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Deciding which college to attend can be a daunting task. For many, it will be the most important decision that they make in their lives. To make an informed decision, you have to consider a lot of variables, such as cost of attendance, financial aid, student/teacher ratio, academics, student life, and more. These factors will either positively or negatively impact the quality of education that you receive.

Do you want to acquire a master’s degree in biomedical engineering, but don’t know what institution you should attend? Well, if you are as ambitious as I was in my late teens, then you want to attend a top school, instead of an average or mediocre one. Fortunately, we have already done the legwork for you. To help you find the right school for your interests and goals, we’ve compiled a list of 2022’s best master’s in biomedical engineering programs.

What institution did we forget? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

1. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

This Ivy League research institution was established in 1865, and its graduate school now has nearly 100 fields of study. The engineering school at Cornell University is rated among the top in the United States, and graduate learners focus on practice-based study. The school has a doctor of philosophy (PhD) and a master of science (MS) program in biomedical engineering.  For people looking to work on a PhD, there is no need to apply to the master’s degree program at Cornell first since an MS degree is not a prerequisite. Research in this department is structured into six primary focus areas:

• Biomechanics and mechanobiology
• Biomedical imaging & instrumentation
• Drug delivery & nanomedicine
• Molecular & cellular engineering
• Systems & synthetic biology
• Tissue engineering & biomaterials

Learners can expect to gain extraordinary knowledge by working directly with biological and clinical scientists and engineers. All PhD learners are fully funded (tuition, stipend, and health insurance) and will spend a minimum of one semester serving as a teaching assistant. Graduates of this degree program can expect careers in a wide range of settings, including institutions, corporations, nonprofits, and government organizations.

2. Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA

The Georgia Tech master of biomedical innovation and development is a one-year professional master’s degree program. Prospective learners should note the following: There are no evening or distance-learning options for this degree. The degree is to be finished in three sequential semesters over 12 months. Learners may also work on a PhD in biomedical engineering, where technical areas range from healthcare informatics to biomedical imaging and optics.

3. Brown University, Providence, RI

The institution is home to learners from all 50 states and more than 115 countries. The biomedical engineering degree program at Brown attracts many and is continuously rated as one of the top programs of its kind in the country. The graduate program in biomedical engineering at Brown is a dual venture by the Division of Biology and Medicine and the School of Engineering. Graduate learners will take engineering, biology, and medical school classes. They will also get valuable clinical experience at nearby teaching hospitals associated with Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School. Three primary research areas:

• Mechanobiology
• Regenerative Engineering
• Neuroengineering

The department also has a PhD in biomedical engineering, which entails three years of full-time study. The master’s degree program can be finished full-time or part-time. There is an additional five-year bachelor’s/master’s choice that is only open to current Brown learners.

4. George Washington University, Washington, DC

A private research institution, GW is made up of 10 schools and colleges. With learners from all 50 states and over 130 countries, this university is rated among the top in the nation. Though it’s just over three years old, The GWU Department of Biomedical Engineering is already making quite the name for itself. The department has an MS and a PhD in biomedical engineering; the school contains several areas of research:

• Biomedical signal processing and signal analysis
• Biosensors
• Cancer detection and therapy
• Disease and pathogen detection
• Drug delivery
• Electrophysiology (cardiac and neural)

Learners have access to labs and facilities in GW’s new Science and Engineering Hall. Learners can finish internships and externships and research experiences at places like the NIH, NASA, and the FDA.

Graduates of this degree program can apply engineering principles to problems in medicine and biology, to comprehend and model several attributes of living systems and to synthesize biomedical systems and devices.

5. Duke University, Raleigh, NC

BME is the second largest graduate degree program at Duke yet has learners a close-knit community and plenty of real-life experience. Learners can work on a master of science (MS) or master of engineering (MEng) in biomedical engineering. The BME MS is for people with interests in research or technology development in academia, private sector, or government. The BME MEng is for people looking to go into product design, product development, and innovation in private industry. Each degree program lasts 1.5 to 2 years, while the doctor of philosophy in BME takes learners a mean of six years to finish.

Duke also has a doctor of medicine-master of engineering dual degree (MD-MEng). This five-year degree program is intended for MD candidates within Duke’s School of Medicine who have strong interests in health care, engineering, and innovation, and entrepreneurship.

6. Rice University, Houston, TX

This private research institution established in 1912 is located in the nation’s fourth-largest city: Houston, Texas. The Rice University Department of Bioengineering has the following programs:

• Master of Bioengineering (MBE) degree
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree
• Joint MD/PhD through the Department of Bioengineering and Baylor College of Medicine

The MBE is a non-thesis degree that has two paths. The global medical innovation (GMI) path is for people looking to work on a career in the international medical technology sector. In contrast, the applied bioengineering path is intended as an adaptable degree for people pursuing careers in research, medicine, or related fields.

Faculty research interests consist of biomaterials and drug delivery, biomedical imaging and diagnostics, cellular and biomolecular engineering, and more. Learners will have passionate, knowledgeable leaders to learn from and work with. Alumni of the degree program are now working in medical device and biotechnology companies, patent law, and medicine.

7. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Established in 1876, this private research institution gets its name from American entrepreneur and philanthropist, Johns Hopkins. Hopkins’ graduate programs consist of the top-rated Whiting School of Engineering and School of Medicine, which has the school’s biomedical engineering degree program.

