This is a list of schools and programs that focus on the Most Affordable Online Biomedical Engineering Degree In The US.
Are you wondering what the Affordable Online Master’s in Biomedical Engineering There are a number of successful ways to achieve a biomedical engineering specialization. If interest in this field begins in high school, it’s a good idea for young biomedical engineers to concentrate on STEM classes – from biology and chemistry to calculus and trigonometry. Classes such as computer programming and drafting are also recommended.
A High School STEM curriculum is a great foundation to build upon a biomedical engineering master career. Next up is acquiring a bachelor’s degree. While it is optimal to have a bachelor’s in the subjects of biomedical engineering or in bioengineering, where the learning focus is on both biology as well as engineering, it is not an absolute requirement, since many biomedical engineers decide upon (or change) their career interests while in their undergraduate years or when seeking a change in a current career.
A bachelor’s degree is, at the minimum, necessary in order to enter the biomedical engineering specialization field (commonly abbreviated as “BME”) and to move ahead in studying – and eventually being a part of the BME workforce.
In today’s forward-moving world, most biomedical engineering positions require a master’s degree – even for entry-level positions.
Working towards a master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering online offers the often needed flexibility of time during your educational studies. It is also perfect for those who are pursuing a career change.
While the curriculum specifics vary slightly from one online program to the next, you can still expect to take the following typical courses and seminars, no matter which virtual program you are involved in:
- Mathematics (Advanced)
- Seminars in Biomedical Engineering specialization
- BME guest lectures
- BME presentations by school faculty
- Career-focused seminars
- Quantitative Systems Physiology
- A basic model-oriented course in any BME master’s program that is focused on human body functions and systems
Methodology: Ranking the Most Affordable Online Biomedical Engineering Degree
Fast Online Master’s editors want Biomedical Engineering Students to find a program that pays off for them. That’s why we feature only trustworthy, accredited institutions. In the Most Affordable ranking, we present programs in order from lowest tuition to highest, according to current IPEDS stats.
1. Florida International
Florida International University’s Department of Biomedical Engineering offers a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering that offers a research or professional track that is among the leading affordable online accelerated master’s programs in biomedical engineering in the Sunshine State. This degree program requires the completion of 27 credit units, plus a capstone project worth 3 credits for a total of 30 credit units. Three primary technical areas are offered, including the following – biomedical engineering, life sciences, or engineering management.
This accelerated Master’s in Biomedical Engineering degree program from Florida International University includes classes in cognitive neuroscience, analysis of movement and function, reliability engineering, and total quality management for engineers, to name a few. A biomedical engineer can complete this graduate degree from Florida International University in 1.5 to 2 years.
Florida International University
2. NC State
NC State University (NC State Distance) College of Agriculture and Life Sciences offers a Master’s degree in Biological and Agricultural Engineering (MBAE) that is designed for working learners and is entirely available online. North Carolina State University’s Masters in Biomedical Engineering Online program requires a GRE and a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited school for admission. A biomedical engineer enrolled in North Carolina State’s online accelerated master’s program in bioengineering must complete at least 30 credits units at the graduate level to meet North Carolina State graduation criteria.
NC State University has offered distance education since the late 1970s. This affordable accelerated Master’s in Biomedical Engineering programs is ranked among the top ten by US News and World Report. Available careers for North Carolina State University engineering graduates include conservation scientists, hydrologists, wastewater engineers, environmental planners, or civil engineers, to name a few.
3. Purdue
Purdue University (Purdue Engineering Online) College of Engineering offers a Master of Science (MS/MSE) degree in Engineering with an academic track in bioengineering that US News & World Report ranks among the leading online accelerated master’s programs in bioengineering in the nation. This Masters in Biomedical Engineering from Purdue is a great fit for STEM professionals who have a professional objective to enhance their careers with an engineering specialty. Applicants must hold an ABET-accredited baccalaureate degree in engineering for admission.
