Best Value Biomedical/Medical Engineering Colleges in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's biomedical engineering programs reveal sharp contrasts between public and private options, with net costs spanning from $22,673 at West Chester University to $40,429 at Bucknell University. University of Pennsylvania graduates command the highest starting salaries at $82,440, while acceptance rates range dramatically from Penn's selective 6.5% to West Chester's accessible 87.85%. The state's medical device industry and healthcare giants like UPMC create strong demand for biomedical engineers across Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Public universities like Pitt offer particularly strong value propositions with competitive earnings potential at lower costs.

Programs

$22,673 – $40,429

Net Price Range

$63,289

Avg. Program Earnings

79.8%

Avg. Graduation Rate

12 Biomedical/Medical Engineering Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	$31,229	$82,440	$66,104	96.8%	6.5%
2	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	$30,074	$63,600	$21,524	84.3%	49.1%
3	Lehigh University Bethlehem, Pennsylvania	$33,549	$67,660	$62,180	89.2%	37.0%
4	Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	$31,671	$60,161	$63,829	92.5%	11.3%
5	Widener University Chester, Pennsylvania	$30,470	$52,107	$53,638	63.5%	87.7%
6	Bucknell University Lewisburg, Pennsylvania	$40,429	$66,821	$64,772	86.2%	32.6%
7	Drexel University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	$38,428	$50,231	$60,663	77.1%	79.6%
8	Duquesne University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	$34,978		$47,146	75.5%	87.5%
9	Gannon University Erie, Pennsylvania	$23,206		$37,951	69.5%	80.9%
10	Messiah University Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania	$27,686		$40,640	78.5%	79.4%
11	Temple University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	$29,219		$22,082	74.7%	79.7%
12	West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, Pennsylvania	$22,673		$10,687	69.8%	87.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $50,000+ salary gap between highest and lowest earning programs?

University of Pennsylvania graduates earn $82,440 compared to $50,231 at Drexel University, reflecting differences in program focus and employer connections. Penn's Ivy League network and research opportunities in Philadelphia's medical corridor contribute to higher starting salaries.

How do Pennsylvania's public universities compare to private options for biomedical engineering value?

University of Pittsburgh offers the strongest public option with $63,600 graduate earnings at just $30,074 net cost. West Chester provides the lowest cost at $22,673 but lacks earnings data, while private schools typically cost $30,000-40,000 annually.

Is Carnegie Mellon worth the high cost despite lower biomedical engineering earnings?

Carnegie Mellon's $60,161 graduate earnings trail both Penn and Pitt despite a $31,671 net cost. However, its 92.5% graduation rate ranks second-highest and the engineering reputation may offer long-term career advantages.

Does acceptance rate correlate with program quality in Pennsylvania biomedical engineering?

The most selective programs show mixed results: Penn (6.5% acceptance) leads in earnings while Carnegie Mellon (11.3%) earns less than moderately selective Lehigh (37%). Pitt combines strong earnings with reasonable 49% acceptance rates.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.