Johns Hopkins is an outstanding choice for learners looking for a BME degree. The department has the following degrees:

• Masters of Science and Engineering
• Master of Science Bioengineering Innovation & Design
• BME PhD degree program
• Combined MD PhD degree program

The MSE degree program readies learners to work in careers in research and development or as a step toward PhD or MD/PhD education. The BME department at Johns Hopkins was established in 1962 and is the largest pre-clinical department at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

8. Colorado State University at Fort Collins, Fort Collins, CO

This state institution is home to eight colleges and has over 175 degree programs. CSU graduate learners can work on programs in the schools of business, engineering, and education. The legendary Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering is pioneering and is home to one of the most outstanding Biomedical Engineering schools. With more than40 state-of-the-art biomedical engineering research labs, learners in CSU’s School of Biomedical Engineering can work on one of the following degrees:

• Master of Engineering (classwork-only degree program)
• Master of Engineering Online
• Master of Science (research-based degree)
• PhD in Bioengineering

The MS is often pursued by learners who wish to do research in the sector or those who want to finish a PhD.  For learners seeking an adaptable degree without sacrificing quality, the ME Online degree program provides access to the same content and quality as on-campus lectures and interaction with leading professors.

9. Carnegie Mellon University, Philadelphia, PA

Carnegie Mellon University is a private research institution that was established in 1900 by American industrialist Andrew Carnegie. The school continually is rated high overall, but particularly in areas of math, science, and engineering. Carnegie Mellon’s Biomedical Engineering department is especially notable, delivering learners with a one-of-a-kind education.

The MS in biomedical engineering can be finished via a research-option or a practicum-option. The research choice normally takes 21 months of full-time residence to finish, while the practicum choice takes 16 months. PhD and research MS learners are forbidden by the department to seek employment while pursuing full-time studies. All learners are expected to devote 100 percent to their degrees.

BME graduate learners are a talented bunch. Recently, two BME MS learners won the HP and Intel Life in Space Design Challenge. Also, a BME PhD learner won this year’s CMU 3-Minute Thesis Championship, an internationally recognized competition. There are plenty of opportunities for research, growth, and innovation at CMU.

10. Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI

Lawrence Technological University is a privately run institution that was established in 1932. While the campus is small, the learning chances are big at LTU. With more than100 degree programs offered, LTU is all about merging theory with practice– solving tomorrow’s problems with today’s abstract ideas. Many select LTU’s College of Engineering to generate these ideas to build a better tomorrow.

The master of science in biomedical engineering combines engineering tools and problem-solving to advance life science discoveries in:

• Biology
• Biochemistry
• Physiology
• Psychology

Learners are taught how to design new procedures and technologies that prevent, diagnose, and treat clinical diseases. MS learners will also have the choice to finish either a design project or a master’s research thesis. With either choice, there is still a 30-credit-hour prerequisite.

It’s no wonder the school is rated among the top; creativity is embraced and rewarded here.  A BME assistant professor was recently conferred two grants: one to investigate touch-sensitive feedback in robots, and another to expand entrepreneurial education in biotech.

11. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Established in 1855, this state institution is rated among the top 100 institutions in the world. With learners from all 50 states and more than 130 countries, MSU is a pioneer in research and innovation.

The master of science degree in biomedical engineering at MSU can be pursued under either Plan A (with thesis) or Plan B (without thesis). Learners seeking admission should have a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering or a related field.

12. Florida International University, Miami, FL

Florida International University is a state institution that is committed to learning, research, entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity. The Department of Biomedical Engineering has the following degrees:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Biomedical Engineering
• Master of Science (MS) Biomedical Engineering
• Five years coupled (BS/MS) Biomedical Engineering

The Master’s degree has two paths: The professional track is for engineers currently practicing in the biomedical sector and for people interested in pursuing a management career in the biomedical sector. The Research Track readies graduates for further study or careers in biomedical research. Learners in this department will be ready for academic, clinical, or industrial research and development in basic research in engineered tissue model systems, diagnostic bioimaging and sensor systems, or therapeutic and reparative neurotechnology.

13. Binghamton University-SUNY, Binghamton, NY

Learners can work on either a PhD in biomedical engineering or an MS in biomedical engineering. Highlights of Binghamton’s biomedical engineering degree program is that learners will have access to resources and supports such as the Clinical Science and Engineering Research Center, along with state-of-the-art lab facilities. Teaching assistantships often include health insurance and a tuition scholarship.

Graduates of this degree program have pursued careers in the public and private sectors for organizations, including the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the US Food and Drug Administration. Graduates have also pursued doctoral positions in the following institutions: Boston University Medical Center, University of Rochester, University of Pennsylvania, and Cornell University.

14. Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

The McCormick School of Engineering has two degree chances in biomedical engineering:

• Master of Science (MS) in Biomedical Engineering
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biomedical Engineering

The department has two MS paths for learners; one with a thesis, and one without. Learner who are looking to become researchers should select the MS with thesis path, which can be finished in just under two years. Faculty members in this department are organized into the following research area groups:

• Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine
• Imaging and Biophotonics
• Neural Engineering and Rehabilitation

Study abroad and foreign externships are available for learners within this department, along with cooperative education programs. PhD degree completion is normally five to six years, and learners are supported by fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships.

15. San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

San Jose State has more than 145 fields of study and is the oldest state institution of higher education on the West Coast. Often cited as a hub for potential engineers and scientists, folks at San Jose State developed the first college-based cybersecurity center in Silicon Valley. The institution’s School of Engineering is also home to one of the most outstanding biomedical engineering degrees in the country.

The MS in biomedical engineering can be taken with or without a thesis, and it readies learners to apply their engineering education to an array of career paths.

Graduate learners can expect to take classes preparing them for a Food and Drug Administration-regulated international environment in which they will develop health-related medical products and methods to improve the quality of life. San Jose does not offer a PhD degree program.