by our College Data Analytics Team
[Biomedical Engineering](/majors/engineering/biomedical-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying biomedical engineering schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send biomedical engineering graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is University Of California San Diego, our #1 for biomedical engineering graduate salaries in the Far Western Region. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a public institution. Students who complete the biomedical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $139,813.
University Of Southern California came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying biomedical engineering schools. University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students who complete the biomedical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $119,617.
A rank of #3 makes Keck Graduate Institute one of the highest-paying schools for biomedical engineering. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Keck Graduate Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Biomedical Engineering graduates of Keck Graduate Institute earn a median of about $92,821 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo one of the highest-paying schools for biomedical engineering. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Students who complete the biomedical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $88,348.
Students chasing top earnings in biomedical engineering will find them at University Of California Irvine, which ranked #5. University Of California Irvine is a public school located in the city of Irvine. Biomedical Engineering graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of about $85,995 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Riverside ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying biomedical engineering schools. University Of California Riverside is a public school located in the city of Riverside. Early-career biomedical engineering graduates from University Of California Riverside make a median of around $98,201 per year.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #7 position for biomedical engineering graduate earnings this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public school located in the city of Seattle. Biomedical Engineering graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of about $67,420 a year early in their careers.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their biomedical engineering graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 7 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.