Compare 29 Biomedical/Medical Engineering. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $86,733.
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 | Wayne State UniversityPublic | $106,048 | 18 | $21,250 | Excellent | $16,378 | Excellent |
| #2 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $102,994 | 43 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Excellent |
| #3 | $102,342 | 103 | $19,500 | Excellent | $30,250 | Good | |
| #4 | $99,762 | 106 | $20,484 | Excellent | $28,364 | Good | |
| #5 | $97,926 | 80 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Good | |
| #6 | $97,611 | 81 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,729 | Good | |
| #7 | Marquette UniversityPrivate | $95,728 | 80 | $23,940 | Excellent | $45,500 | Manageable |
| #8 | $94,168 | 86 | $24,000 | Excellent | $31,458 | Good | |
| #9 | $93,434 | 112 | $19,500 | Excellent | $29,448 | Good | |
| #10 | $93,229 | 29 | $27,000 | Excellent | $34,081 | Manageable | |
| #11 | $90,897 | 63 | $21,250 | Excellent | $23,602 | Good | |
| #12 | $90,484 | 20 | $25,000 | Excellent | $71,022 | Challenging | |
| #13 | $90,065 | 79 | $19,976 | Excellent | $25,868 | Good | |
| #14 | Miami University-OxfordPublic | $89,052 | 31 | $23,000 | Excellent | $34,512 | Manageable |
| #15 | $88,435 | 36 | $20,000 | Excellent | $17,205 | Good | |
| #16 | $88,378 | 34 | $25,000 | Excellent | $36,438 | Manageable | |
| #17 | $87,393 | 84 | $16,704 | Excellent | $24,323 | Good | |
| #18 | University Of IowaPublic | $86,894 | 92 | $22,500 | Excellent | $27,975 | Good |
| #19 | Saint Louis UniversityPrivate | $86,844 | 48 | $25,000 | Excellent | $34,177 | Manageable |
| #20 | University Of ToledoPublic | $85,751 | 65 | $22,250 | Excellent | $19,243 | Good |
| #21 | $83,916 | 63 | $24,990 | Excellent | $29,300 | Manageable | |
| #22 | $82,540 | 51 | $23,250 | Excellent | $22,000 | Good | |
| #23 | $80,937 | 22 | $27,000 | Excellent | $54,800 | Challenging | |
| #24 | $77,864 | 23 | $22,750 | Excellent | $14,381 | Good | |
| #25 | $77,401 | 38 | — | — | — | — |
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 →
