2026 Best Value Biological Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
[Biological Engineering](/majors/engineering/biological-biosystems-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong biological engineering education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 28 schools to find the best return on investment for biological engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Biological Engineering Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the biological engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Biological Engineering Schools
University Of Arizona tops our 2026 list of the best value biological engineering schools in the United States. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Students borrow a median of $21,861 to complete the biological engineering program here. Early-career biological engineering graduates make about $50,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
Auburn University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in biological engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Biological Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,747 in student loans. Biological Engineering graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $59,050 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,747 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Colorado School Of Mines earned it the #3 place for biological engineering. Located in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $21,914 in tuition and fees, compared with $45,824 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biological engineering graduates is $24,521. Biological Engineering graduates of Colorado School Of Mines earn a median of $76,298 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value biological engineering schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,636 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the biological engineering program here. Soon after graduation, biological engineering degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Carnegie Mellon University admits about 12% of applicants.
Other Biological Engineering Degree Levels
Explore the best-value biological engineering schools at other degree levels:
View All Biological Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
