Compare 28 Biomedical/Medical Engineering. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $74,958.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Biomedical/Medical Engineering tells a different story. Across 28 programs in the Midwest, earnings range from $73,018 to $108,516—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
Northwestern's Biomedical/Medical Engineering program leads with graduates earning $108,516, well above the $75,000 regional average. But the real story is breadth—University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign delivers $94,434 outcomes with 44% acceptance versus Northwestern's 7%, proving accessible programs can compete.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Northwestern graduates borrow $15,000 and face just a 2.4% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Even including parent loans, families face only 7.3% burden—proof that top programs can deliver both outcomes and affordability.
Highest program earnings: $108,516
Strong outcomes ($86,435) with 88% acceptance
2.4% payment burden | Excellent
7.3% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $108,516 | 62 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Excellent |
| #2 | $94,434 | 55 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Good | |
| #3 | $88,056 | 82 | $24,000 | Excellent | $31,458 | Manageable | |
| #4 | $86,435 | 46 | $24,990 | Excellent | $29,300 | Manageable | |
| #5 | $85,695 | 66 | $21,250 | Excellent | $23,602 | Good | |
| #6 | $84,138 | 98 | $19,500 | Excellent | $30,250 | Manageable | |
| #7 | $83,476 | 42 | $25,000 | Excellent | $71,022 | Challenging | |
| #8 | $83,177 | 83 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,729 | Good | |
| #9 | $81,989 | 72 | $19,976 | Excellent | $25,868 | Good | |
| #10 | Marquette UniversityPrivate | $79,984 | 80 | $23,940 | Excellent | $45,500 | Challenging |
| #11 | $78,717 | 60 | $16,704 | Excellent | $24,323 | Good | |
| #12 | $78,264 | 75 | $19,500 | Excellent | $29,448 | Manageable | |
| #13 | $77,401 | 28 | $22,500 | Excellent | $16,132 | Good | |
| #14 | University Of IowaPublic | $76,896 | 111 | $22,500 | Excellent | $27,975 | Manageable |
| #15 | $76,252 | 33 | $20,000 | Excellent | $17,205 | Good | |
| #16 | $76,003 | 81 | $20,484 | Excellent | $28,364 | Manageable | |
| #17 | $75,667 | 47 | $27,000 | Excellent | $34,081 | Manageable | |
| #18 | University Of ToledoPublic | $74,617 | 51 | $22,250 | Excellent | $19,243 | Good |
| #19 | $73,635 | 26 | $27,000 | Excellent | $54,800 | Challenging | |
| #20 | $73,018 | 35 | $22,750 | Excellent | $14,381 | Good | |
| #21 | $69,004 | 61 | $23,250 | Excellent | $22,000 | Manageable | |
| #22 | Trine UniversityPrivate | $67,702 | 18 | $25,000 | Excellent | $32,897 | Challenging |
| #23 | $66,587 | 37 | $25,000 | Excellent | $36,438 | Challenging | |
| #24 | $62,260 | 10 | $26,391 | Good | $12,484 | Manageable | |
| #25 | Saint Louis UniversityPrivate | $58,898 | 47 | $25,000 | Good | $34,177 | Challenging |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
