Do you have a background in biology, bioengineering, product engineering, medicine, or healthcare? If you are searching for a new way to use your knowledge while contributing to the healthcare system, one of the cheapest online biomedical engineering master’s listed below may be perfect for you.
These degrees train you to design equipment and devices used for health and wellbeing. From diagnostic medical equipment to replacement body parts, you’ll create items that make people more healthy, happy, and active. Biomedical engineering is not just an important field, it’s also an in-demand industry that brings excellent salaries. You can expect strong earnings and plenty of options after completing an online master’s biomedical engineering degree.
In this database, you can search through 20 programs from 14 leading accredited institutions. These degrees are flexible, convenient, and come with a wide range of prices to fit your budget.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~$47,600
Least Expensive In-state: Florida Atlantic University ~$11,155
Least Expensive Out-of-state: North Dakota State University ~$15,848
Use this data-driven ranking system to find the perfect biomedical engineering online master’s for your current schedule and future career.
9 Cheapest Online Biomedical Engineering Master’s Programs
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Florida Atlantic University | (FL) | $11,155.00 $30,804.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
2 | North Dakota State University | (ND) | $15,848.00 | All Students |
3 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | (IL) | $18,600.00 | All Students |
4 | University of Houston | (TX) | $22,350.00 | All Students |
5 | University of North Dakota | (ND) | $26,085.00 | All Students |
6 | University of Missouri-Columbia | (MO) | $31,800.00 | All Students |
7 | Purdue University | (IN) | $34,170.00 $43,770.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
8 | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | (IL) | $36,384.00 | All Students |
9 | University of Maryland-College Park | (MD) | $41,820.00 | All Students |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Johns Hopkins University | (MD) | $55,800.00 | All Students | |
Drexel University | (PA) | $64,222.00 $57,825.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
University of Southern California | (CA) | $68,368.00 | All Students | |
Columbia University in the City of New York | (NY) | $77,915.00 | All Students | |
Case Western Reserve University | (OH) | $78,064.00 | All Students |
Methodology for These Rankings
These rankings of online biomedical engineering programs are based on our fall 2023 review of degrees. In order to calculate the total cost, we use a variety of factors including minimum required credit hours, tuition rates, and general fees. At the time of collection, the information was valid and specific to the individual program. Profiles for the same degrees found in the directory on our site may, on occasion, reflect a different cost based on editorial update schedules.
The published cost is an estimated total price for the entire degree, but actual costs will vary by student. For example, if you have transfer credits, your cost may be lower. Prerequisite courses, textbook fees, licensing requirements, financial aid, and numerous other factors can impact the price of an affordable online biomedical engineering master’s degree.
We strive to create the most honest, accurate ranking system possible. Therefore, we do not accept payments from schools to be included or removed from our rankings. The rankings are open to any regionally-accredited public or nonprofit college or university that offers an online master’s degree in biomedical engineering. We do not include degrees from non-accredited, nationally-accredited, or for-profit schools in our rankings. We also exclude from our rankings degrees that are available less than 80% online and those that are only available to students in five states or fewer.
Program Note: In order to qualify for a ranking, the online master’s in biomedical engineering must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table. Degrees labeled with superscript 14 indicate that options for this program have changed since publication.
ABET ABET accrediting organization
Why Enroll in One of the Cheapest Online Biomedical Engineering Master’s?
An online biomedical engineering master’s program is a challenging academic experience. Here are some of the reasons why people enroll in these difficult yet rewarding programs:
- Salaries around $100,000: The median annual salary for biomedical engineers is $99,550, while the top 10% in this profession earn over $159,130 a year. With a master’s degree, you have a strong chance of earning these high incomes.
- Broad work opportunities: Biomedical engineers can work in many industries and sectors. With a biomedical engineering online master’s degree, you could work for universities, government agencies, and private businesses. Hospitals, research firms, drug companies, and even computer companies need experts in biomedical engineering.
- Stable career: The national job market is expected to grow by 3% between 2022 and 2032, but the biomedical and bioengineering field is expected to grow by 5%. The demand for new medical devices and procedures should increase the need for these experts.
Master’s in Bioengineering: Program Cost
The price for a master’s in biomedical engineering online can vary widely. The programs in this database, which include 20 degrees from 14 schools, range from just over $11,000 to more than $78,000. That’s a span of about $67,000, so you need to be careful when selecting a program, especially if you are on a tight budget.
The cheapest online biomedical engineering master’s in this database comes from Florida Atlantic University, which offers a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering that is 100% online. This low price, however, is only available to Florida residents; out-of-state students have an estimated cost of $30,804, so there is a substantial difference.
For students from across the country, the most affordable option is the Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from North Dakota State University. This degree has an estimated price of $15,848 no matter where you live, making it the cheapest online biomedical engineering master’s for anyone outside of Florida.
The most expensive biomedical engineering online master’s degree comes from Case Western Reserve University. The school’s Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering and Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering each have an estimated cost of $78,064.
The most affordable options usually come from public schools in your state. The FIU program is a good example, but there are more. For instance, the Interdisciplinary Master of Science in Engineering / Biomedical Engineering from Purdue University has an in-state cost (Indiana) of $34,170, while the out-of-state cost is $43,770.
Using this database, you can find clear, simple, and reliable estimates on the cost of a master’s in bioengineering.
Who Offers the Most Affordable Biomedical Degrees?
Many master’s in biomedical engineering online programs have affordable prices that allow you to complete a degree on a budget. These three schools, however, offer the lowest costs:
#1. Florida Atlantic University
Degree: Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Cost: $11,155 (In-state, Florida)
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Florida Atlantic University offers an excellent price to students in the state of Florida. If you live in the Sunshine State, you can attend this school for an estimated total of $11,155. However, out-of-state students will pay over $30,000 for the program, so there is some disparity between in- and out-of-state students.
