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Biomedical Engineering Schools and Programs in The United States

36 schools in The United States teach Biomedical Engineering.

Biomedical Engineering Studies in The United States

Biomedical engineering, also called bioengineering, combines engineering with biology and medicine to design medical devices, diagnostic equipment, implants, imaging systems and the software that runs them. In the United States it is taught in engineering schools, often in close contact with a medical school or teaching hospital. The directory lists 36 schools for biomedical engineering in the United States.

How the degree is organised

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that bioengineers and biomedical engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in bioengineering, biomedical engineering or a related engineering field, and that some positions require a graduate degree. A bachelor's degree is usually completed in four years of full-time study, according to EducationUSA, and each institution sets its own number of credits for graduation.

The BLS describes bachelor's programmes as focused on engineering and biological sciences. They typically include laboratory and classroom courses in biological sciences and in subjects such as fluid and solid mechanics, circuit design and biomaterials, together with substantial training in engineering design. Students may also take part in co-ops or internships with hospitals and with medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

University pages show how this works in practice:

  • Washington University in St. Louis offers a four-year curriculum leading to a baccalaureate degree, designed to prepare students for graduate school, medical school or work in industry
  • Drexel University in Philadelphia combines its Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering with cooperative education (co-op) and offers a BS/MS accelerated programme in which both degrees are earned in five years
  • The University of Toledo offers a bachelor's degree in bioengineering with a co-op programme that it describes as a year of paid experience
  • Saint Louis University lists a B.S., a minor, an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering

Many students use the degree as a route to medical school. Drexel University offers pre-medical, pre-dentistry, pre-veterinary and pre-law options within the bachelor's degree, and Purdue University offers a pre-med concentration at its Indianapolis location.

At graduate level, EducationUSA describes the master's as a two-year degree and the doctorate as a five to eight-year programme. Vanderbilt University, for example, offers M.Eng., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, and Florida International University offers an MS and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering.

Accreditation and recognition

Accreditation in the United States is voluntary, decentralised and carried out by non-governmental, non-profit organisations. Engineering programmes are accredited by ABET, which accredits individual programmes only and states that its accreditation is not a ranking system. Universities name the accreditation on their own pages: the University of Toledo and Drexel University both state that their bachelor's programmes are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the criteria for bioengineering and biomedical engineering programmes.

EducationUSA notes that recognition of course credits and degrees by other institutions and by employers is linked to an institution's accreditation. Students who plan to return home should check how their country recognises a US engineering degree.

Admission and language

Teaching is in English, and US universities require an English language proficiency test before admission. EducationUSA advises starting the search at least 12 to 18 months before the academic year of entry. The BLS recommends that pupils take chemistry, physics and biology at school, and mathematics including algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus.

Students can begin at a community college and transfer: in the "2+2" route, two years of community college are followed by two years of university study. An F student visa requires admission to an institution certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

Where to study biomedical engineering in the United States

The listed schools are spread over many cities. St. Louis and Miami each have two; the other cities have one. Examples include:

  • Washington University in St. Louis and Saint Louis University, both in St. Louis
  • The University of Miami and Florida International University in Miami
  • The Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, whose Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering is run jointly with Emory University
  • Purdue University, whose Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering teaches in West Lafayette and Indianapolis
  • Vanderbilt University in Nashville, where the department works with the Vanderbilt University Medical Center
  • Johns Hopkins University, Boston University, Columbia University, Cornell University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University

Careers

According to the BLS, bioengineers and biomedical engineers design equipment and devices such as artificial internal organs, replacements for body parts and machines for diagnosing medical problems, and frequently work in research and development or quality assurance. They held about 23,800 jobs in 2025. The largest employers were research and development in the physical, engineering and life sciences (22%), medical equipment and supplies manufacturing (10%) and healthcare and social assistance (10%).

The BLS projects employment to grow 8 percent from 2025 to 2035. To lead a research team, a graduate degree is typically needed, and some graduates go on to medical or dental school.

Frequently asked questions

Is a bachelor's degree enough to work as a biomedical engineer in the United States?

Usually, yes. The BLS states that a bachelor's degree is the typical requirement, although some positions require a graduate degree and leading a research team typically needs one.

Can I go to medical school after a biomedical engineering degree?

Yes. Several universities design the bachelor's degree with this in mind; Drexel University and Purdue University, for example, offer pre-medical options.

How do I know whether a programme is accredited?

Engineering programmes are accredited by ABET, programme by programme. Universities normally state the accreditation on the programme page.