Compare 24 Biomedical/Medical Engineering. programs in the West. Average earnings: $76,078.
The highest-earning Biomedical/Medical Engineering program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $49K earnings gap across 24 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
University of Southern California's Biomedical/Medical Engineering program leads with graduates earning $104,579, while the regional average sits at $76,078. But prestige doesn't guarantee performance—Cal Poly San Luis Obispo ($97,977) nearly matches USC's outcomes while accepting 30% of applicants versus USC's 10%.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. UCLA graduates borrow $14,000 and face just a 2.6% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. University of Utah leads families with a 7.9% burden including parent loans, proving the best choice depends on who's paying.
Highest program earnings: $104,579
Strong outcomes ($93,547) with 87% acceptance
2.6% payment burden | Excellent
7.9% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $104,579 | 51 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Good | |
| #2 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | $98,444 | 37 | $19,162 | Excellent | $56,271 | Manageable |
| #3 | $97,977 | 102 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Good | |
| #4 | $97,038 | 66 | $14,000 | Excellent | $26,176 | Good | |
| #5 | $96,808 | 92 | $15,500 | Excellent | $24,257 | Good | |
| #6 | University Of UtahPublic | $93,547 | 83 | $19,000 | Excellent | $18,886 | Excellent |
| #7 | Colorado School Of MinesPublic | $87,437 | 36 | $23,000 | Excellent | $53,505 | Manageable |
| #8 | $85,694 | 65 | $20,000 | Excellent | $36,000 | Manageable | |
| #9 | $84,254 | 116 | $13,000 | Excellent | $25,733 | Good | |
| #10 | $83,334 | 72 | $16,666 | Excellent | $28,682 | Good | |
| #11 | $82,806 | 120 | $15,000 | Excellent | $22,665 | Good | |
| #12 | $82,725 | 34 | $16,144 | Excellent | $18,376 | Good | |
| #13 | $81,531 | 123 | $19,500 | Excellent | $23,519 | Good | |
| #14 | $80,773 | 76 | $17,500 | Excellent | $18,275 | Good | |
| #15 | $73,949 | 24 | $14,289 | Excellent | $15,177 | Good | |
| #16 | $73,096 | 24 | $19,500 | Excellent | $29,968 | Manageable | |
| #17 | Oregon State UniversityPublic | $69,602 | 62 | $21,221 | Excellent | $28,923 | Manageable |
| #18 | $63,005 | 86 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Manageable | |
| #19 | University Of ArizonaPublic | $55,964 | 52 | $19,620 | Good | $30,126 | Challenging |
| #20 | $55,550 | 25 | $20,500 | Good | $21,716 | Challenging | |
| #21 | $53,358 | 66 | $15,000 | Excellent | $20,820 | Manageable | |
| #22 | Stanford UniversityPrivate | $50,487 | 35 | $12,000 | Excellent | $38,333 | High |
| #23 | $39,927 | 80 | $14,615 | Good | $24,883 | High | |
| #24 | University Of The PacificPrivate | $33,993 | 20 | $19,500 | Challenging | $50,438 | High |
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 →
