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Cheapest Biomedical/Medical Engineering Colleges in Illinois

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

Northwestern University charges $27,143 net price while University of Illinois Chicago offers biomedical engineering for just $12,313, creating a $15,000 gap that reflects different value propositions in Illinois. The state's medical device industry, anchored by companies like Abbott and Baxter in the Chicago area, provides strong career pathways for graduates earning between $53,358 and $76,460 annually. Public universities dominate the affordable options, with three of the top four spots costing under $20,000.
6
Programs
$12,313 – $35,196
Net Price Range
$64,764
Avg. Program Earnings
73.3%
Avg. Graduation Rate

6 Biomedical/Medical Engineering Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $12,313 $14,338 60.3% 78.7%
2 $12,909 $12,700 49.6% 70.7%
3 $15,201 $16,004 84.9% 44.8%
4 $19,353 $51,763 72.4% 61.4%
5 $27,143 $65,997 95.9% 7.2%
6 $35,196 $51,716 76.9% 79.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the wide earnings gap between biomedical engineering programs?

Northwestern graduates earn $76,460 compared to $53,358 from University of Illinois Chicago, a $23,000 difference that correlates with graduation rates and program selectivity. Northwestern's 95.90% graduation rate and 7.21% acceptance rate contrast sharply with UIC's 60.30% graduation rate and 78.69% acceptance rate.

How do debt levels compare across Illinois biomedical engineering programs?

Student debt ranges from $15,000 at Northern Illinois University to $27,000 at Illinois Institute of Technology. Northwestern maintains relatively low debt at $16,833 despite its high sticker price, reflecting strong financial aid that brings net costs to $27,143.

Does attending University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign justify the higher cost?

UIUC charges $15,201 net price but delivers $74,576 median earnings, nearly matching Northwestern's outcomes at half the cost. The 84.90% graduation rate and established engineering reputation make it a strong middle-ground option between ultra-affordable UIC and premium Northwestern.

More Biomedical/Medical Engineering Rankings

Best Value Biomedical/Medical Engineering in Illinois Biomedical/Medical Engineering Under $20,000 in Illinois

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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.