Purdue University’s accelerated Master’s in Biomedical Engineering includes these featured classes – biomedical engineering specialization quantitative and analytical engineering, quality systems for regulatory compliance, ethical engineering of medical devices, magnetic resonance imaging, and human motion kinetics, among others. The graduate biomedical engineering degree program from Purdue University can be completed with a thesis or a non-thesis option.
4. The University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota (UND Distance) offers a Master of Science (MS) degree program in Biomedical Engineering that is ranked among US News & World Report’s top online accelerated master’s programs in biomedical engineering. This affordable Masters in Biomedical Engineering includes the participation and contribution to groundbreaking research at the University of North Dakota. Graduates from UND’s biomedical program are prepared to make a difference in their community and beyond.
Featured classes for the University of North Dakota’s graduate degree in biomedical engineering include digital image processing, intelligent decisions systems, anatomy & physiology for biomedical engineers, to name a few. The University of North Dakota’s Master’s in Biomedical Engineering program prepares prospective students for rewarding careers in a rapidly advancing medical device industry, working for Johnson & Johnson, GE Health Care, or Medtronics, to name a few.
The University of North Dakota
5. The University of Northern Colorado
The University of Northern Colorado (UNC Extended Campus) offers a Master of Business and Science degree (MBS) in Biomedical Science that offers one of Colorado’s most affordable online accelerated master’s programs in biomedical engineering. Sample classes for the University of Northern Colorado’s Masters in Biomedical Engineering Online (MBS) degree program include biomedicine and careers, virology, developmental biology, pathogenic microbiology, molecular genetics, pathogenic microbiology, and the foundations of clinical research, among others.
The University of Northern Colorado’s accelerated Master’s in Biomedical Engineering program requires the completion of 30 graduate units which can be done in two semesters or less than one year. Graduates of the University of Northern Colorado’s master’s degree program in biomedical engineering are prepared for a future in a professional medical school, Ph.D. programs in biomedical engineering, or a career in research or academia.
The University of Northern Colorado
6. The University of Maryland
The University of Maryland (Maryland Engineering Online) offers a Professional Master of Engineering degree program (M.Eng.) in Bioengineering (MEBI) that that ranks among the leading Maryland online accelerated master’s programs in bioengineering. Degree candidates enrolled in the University of Maryland’s accelerated Master’s in Biomedical Engineering program must complete a minimum of 30 semester units over ten classes, typically in less than two years for full-time prospective students.
This affordable Masters in Biomedical Engineering offered by the University of Maryland includes these featured core classes – applied math in bioengineering, biomedical device developments, physiology for bioengineers, and regulatory affairs in medical product development, to name a few. It is noted that at least ½ of the required credit units for this biomedical graduate degree must be completed as a biomedical engineer at the University of Maryland.
7. Louisiana State
Louisiana State University (LSU Online) College of Engineering offers a Online Master of Science in Biological Engineering (MSBAE) from one of the best value colleges as recognized by Forbes Magazine. In addition, LSU’s Masters in Biomedical Engineering Online degree program is available with a thesis (with 24 hours of coursework) and a non-thesis completion track (with 36 hours of coursework. Applicants to Louisiana State University’s affordable online accelerated master’s programs in biomedical engineering specialization must hold an ABET or Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology-accredited baccalaureate degree. Those without an engineering background may have to complete coursework for admission to this graduate biomedical degree program.
Students enrolled in Louisiana State University’s accelerated Master’s in Biomedical Engineering degree program can complete the degree in four semesters, depending on the student’s available time. At least 50% of the required coursework must be taken at LSU’s College of Engineering to meet LSU criteria for graduation.
8. The University of Maine
The University of Maine’s Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering offers a PSM degree, a Professional Science Master’s in Bioinformatics that can be completed entirely online. The online program can be completed in less than two years if studying full-time. Featured classes for the University of Maine’s accelerated Master’s in Biomedical Engineering program includes responsible conduct of research, information systems programming, computational biology, metadata systems, and introduction to bio-informatics, to name a few.
