	$73,326	$111,260	$20,500	25%
4	USCLos Angeles, CA · private nonprofit	$80,508	$72,713	$112,503	$14,500	18%
5	Wentworth Institute of TechnologyBoston, MA · private nonprofit	$80,401	$76,024	$103,502	$27,000	34%
6	Case WesternCleveland, OH · private nonprofit	$78,815	Not adjusted	$99,721	$23,250	29%
7	WPIWorcester, MA · private nonprofit	$78,283	$74,022	$102,711	$27,000	34%
8	University of the PacificStockton, CA · private nonprofit	$77,099	$69,634	Not reported	$26,033	34%
9	Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD · private nonprofit	$76,928	Not adjusted	$118,167	$11,207	15%
10	University of New HampshireDurham, NH · public	$76,755	Not adjusted	Not reported	$26,490	35%
11	Penn StateUniversity Park, PA · public	$76,531	$78,435	$104,854	$24,164	32%
12	University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN · public	$76,184	$77,249	$93,996	$21,500	28%
13	Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · private nonprofit	$74,860	$76,723	$103,385	$30,697	41%
14	Georgia TechAtlanta, GA · public	$74,562	Not adjusted	$102,958	$22,750	31%
15	RPITroy, NY · private nonprofit	$74,427	Not adjusted	$111,812	$26,000	35%
16	Brown UniversityProvidence, RI · private nonprofit	$74,180	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
17	Southern California Institute of TechnologyAnaheim, CA · private for-profit	$74,115	$66,939	$74,370	$38,130	51%
18	UW-MadisonMadison, WI · public	$74,094	$78,744	$94,667	$20,492	28%
19	NC StateRaleigh, NC · public	$74,016	$78,468	$99,115	$18,638	25%
20	Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara, CA · private nonprofit	$73,710	Not adjusted	$118,457	$21,390	29%
21	Marquette UniversityMilwaukee, WI · private nonprofit	$73,526	Not adjusted	$91,571	$27,000	37%
22	Stevens Institute of TechnologyHoboken, NJ · private nonprofit	$73,454	$67,510	$94,580	$27,000	37%
23	UC BerkeleyBerkeley, CA · public	$73,348	$66,246	$89,225	$14,896	20%
24	PurdueWest Lafayette, IN · public	$72,749	Not adjusted	$92,892	$19,500	27%
25	Lehigh UniversityBethlehem, PA · private nonprofit	$72,440	Not adjusted	$103,136	$26,000	36%
26	RITRochester, NY · private nonprofit	$72,344	Not adjusted	$103,407	$29,183	40%
27	University of CincinnatiCincinnati, OH · public	$72,166	$77,787	$85,432	$23,250	32%
28	University of DelawareNewark, DE · public	$71,980	Not adjusted	$91,058	$25,990	36%
29	IU IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN · public	$71,852	$76,988	$84,223	$20,729	29%
30	Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyTerre Haute, IN · private nonprofit	$71,714	Not adjusted	$93,920	$26,441	37%
31	UIUCChampaign, IL · public	$71,485	$71,515	$103,191	$16,850	24%
32	MITCambridge, MA · private nonprofit	$70,696	$66,848	$106,402	$13,000	18%
33	UNC Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC · public	$70,561	$74,805	Not reported	$15,000	21%
34	University of MichiganAnn Arbor, MI · public	$70,307	Not adjusted	$85,471	$20,000	28%
35	Milwaukee School of EngineeringMilwaukee, WI · private nonprofit	$70,090	$74,489	$85,180	$27,000	39%
36	George Washington UniversityWashington, DC · private nonprofit	$69,942	Not adjusted	$114,006	$23,000	33%
37	Duke UniversityDurham, NC · private nonprofit	$69,873	Not adjusted	$115,268	$13,894	20%
38	University of ToledoToledo, OH · public	$69,711	Not adjusted	$84,310	$19,750	28%
39	University of RochesterRochester, NY · private nonprofit	$69,414	Not adjusted	$101,457	$20,500	30%
40	Boston UniversityBoston, MA · private nonprofit	$69,209	$65,442	$98,562	$26,848	39%
41	University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT · public	$68,783	$69,573	$97,195	$19,476	28%
42	Widener UniversityChester, PA · private nonprofit	$68,762	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	39%
43	Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL · private nonprofit	$68,592	$68,621	$129,919	$17,063	25%
44	UC DavisDavis, CA · public	$68,419	$61,795	$105,286	$15,977	23%
45	University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI · public	$68,410	$66,885	$93,508	$26,367	39%
46	Trine UniversityAngola, IN · private nonprofit	$67,702	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	40%
47	University of PittsburghPittsburgh, PA · public	$67,627	Not adjusted	$103,167	$27,000	40%
48	Rowan UniversityGlassboro, NJ · public	$67,609	$62,138	Not reported	$27,000	40%
49	UC IrvineIrvine, CA · public	$67,170	$60,667	$109,350	$17,390	26%
50	University of MiamiCoral Gables, FL · private nonprofit	$67,064	Not adjusted	$86,005	$18,425	27%
51	UVACharlottesville, VA · public	$66,823	$66,093	$94,692	$18,400	28%
52	Cal State Long BeachLong Beach, CA · public	$66,090	$59,691	Not reported	$15,720	24%
53	UConnStorrs, CT · public	$66,075	$63,773	$94,444	$26,974	41%
54	Ohio StateColumbus, OH · public	$65,469	$70,568	$86,881	$23,125	35%
55	Clemson UniversityClemson, SC · public	$65,110	Not adjusted	$85,149	$22,500	35%
56	UC San DiegoLa Jolla, CA · public	$65,045	$58,747	$118,528	$20,000	31%
57	Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY · private nonprofit	$64,660	Not adjusted	$100,385	$27,000	42%
