2026 Best Value Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the bioengineering & biomedical engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering Schools
For return on investment in bioengineering & biomedical engineering, no school beat University Of California San Diego this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the bioengineering & biomedical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, bioengineering & biomedical engineering degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $82,606. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
California State University Long Beach came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value bioengineering & biomedical engineering schools. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,374, compared with $19,974 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,720 to complete the bioengineering & biomedical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, bioengineering & biomedical engineering degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $66,090. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Stanford University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in bioengineering & biomedical engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Typical student debt for bioengineering & biomedical engineering graduates is $10,492. Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $50,487 early in their careers. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Irvine earned it the #4 place for bioengineering & biomedical engineering. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,390 in student loans. Soon after graduation, bioengineering & biomedical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $76,583. Set against $17,390 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
San Jose State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in bioengineering & biomedical engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,410, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of California Merced came in at #6 for value in bioengineering & biomedical engineering this year. University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Merced. Students from in state pay about $14,653 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,541. Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,234 in student loans. Soon after graduation, bioengineering & biomedical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Merced generally make around $57,223. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of California Riverside placed #7 among the best values for bioengineering & biomedical engineering. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,636, compared with $46,524 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for bioengineering & biomedical engineering graduates is $19,877. Early-career bioengineering & biomedical engineering graduates make about $61,342. That is a strong return on a $19,877 median debt. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value bioengineering & biomedical engineering schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Typical student debt for bioengineering & biomedical engineering graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, bioengineering & biomedical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $57,874. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
University Of California Berkeley placed #9 among the best values for bioengineering & biomedical engineering. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering graduates carry a median of $14,896 in student loans. Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $78,954 early in their careers. Set against $14,896 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
University Of California Davis came in at #10 for value in bioengineering & biomedical engineering this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,977 to complete the bioengineering & biomedical engineering program here. Early-career bioengineering & biomedical engineering graduates make about $68,419. That is a strong return on a $15,977 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #11 position for value in bioengineering & biomedical engineering this year. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,161, while out-of-state students pay about $33,230. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the bioengineering & biomedical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, bioengineering & biomedical engineering degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $84,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 31% of applicants are accepted.
San Diego State University came in at #12 for value in bioengineering & biomedical engineering this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,728, compared with $21,328 for out-of-state students. Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,417 in student loans. Soon after graduation, bioengineering & biomedical engineering degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $51,162. That is a strong return on a $16,417 median debt. The acceptance rate is 36%.
California Institute Of Technology ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value bioengineering & biomedical engineering schools. Set in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,898. Early-career bioengineering & biomedical engineering graduates make about $173,344. California Institute Of Technology admits about 3% of applicants.
University Of The Pacific earned the #14 position for value in bioengineering & biomedical engineering this year. University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. Students from in state pay about $57,080 in tuition and fees. Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,033 in student loans. Soon after graduation, bioengineering & biomedical engineering degree recipients from University Of The Pacific generally make around $77,099. That is a strong return on a $26,033 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
California Baptist University landed the #15 spot for bioengineering & biomedical engineering value this year. Set in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,228. Students borrow a median of $28,169 to complete the bioengineering & biomedical engineering program here. Early-career bioengineering & biomedical engineering graduates make about $51,999. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California Baptist University admits about 85% of applicants.
University Of Southern California ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value bioengineering & biomedical engineering schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Students borrow a median of $14,500 to complete the bioengineering & biomedical engineering program here. Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $83,005 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Loyola Marymount University came in at #17 for value in bioengineering & biomedical engineering this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,867. Typical student debt for bioengineering & biomedical engineering graduates is $22,248. Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of $52,935 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Santa Clara University earned the #18 position for value in bioengineering & biomedical engineering this year. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,293. Students borrow a median of $21,390 to complete the bioengineering & biomedical engineering program here. Early-career bioengineering & biomedical engineering graduates make about $73,710. That is a strong return on a $21,390 median debt. Santa Clara University admits about 48% of applicants.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
[Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering](/majors/engineering/biomedical-engineering/bioengineering-biomedical-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