The University of Maine’s graduate degree in biomedical engineering requires students to complete 33 graduate credit units to meet graduation criteria. Previously earned relevant coursework may be eligible for transfer. Graduates of UM’s online accelerated master’s programs in biomechanics find rewarding careers across multiple sectors in the fields of research, academia, and medicine, to name a few.
9. Arizona State
Arizona State University College of Health Solutions offers a Master of Science (MS) degree program in Biomedical Diagnostics that is offered with multiple start dates each year and is completely available online. This program requires students to complete ten classes that are delivered in accelerated 7.5-week modules. Classes for this Masters in Biomedical Engineering from Arizona State University include the principles of diagnostic technology, health economics, policy & payment models, and the regulation of medical diagnostics, to name a few.
Arizona State University’s master’s degree in biomechanical engineering is taught by high-level, expert faculty that can help with networking opportunities across the country. Prospective students graduating from Arizona State University’s online accelerated master’s programs in biomechanics are prepared for rewarding careers in medicine, research & development as well as health care, to name a few.
10. Colorado State
Colorado State University (CSU Online) offers a Master of Engineering (Me.) degree program with a specialization in biomedical engineering that is among Colorado’s most affordable online accelerated online master programs in biomedical engineering. Classes for Colorado State University’s Masters in Biomedical Engineering include bio-material tissue engineering, bone biology and mechanics, and nano-technology, to name a few. This graduate degree in biomechanics from Colorado State University requires 30-semester credits, with 24 credits to be earned at Colorado State University.
Colorado State University’s curriculum for its affordable graduate degree program is divided into four academic areas – breadth, foundation, core, and depth. Graduates of Colorado State University’s accelerated Master’s in Biomedical Engineering program find rewarding careers in the fields of engineering services, biotechnology, electro-medical apparatus manufacturing, or surgical instrument manufacturing, to name a few.
11. The University of Washington
The University of Washington (Wazzou Online) Professional & Continuing Education offers a Masters in Pharmaceutical Bioengineering (PharBE) that is among the best online accelerated online master programs in biomedical engineering in the Pacific Northwest. Biomedical engineers enrolled in Biomedical Engineering programs can complete the degree in as few as 20 months – all online. The capstone component of the University of Washington’s graduate degree in biomedical engineering is worth 6 credits and is completed as a culminating project.
The University of Washington’s Masters in Biomedical Engineering includes these featured classes – Molecular and Cellular Biology, Pharmaceutics, drug discovery & design, engineering principles, process development, molecular targets, and applied pharmacokinetics, to name a few. Research opportunities in the past include smart therapies for cancer, photonic biosensors, miniature cell culture, synthetic organisms, and engineered heart cells, among others.
12. The University of California at Riverside
The University of California at Riverside (UCR Online) offers a Master of Science (MS) degree program in Engineering (MSE) with an academic track in Bioengineering that is among the nation’s leading Masters in Biomedical Engineering Online programs, according to US News and World Report. This online master program in biomedical engineering synergistically combine engineering and managerial skills for the next generation’s leaders and can be completed in only 13 months, with flexible scheduling and no residency requirement to meet graduation criteria.
The University of California at Riverside’s Biomedical Engineering programs prepare graduates for rewarding professional careers in the areas of pharmaceutical engineering & manufacturing, hospitals, academia, or medical device engineering & manufacturing, to name a few. Biomedical engineers explore the many facets required to become cross-functional managerial leaders of the future.
The University of California at Riverside
13. Rutgers
Rutgers University (Rutgers Online) School of Engineering offers a Master of Engineering degree (ME) program in Biomedical Engineering (BME) that can be completed without a research or thesis requirement. This online master program in bioengineering from Rutgers University require a student to complete 33-semester units – of which 3 credits is an oral presentation of a written terminal document related to biomedical engineering. Applicants to this Masters in Biomedical Engineering must have a physiological background to avoid remedial graduate-level physiology classes.
Rutgers University’s Master’s in Biomedical Engineering includes these advanced featured classes, mathematical modeling for biomedical engineering, medical device development, and structure & dynamics in adult and stem cell biology, to name a few. Students have the option of concentrating in biomechanics, computer science, computational bioengineering, bioinstrumentation/bioimaging, biomaterials, nano systems engineering, or molecular, cell, tissue, and regenerative bioengineering.