58	Lawrence Technological UniversitySouthfield, MI · private nonprofit	$64,298	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	42%
59	George MasonFairfax, VA · public	$63,981	$63,282	Not reported	$23,625	37%
60	Michigan TechHoughton, MI · public	$63,831	$66,341	$94,268	$27,000	42%
61	NJITNewark, NJ · public	$63,449	$58,314	$94,193	$22,125	35%
62	Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN · private nonprofit	$63,402	Not adjusted	$105,677	$19,500	31%
63	Texas A&MCollege Station, TX · public	$63,249	$65,167	$101,088	$19,500	31%
64	Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFort Myers, FL · public	$62,972	$60,893	$86,835	$23,000	37%
65	Columbia UniversityNew York, NY · private nonprofit	$62,895	Not adjusted	Not reported	$19,500	31%
66	Union CollegeSchenectady, NY · private nonprofit	$62,624	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	43%
67	University of MemphisMemphis, TN · public	$62,454	$67,981	Not reported	$26,500	42%
68	Louisiana Tech UniversityRuston, LA · public	$62,384	Not adjusted	Not reported	$21,500	34%
69	FIUMiami, FL · public	$62,254	$60,199	$93,714	$22,801	37%
70	RutgersNew Brunswick, NJ · public	$62,097	$57,072	$87,822	$25,989	42%
71	Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY · private nonprofit	$61,397	Not adjusted	Not reported	$15,500	25%
72	UC RiversideRiverside, CA · public	$61,342	$55,403	$92,140	$19,877	32%
73	University of AkronAkron, OH · public	$61,226	$65,995	$76,829	$23,246	38%
74	ASUTempe, AZ · public	$60,828	$60,419	$88,459	$21,429	35%
75	UTSASan Antonio, TX · public	$60,705	$62,546	Not reported	$24,900	41%
76	University of FloridaGainesville, FL · public	$60,524	$58,526	Not reported	$20,253	33%
77	UMass DartmouthNorth Dartmouth, MA · public	$60,237	$56,958	Not reported	$27,000	45%
78	University of MaineOrono, ME · public	$59,864	Not adjusted	Not reported	$20,423	34%
79	University of ArkansasFayetteville, AR · public	$59,504	Not adjusted	$64,718	$27,000	45%
80	Binghamton UniversityVestal, NY · public	$58,999	$54,669	$80,875	$19,000	32%
81	UT DallasRichardson, TX · public	$58,916	$60,702	$82,860	$18,750	32%
82	Miami UniversityOxford, OH · public	$58,914	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	46%
83	Western New England UniversitySpringfield, MA · private nonprofit	$58,437	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	46%
84	University of IowaIowa City, IA · public	$58,144	Not adjusted	$89,577	$27,000	46%
85	UCLALos Angeles, CA · public	$57,874	$52,271	$114,571	$15,000	26%
86	University of South CarolinaColumbia, SC · public	$57,311	Not adjusted	$73,342	$26,000	45%
87	UC MercedMerced, CA · public	$57,223	$51,683	$89,244	$21,234	37%
88	University of WashingtonSeattle, WA · public	$57,062	$53,322	Not reported	$14,000	25%
89	Saint Louis UniversitySaint Louis, MO · private nonprofit	$56,932	Not adjusted	$58,898	$27,000	47%
90	City College of New YorkNew York, NY · public	$56,711	$52,549	$79,610	Not reported	Not reported
91	Colorado School of MinesGolden, CO · public	$56,529	$54,855	$100,802	$25,000	44%
92	UT AustinAustin, TX · public	$56,045	$57,744	$91,099	$21,071	38%
93	University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY · public	$55,974	$51,866	$100,258	$21,000	38%
94	UC Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA · public	$55,856	$50,448	$98,115	$22,500	40%
95	CU DenverDenver, CO · public	$55,550	$53,905	Not reported	$29,625	53%
96	UICChicago, IL · public	$55,011	$55,034	$86,517	$22,500	41%
97	Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · public	$54,415	$55,769	Not reported	$27,000	50%
98	VCURichmond, VA · public	$54,133	$53,542	$76,242	$24,000	44%
99	Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb, IL · public	$54,047	Not adjusted	Not reported	$20,521	38%
100	NC A&TGreensboro, NC · public	$52,948	Not adjusted	Not reported	$30,743	58%
101	Wichita StateWichita, KS · public	$51,636	$57,330	Not reported	$27,250	53%
102	Stanford UniversityStanford, CA · private nonprofit	$50,487	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
103	UW-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI · public	$50,472	$53,639	Not reported	$29,000	57%
104	Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago, IL · private nonprofit	$48,572	$48,592	$72,853	$27,000	56%
105	University of HoustonHouston, TX · public	$48,329	$49,794	$80,209	$13,502	28%
106	Oregon StateCorvallis, OR · public	$48,134	$46,569	$96,618	$23,657	49%
107	University of TennesseeKnoxville, TN · public	$47,261	Not adjusted	$93,023	$22,200	47%
108	Wright StateDayton, OH · public	$45,570	$49,119	$84,716	$23,246	51%
109	Mississippi StateMississippi State, MS · public	$45,483	$52,308	$75,267	$25,350	56%
110	LSUBaton Rouge, LA · public	$44,717	Not adjusted	$74,903	$21,788	49%
111	UABBirmingham, AL · public	$42,570	Not adjusted	$85,321	$22,676	53%
112	UT ArlingtonArlington, TX · public	$41,773	$43,040	Not reported	$26,106	62%
113	Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY · public	$39,035	$36,170	$92,089	$24,581	63%
114	UM-DearbornDearborn, MI · public	$38,593	$40,110	Not reported	$31,000	80%
115	Washington StatePullman, WA · public	$30,778	Not adjusted	$95,879	Not reported	Not reported

