[College research](/) / [Rankings](/rankings/)

# Top Biomedical/Medical Engineering Programs in California

Updated September 30, 2026

Part of [Best Engineering Colleges in California](/rankings/best-engineering-colleges-in-california/)

This page ranks the 14 Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs in California by the median earnings of Biomedical/Medical Engineering graduates four years after completing, highest first. [University of California-Los Angeles](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/majors/) leads the list with median earnings of $116,525 four years after completing, drawn from a cohort of 64 graduates.

The figures range from $116,525 down to $33,993, with a median of $98,627 across the listed schools. For 2 of the 14 programs the earnings figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

Public institutions account for 11 of the 14 programs, or 79%, alongside 3 private nonprofit schools. University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the strongest showing on the page.

California State University-Long Beach posts the lowest average net price at $10,440, while University of California-Merced is the most accessible, admitting 91% of applicants.

## The ranked list

14 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $116,525 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
|  | [University of California-Los Angeles](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/majors/) reports [$116,525 in median earnings](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/outcomes/) for its Biomedical/Medical Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 9%. |
| 2 | Santa Clara University · Santa Clara, CA | $114,426 | $50,062 | $22,985 | 48.0% |
|  | [Santa Clara University](/school/santa-clara-university/majors/), a private nonprofit university in Santa Clara, shows [median federal debt of $20,500](/school/santa-clara-university/cost/) among Biomedical/Medical Engineering completers who borrowed and earnings of $114,426 four years after completing. |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $110,597 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
|  | [University of California-Berkeley](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/) ranks 3rd on this list and carries an [average net price of $13,481](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/cost/). |
| 4 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA | $109,232 | $16,665 | $7,529 | 31.3% |
|  | [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/majors/) posts [median earnings of $109,232](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/outcomes/) for its Biomedical/Medical Engineering graduates four years after completing, with 104 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 5 | California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA | $106,540 | $10,440 | $7,183 | 46.3% |
|  | An [average net price of $10,440](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/cost/) and an Azimuth composite rank of 5th among nonprofit four-year institutions belong to [California State University-Long Beach](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/majors/). |
| 6 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $105,415 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
|  | [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/) [admits 10% of applicants](/school/university-of-southern-california/admissions/) and reports median federal debt of $13,750 among Biomedical/Medical Engineering completers who borrowed. |
| 7 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $98,687 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
|  | Ranking 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, [University of California-San Diego](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/majors/) shows [median earnings of $98,687](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/outcomes/) for its Biomedical/Medical Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 8 | University of California-Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz, CA | $98,567 | $17,890 | $8,717 | 65.8% |
|  | An [admission rate of 66%](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/admissions/) and median federal debt of $23,000 among Biomedical/Medical Engineering completers who borrowed are reported by [University of California-Santa Cruz](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/majors/). |
| 9 | University of California-Davis · Davis, CA | $98,504 | $14,741 | $9,211 | 41.8% |
|  | [University of California-Davis](/school/university-of-california-davis/majors/) reports [$98,504 in median earnings](/school/university-of-california-davis/outcomes/) for its Biomedical/Medical Engineering graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $14,741. |
| 10 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $96,874 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
|  | An [average net price of $14,251](/school/university-of-california-irvine/cost/) and an Azimuth composite rank of 12th among nonprofit four-year institutions are posted by [University of California-Irvine](/school/university-of-california-irvine/majors/). |
| 11 | University of California-Riverside · Riverside, CA | $90,041 | $14,304 | $8,852 | 76.4% |
|  | Median federal debt of $19,954 among Biomedical/Medical Engineering completers who borrowed and an [average net price of $14,304](/school/university-of-california-riverside/cost/) are posted by [University of California-Riverside](/school/university-of-california-riverside/majors/). |
| 12 | University of California-Merced · Merced, CA | $88,795 | $11,983 | $7,945 | 90.5% |
|  | [University of California-Merced](/school/university-of-california-merced/majors/) posts [median earnings of $88,795](/school/university-of-california-merced/outcomes/) for its Biomedical/Medical Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 91%. |
| 13 | San Jose State University · San Jose, CA | $53,358 | $13,760 | $9,730 | 84.6% |
|  | [San Jose State University](/school/san-jose-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $53,358](/school/san-jose-state-university/outcomes/) for its Biomedical/Medical Engineering graduates four years after completing, with 74 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 14 | University of the Pacific · Stockton, CA | $33,993 | $25,447 | $17,004 | 71.3% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Stockton, [University of the Pacific](/school/university-of-the-pacific/majors/) ranks 14th on this list and shows an [average net price of $25,447](/school/university-of-the-pacific/cost/). |

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Biomedical/Medical Engineering graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in California appear. The earnings figures come from federally aided completers of the Biomedical/Medical Engineering program who were working and not enrolled four years after completing. For 2 of the 14 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range from University of California-Los Angeles to the bottom of the list spans $82,532, with a gap of $2,099 between University of California-Los Angeles and Santa Clara University.

## Job market context in California

Graduates of Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs in California enter occupations such as Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers, Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, and related technical roles. The median annual wage across those occupations is $133,575; a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $105,345. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 5.6% higher, with about 2,550 openings a year, or about 256 openings a year for every hundred graduates, which suggests more projected openings than graduates. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses the median earnings of graduates four years after completing, not the occupational wage figures shown here.

## Related rankings

-   Biomedical/Medical Engineering Programs
-   [Best Colleges in California](/rankings/best-colleges-in-california/)
-   [Best Biomedical/Medical Engineering Programs in Texas](/rankings/best-biomedicalmedical-engineering-programs-in-texas/)
-   [Best Biomedical/Medical Engineering Programs in New York](/rankings/best-biomedicalmedical-engineering-programs-in-new-york/)
-   Biomedical/Medical Engineering Programs in Florida
-   [Biomedical/Medical Engineering Programs in Massachusetts](/rankings/best-biomedicalmedical-engineering-programs-in-massachusetts/)
-   [Best Engineering Colleges in California](/rankings/best-engineering-colleges-in-california/)
-   Engineering Colleges in California for Social Mobility