14. The University of Illinois
The Grainger College of Engineering (GCE) at the University of Illinois (UI) offers an online Master of Engineering degree program (ME) in Bioengineering that ranks among the leading affordable online accelerated master’s programs in biomedical engineering in the Midwest. This Masters in Biomedical Engineering Online program from the University of Illinois offers two academic tracks – general bioengineering and bio-instrumentation, which both require at least 32 semester hours to meet the University of Illinois graduation criteria.
The University of Illinois’s accelerated Master’s in Biomedical Engineering includes these relevant classes – seminar in bio-instrumentation, innovation and introduction to financial decision making, cellular biomechanics, computer science, tissue engineering, human factors in health care engineering systems,labor statistics, bio-inspiration, and managing business operations, to name a few. In addition, students must complete a bioengineering capstone project, which includes applied consulting projects with a partner company.
15. Clemson
Clemson University (Clemson Distance) Dept of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences offers a Master of Science degree in Biosystems Engineering that is among the state’s most affordable Masters in Biomedical Engineering online programs. Each path of study for Clemson University’s accelerated Master’s in Biomedical Engineering can be customized to match the student’s career goals and previous educational background. This 30 credit unit graduate degree from Clemson University includes these required classes – experimental statistics, computational mechanics, and the Newman Seminar, plus a defendable thesis. Non-engineers are welcome to apply but may be required to complete remedial coursework for admission.
Clemson University’s online accelerated master’s programs in biomechanics prepare students for professional careers as leaders or researchers in biomedical engineering. Coursework also includes sustainable bio-processing, ecological engineering, labor statistics, tissue engineering, plus a variety of interdisciplinary classes, including physics, chemistry, statistics, and math.
16. Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University (Case Western Online) School of Engineering/School of Medicine offers a Master of Science (MS) degree program in Biomedical Engineering that was the first of its kind to be offered in the late 1960s and is still ranked among the leading affordable online accelerated master’s programs in bioengineering. Degree candidates enrolled in Case Western Reserve University’s biomedical degree must finish a minimum of 10 classes for a total of 30 graduate units to meet program criteria. These classes for Case Western Reserve University’s Masters in Biomedical Engineering cover engineering, professional development, technical and BME-specific topics.
Case Western Reserve University has partnered with more than 1.5 dozen research and development centers and has current grants that exceed $40 million each year. The accelerated Master’s in Biomedical Engineering research programs often help students network for future job opportunities.
Case Western Reserve University
17. Stanford
Stanford University (Stanford Distance) School of Medicine offers a Master of Science degree program (MS) in Biomedical Informatics that is among the best online accelerated master’s programs in biomedical engineering on the west coast and the country. This affordable Masters in Biomedical Engineering Online program from Stanford University trains students to solve challenging biological and medicine challenges using quantitative and qualitative methods. Students must complete 45 credit units, of which 37 credits are core classes offered by Stanford.
Stanford University’s Biomedical Engineering programs feature these classes – modeling biomedical systems, data science for medicine, translational bio-informatics, and computational methods for biomedical image analysis and interpretation, tissue engineering, to name a few. Graduates of Stanford University’s graduate degree in biomedical engineering find rewarding careers in academia, research/development, and within one of the many facets of the medical field.
18. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI Online) offers a Master of Engineering degree program in Engineering with an academic specialty in Biomedical Engineering that helps students explore the application of technology and principles in solving biomedical problems. WPI’s Masters in Biomedical Engineering Online program is designed to offer customizable options to fit each student’s background and career interests. Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s affordable online accelerated master’s programs in biomedical engineering are offered as a thesis completion or project-based program of 30 credit units.
