Biomedical engineering is a very particular subset of engineering, which focuses specifically on creating devices and materials used in medical procedures. This field is seen, rightly, as an intersection between the fields of medicine and engineering, and is popular with students for that reason. Many students want to pursue this major, both for biomedical engineering itself, and for how it prepares them for medical school.
While this is a somewhat popular major, it is not offered by all schools. And as with all other majors, not all schools which offer it do so equivalently. This isn’t to say you have to go to an Ivy League school to get a great outcome, but some biomedical engineering programs are stronger than others. In this article we’re going to look at some of the best biomedical engineering programs, so you can evaluate your options. Let’s get started!
The Colleges
We are presenting this list in alphabetical order, for ease of reading. We will briefly explore the major at each of these colleges, and any particular offerings it has which set it apart from its peers.
Duke University
Hosted by the Pratt School of Engineering, BME students at Duke experience both a full liberal arts curriculum and cover all of the needed core subjects for engineering mastery. Students can choose an area to focus on further if they wish, from four specialties available. You can also double major in computer science or another engineering discipline, if you want to investigate the intersections of multiple fields.
Of special note is the design fellows program, an intensive program intended to provide students with practical design experience pursuant to finding careers creating medical technology. Students in this program will design and fabricate a medical implement based on a need identified by a clinician at the Duke Medical Center. This program is a series of design courses, culminating in a capstone.
They also share graduation experiences, showing off how successful their students are. They send students on to a number of highly competitive careers, and to top graduate programs, both for BME and medical school.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Tech has the #1 ranked graduate biomedical engineering program in the nation by US News, and its undergraduate program is no slouch either. Students are all encouraged to take part in research, and have ample opportunities to do so in any of the labs on Georgia Tech’s campus.
Georgia Tech also collaborates with a number of international universities, so students can study abroad while continuing their focus on BME. This includes both standard university coursework and lab opportunities abroad.
All students have access to career services, tutoring, and advising. This significant support network exists because Georgia Tech is known for its academically rigorous curriculum, and wants to ensure that all students have the tools they need to succeed within it. There are nine potential areas for you to focus on, or you can mix and match to create a program that mirrors your own interests.
Johns Hopkins University
The top ranked biomedical engineering program by US News, Johns Hopkins is well regarded for its offerings, and for good reason. The program emphasizes research and project based learning, and student collaboration is a key aspect of it. You can expect to work with your fellow undergraduates during your entire journey, both in coursework and in laboratory settings.
The curriculum is cumulative, with courses building upon themselves and becoming more in depth and specialized each year. They have seven areas of focus for students to choose from, and an ability to take courses from more than one of these areas to meet your specific interests.
Finally, they have a 3+1 program, wherein students can earn both an undergraduate degree and a masters in as little as four years. A masters degree in engineering significantly increases your earning potential, and being able to do one so quickly is a major advantage when looking for careers. You apply to this program during the summer of your junior year.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT is known for its strength in pretty much every field of engineering, and biomedical engineering is no exception. The curriculum requires a mix of core courses to build your foundational skills in math, biology, and other key competencies, and electives which allow you to explore areas of focus in more depth. Many of these are taught jointly with other departments.
Students have the opportunity to pursue research, and are encouraged to do so. Students in their junior year who choose to begin exploring independent research projects have a chance to complete an undergraduate thesis based on their work. While this is not required to graduate, it is recommended for students who want to pursue higher degrees, as these often have a research component.
We should note that this department is technically in biological engineering, rather than biomedical engineering. While the skills and applications are quite similar, they are not truly identical.
Rice University
Consistently ranked in the top ten nationally, Rice offers a BS in bioengineering, with a combination of a liberal arts core with strong fundamentals of engineering and medicine. Located adjacent to the Texas Medical Center, students have ample opportunities to pursue research there, and are encouraged to do so.
Students also have the opportunity to pursue practical design coursework and opportunities all four years at Rice. This is helpful for graduates, with slightly over half the students in this program going on to pursue advanced degrees, including both bioengineering and medical school.
The department facilitates internship opportunities for students during summers, including study abroad opportunities with Rice’s partner universities. These include both research and entrepreneurship focused opportunities.
Stanford University
Stanford refers to this as Bioengineering rather than biomedical engineering, but the principles and applications are the same. The program is jointly run by the schools of engineering and medicine, and students have access to the expertise of professors from both.
All students in the program have a chance to pursue research with professors and labs on campus, and this is encouraged. You can also pursue the honors program, wherein you must complete independent research and write a thesis in order to receive your degree. This is quite valuable for students who intend to apply for advanced degree programs involving research.
Stanford also offers a coterminal program in bioengineering, wherein you are enrolled in an undergraduate and graduate degree simultaneously, and have the chance to graduate with both degrees in just five years. This is ideal for students who know they want to pursue an advanced degree in this field.
Washington University in St Louis
Part of the McKelvey School of Engineering, WUSTL’s BME program allows students to work with faculty from both the engineering and medical schools, pursuing a BS in the field. The program begins with two years building a foundation of math and science knowledge, while the second two years allow you to explore higher level topics in more depth, preparing you for a career or advanced degree.
There is an option for current undergraduates to enroll directly in a master’s program in biomedical engineering. Thai allows you to complete both degrees in just five years. This may be done during your junior year, and is dependent on having solid academic performance in your courses thus far.
They encourage all undergraduate students to pursue research, and opportunities are available through both the program and the medical school. They also have specific resources for pre med students who are majoring in the program, as pre med is not a major in itself, but complements BME quite nicely.
Yale University
This is a relatively new department at Yale, founded in just 2003. Despite this, it has already become quite well known for its quality. Their undergraduate program combines faculty from both engineering and their school of medicine, with the goal of helping students devise novel technological solutions to cutting edge medical issues.
Students take courses on the core competencies of biology and engineering, including a year-long laboratory sequence which teaches them the principles of working in a modern research laboratory. Students are also encouraged to pursue research in Yale’s various laboratories alongside professors. Students also complete a senior project involving completing their own research within the field.
Yale does offer a combined BS/MS degree in biomedical engineering. This may only be applied to by current students who have done exceptionally well academically, showing they can handle graduate level work. This program allows students to graduate with both degrees in just five years.
Final Thoughts
This article doesn’t cover every great biomedical engineering program in the country, but is a sampling of some of the best. Our goal was to help you understand what some of these programs offer students, and how they help prepare you for what comes next, be that an advanced degree or entering a career. Each program has its own unique quirks, and can help students in their own ways.
Of course, determining which program is the best fit for you can be something of a challenge, especially given just how many programs exist. If you are looking for advice for your own applications, or want assistance when applying to one of these incredibly competitive schools, schedule a free consultation today. We have a long experience helping students find the college that best fits their needs, and are always happy to hear from you.