Pay after cost of living divides first-year pay by the Bureau of Economic Analysis price level of the school's state, where the US average is 100. It is shown for 69 programs where at least half of the graduates who work are working in the school's state. The other 46, whose graduates mostly work in other states or whose state has no price level, are listed last when you sort by it.

5 programs report pay but not debt, so they are ranked only by pay.

College Scorecard withholds pay for programs with too few graduates, to protect their privacy, so those programs can't be ranked.

Biomedical Engineering (Bachelor's) programs by state

Each row is the median across the state's biomedical engineering bachelor's programs. State names link to the full ranking of that state's programs.

#	State	Programs	Year 1 pay	Debt
1	Pennsylvania	7	$72,440	$27,000
2	Massachusetts	6	$69,953	$27,000
3	California	15	$67,170	$19,939
4	Ohio	7	$65,469	$23,246
5	New York	11	$62,624	$22,791
6	Texas	7	$58,916	$21,071
7	Illinois	5	$55,011	$20,521

Programs in 30 more states and territories report pay, but too few to rank. A state ranking needs at least five programs that report both pay and debt.

Quick picks nationwide

Lowest median debt

MIT, MA$13,000
University of Houston, TX$13,502
USC, CA$14,500
UC Berkeley, CA$14,896
UCLA, CA$15,000
Cornell University, NY$15,500
UPenn, PA$15,593
Cal State Long Beach, CA$15,720
UC Davis, CA$15,977
UIUC, IL$16,850

Lowest debt for the pay

UPenn, PA17%
USC, CA18%
MIT, MA18%
UC Berkeley, CA20%
UC Davis, CA23%
UIUC, IL24%
Cal State Long Beach, CA24%
Northwestern University, IL25%
Cornell University, NY25%
Cal Poly SLO, CA25%

Only the 55 programs with their own page here are included. "Debt for the pay" is median debt divided by first-year pay.

Careers this field leads to

These are the jobs that the federal crosswalk from fields of study to occupations links to biomedical engineering, largest first. Pay is the median across the US and all experience levels.

Architectural and Engineering Managers

$171,270

Median pay in the US. 220,260 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, with about 14,900 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree, plus 5 years or more of related work experience.

Bottom 10%: $120,810Top 10%: $262,760

Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers

$109,370

Median pay in the US. 23,480 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 8% from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,200 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree.

Bottom 10%: $71,850Top 10%: $168,180

Common questions

The median biomedical engineering bachelor's program in the US pays its graduates $64,298 in their first year and $94,356 five years after.

About this data

Earnings and debt only include students who received federal financial aid, and earnings only count graduates who were working and not enrolled in more school.
Debt only includes federal loans. Private loans and credit cards are not counted.
Medians are across programs, not students: each program counts once, however many graduates it has.
National medians include every program in the 50 states, DC, and US territories, including schools that have since closed. Schools with several campuses that report one combined figure are counted once.
Programs are ranked by College Scorecard median pay one year after graduation. Pay after cost of living uses the price level of the school's state.
Scorecard figures describe graduating classes from several years ago. BLS wages are from May 2025. Price levels are the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for 2024.

Sources

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study and institution files, June 2026 release
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
NCES, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024