The featured coursework for Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Biomedical Engineering programs include engineering materials, foundations of robotics, tissue engineering, biomedical signal processing, and biological & biomedical database mining, to name a few. Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates find rewarding work in the fields of medicine, research & development as well as academia and education, among others.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
19. Northeastern
Northeastern University offers a Master of Science in Biotechnology degree program that ranks among New England’s most innovative and top online accelerated master’s programs in biomedical engineering. The online program is available entirely online with two start dates in the Spring and the Fall. Coursework includes an interdisciplinary approach in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, medicine, agriculture, life science, and biology, to name a few. Northeastern University’s industry partners include Pfizer, Amgen, Genzyme, Biogen, Takeda, and Novartis, among others.
Northeastern University’s Biomedical Engineering programs are offered in an intensive, experiential program that can be completed in only twelve months. Graduates find rewarding careers that apply their newly learned skills as a public policy advocate, a scientist, or a business strategist.
20. The Stevens Institute of Technology
The Stevens Institute of Technology School of Engineering and Science offers a Master of Engineering degree in a biomedical engineering program that prepares degree candidates for careers in engineering new technologies – from its concept to its commercialization. The online program is offered with an optional completion of clinical thesis work or optional research. These affordable online accelerated master’s programs in biomedical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology offer three academic focuses – biomechanics & physiology, bio-materials, and tissue engineering or bio-instrumentation and neural engineering.
The Stevens Institute of Technology affordable 30-credit accelerated Master’s in Biomedical Engineering program includes 6 required credits, plus electives and a culminating project. Graduates of these online accelerated master’s programs in biomedical engineering find rewarding careers as project engineers, research scientists, clinical engineers, or quality control analysts, to name a few.
The Stevens Institute of Technology
21. Geisinger Commonwealth
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine offers a Master of Biomedical Sciences degree that can be completed in only ten months as a full-time student. The online degree program is offered with four start dates throughout the year and is available entirely online with the flexibility required of working learners. Part-time students can complete the degree at a pace that fits.
Geisinger Commonwealth’s accelerated Master’s in Biomedical Engineering program offers an affordable graduate degree option for students in the greater Wilkes-Barre area. Classes for GC’s online accelerated master’s programs in biomedical engineering are offered in both patient-centered & community-based educational options. This graduate biomedical engineering degree is a great fit for students interested in a career in medicine, optometry, graduate studies, or dentistry, to name a few.
22. Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology Armour College of Engineering offers a Master of Applied Science degree program in Pharmaceutical Engineering that is considered among the most affordable online accelerated master’s programs in biomedical engineering in Illinois and beyond. This degree program in biomedical engineering requires engineering degree candidates to finish at least 30 graduate credit units to meet IIT’s graduation criteria.
The featured core coursework for this graduate degree from IIT includes bioprocess engineering, drug delivery, pharmaceutical engineering, and entrepreneurship, and IP management. Electives range from technology for the treatment of diabetes to quantitative aspects of cell and tissue engineering and everything in between. Illinois Tech University’s Masters in Biomedical Engineering Online (MAS) degree program graduates find rewarding careers as entrepreneurs or industrial engineers, pharmaceutical project managers, or product development engineers, to name a few.
Illinois Institute of Technology
23. John Hopkins
John Hopkins University (JHU Online) Whiting Engineering School offers a Master’s in Applied Biomedical Engineering degree program with an academic biomechanics specialty that ranks as the nation’s best online accelerated master’s programs in biomechanics, according to US News. Featured core classes for Johns Hopkins University’s accelerated Master’s in Biomedical Engineering include orthopedic biomechanics, and introduction to biomechanics, global health engineering, bio-mimetics in biomedical engineering, bio-fluid mechanics, labor statistics, biochemical sensors, and advances in pulmonary therapeutics, to name a few. John Hopkins University offers a thesis-based graduate program option for students who wish to participate in supervised research.
John Hopkins University’s graduate degree in biomedical engineering can complete the program at an accelerated pace but have up to five years to complete the ten classes. Students enrolled in Johns Hopkins University’s Masters in Biomedical Engineering online programs graduate prepared for work in academics, research & development, or medicine, to name a few.
24. The University of Southern California
The School of Engineering at the University of Southern California offers a Master of Science degree program in Biomedical Engineering that is ranked among the most affordable of accelerated Master’s in Biomedical Engineering programs on the west coast. The University of Southern California’s online accelerated master’s programs in biomechanics can be completed in as few as 18 months – with or without a thesis option. This graduate degree in biomedical engineering offers academic concentrations in medical device and diagnostic engineering, labor statistics, biomedical data analytics, neuro-engineering, and medical imaging and imaging informatics.
The University of Southern California’s affordable master’s degree in biomedical engineering includes fully online classes that include physiological control systems, advanced studies of the nervous system, and nano-medicine and drug delivery, to name a few. Graduates of the USC’s professional Masters in Biomedical Engineering online program are prepared with engineering skills in medical imaging, tissue engineering, systems physiology, bio-instrumentation, and drug design and delivery, among others.
University of Southern California
25. Columbia
Columbia University Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science offers a Master of Science degree program in Biomedical Engineering that is recognized among the leading Masters in Biomedical Engineering online programs available in the marketplace. This accelerated Master’s in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia has a qualifying GRE exam for applicants. Columbia University’s affordable 30 credit program includes classes in solid biomechanics, computational modeling of physiological systems in cellular/molecular, computational neuroscience (including circuits in the brain), the principles of applied mathematics, ultrasound in Diagnostic Imaging, and physiological control systems, to name a few
Columbia University’s online accelerated master’s programs in biomechanics prepare students for careers where the application of engineering and applied science meet. These include medicine, data acquisition, biology, simulation, biomedical imaging, and cell & tissue engineering, to name a few.
What Is An Accelerated Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering?
An accelerated master’s in biomedical engineering allows eligible students to fast-track their education, and their careers. It is now even more achievable thru online courses.
Within a time period of approximately two years (or less!), motivated online students or job-change seekers can take on full-time and fast-tracked studies and coursework in order to achieve their dreams of becoming biomedical engineers more rapidly.
Convenient online accelerated master’s programs also exist and are quickly gaining popularity. That is because an online accelerated master’s program gives busy BME students a palette of beneficial learning necessities such as:
- The opportunity to earn their degrees through virtual classes
- Virtual office hours for necessary conversations with professors
- Class sizes that are generally smaller than in-person classes
- Virtual tutoring when it is needed and requested by students
- The very same classes and BME curriculum of an in-person educational institution that offers an accelerated master’s in biomedical engineering
What Jobs and Opportunities Are Available With a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering?
Near endless potential can be right in the palms of the hands of those who study BME and receive a master’s degree in the subject. Aside from the vital momentum that biomedical engineers contribute to the world, their career opportunities and career growth are phenomenal.
By applying the principles of engineering and design directly to healthcare services in biology and in general medicine, having a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering gives graduates numerous fascinating and important career positions such as:
- A Biomedical Researcher or a Biomedical Scientist, Biomedical instrumentation, Biomedical imaging
- A Developer of New Medical Technology
- A Rehabilitation Technology Engineer
- A Manufacturing Engineer in the healthcare field
- An Orthopedic Bioengineer
- A Cellular, Tissue, and Genetic Engineer
- A Biomedical Software Engineer
- Tissue Engineering
- Creating medical devices
Bioengineers and the biomedical devices and procedures with mathematical methods they create and work on are in great demand, especially as our modern population is living to longer and longer ages – and staying healthier and active in their senior years.
What Are My Earning Opportunities With a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering?
With the almost daily technological advances occurring in our world today, the field of biomedical engineering is growing and growing – and growing some more! And perhaps best of all: the demand for skilled bioengineers is expected to keep increasing as our world consistently becomes further technologically advanced.
As a matter of fact, in the current job market, biomedical engineering positions are increasing at an impressive rate that is well above average.
When it comes down to salaries and earnings available to those with a master’s in BME:
- For Biomedical Engineers, the average entry-level salary is $60,000 per year
- When Biomedical Engineers gain more years of experience, they earn an average salary of $93,000 – $120,000 per year
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