The program is 100% online and delivers a superb value. Not only is the school accredited by a regional group, this specific degree has accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. It’s an affordable program that doesn’t sacrifice academic excellence.
After graduation, students can pursue careers in medical diagnostics, prosthetic design, neural-implant development, and more. Successful graduates can also continue their formal education at the doctorate level.
#2. North Dakota State University
Degree: Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Cost: $15,848 (All students)
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
North Dakota State University offers the cheapest online biomedical engineering master’s degree for students all across the country. Unless you live in the state of Florida, you will not find a more affordable option than the Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from NDSU.
During this program, students develop design and problem-solving skills as they relate to medical and biological sciences. They learn to advance healthcare treatments and improve lives through intuitive and state-of-the-art medical devices.
NDSU’s online platform provides access to world-class learning from a remote setting. Online students follow the same application process and meet the same requirements set by the in-person school.
#3. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Degree: Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering
Cost: $18,600 (All students)
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
This degree comes from SIU-Carbondale’s School of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering. The program offers study and research in medical engineering and bioengineering, allowing graduates to create medical devices or work with technologies like medical imaging and instrumentation. They also become experts in healthcare software, biomechanics, and biophotonics.
Throughout the program, students will complete a variety of biomedical engineering core courses that build their knowledge of biology and its connection with modern technology. The 30-hour program includes coursework in cells, neurology, tissue engineering, and more.
cheapest online biomedical engineering master’s: Degree Program Types
This database holds 20 master’s in biomedical engineering online degrees. While similar in overall scope, there are differences, largely depending on the school you select.
Some of these degrees are “master’s of science in bioengineering” degrees, while others are “master’s of engineering in bioengineering.” The differences may seem small, but there are important aspects of both that will impact what jobs are available after graduation.
A master’s of engineering is career specific. These types of degrees in our database apply directly to a career in bioengineering or biomedical engineering.
By contrast, a master of science in bioengineering or biomedical engineering is broader in scope. Students in these programs generally receive a broader science education. While careers can cross over and interchange, a master of science in bioengineering is better for people aspiring to research or academic pursuits.
These degrees also have numerous specializations and concentrations. For instance, you can enroll in a degree focused on applied biomedical engineering, which heavily focuses on the real-world, direct applications of biomedical engineering. There are also programs that focus on the law surrounding biomedical issues, digital media, gene therapy, and the business of bioengineering. This may seem like a narrow focus of study, but you’ll find many options as you research the various programs.
Bioengineering vs Biomedical Engineering
While there is overlap in the two disciplines, there are differences as well. Essentially, bioengineering spans a variety of fields while biomedical engineering is specific to the healthcare and medical industries. Biomedical engineering is basically one type of bioengineering.
Accreditation for these Programs
Accreditation is a quality review process for academia. Schools hold institutional accreditation, which covers the entire college or university. This type of accreditation is granted by regional groups approved by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. For example, the Higher Learning Commission accredits schools in the Midwest and much of the middle section of the country.
Although less common, there is also a form called “programmatic,” which covers a specific degree or program. A degree in interior design, for example, could be approved by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation.
Programmatic accreditation is less common in bioengineering, but some degrees do have approval from the accrediting group, ABET. The Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Florida Atlantic University, which is the cheapest online biomedical engineering master’s degree in our database, has approval from ABET. Currently, this is the only ABET-accredited degree in our list of online biomedical engineering master’s degrees.
Typical Admission Requirements
If you are enrolling in a master’s degree, you likely understand the basic college admissions process. The process for a master’s, however, can be more detailed than the admissions process for a bachelor’s degree.
To enroll, you’ll need a related bachelor’s degree. Some schools require a bachelor of science in engineering or a similar field from an ABET-accredited program, although they often have an alternative qualification process. For instance, if you don’t have the appropriate degree you may need to complete a GRE exam.
You will also need to submit various documents, including a statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and transcripts from all previous schools.
Licensing, Training, or Experience Requirements in Bioengineering
Licensing is rare for bioengineering. These specialists do not provide direct medical care or diagnose health issues, so they won’t need certification or licenses.
Some in this field may pursue specialized training, allowing them to design medical devices in a certain area. For instance, some biomedical engineers may attend dental school, allowing them to create medical devices used in dental and oral health.
There are voluntary certification opportunities as well. You can become a Certified Medical Device Reprocessing Technician (CMDRT) or earn certification through the American College of Clinical Engineering.
Salary and Career Information
After graduating from a master’s in biomedical engineering online program, you’ll have the chance to work as a biomedical engineer or bioengineer. While similar, the careers have distinct differences.
Mainly, a bioengineer can work in virtually any field, including biology, engineering, software, and chemical industries. Biomedical engineers, on the other hand, use their skills almost exclusively in the medical field.
Regardless of the exact title, you can expect a strong salary after graduating from an online master’s biomedical engineering program. The median annual salary for these experts is $99,550, while the top 10% earn over $159,000 a year. The best-paid bioengineers work for engineering services. With this type of employer, the median pay is $146,540 a year.
Jobs for biomedical engineers and bioengineers can be found all across the country. The largest concentration, however, is in Colorado, where there are 0.59 bioengineers for every 1,000 jobs.
The best-paid bioengineers and biomedical engineers live in the southwestern U.S. The top state is New Mexico, where they earn a median income of $133,790. Second place goes to Arizona ($125,010), with California ($123,160) rounding out the top three.
The career appears to be steady as well. Job growth between 2022 and 2032 is predicted at 5%, which is just above the predicted 3% growth rate for all professions. With an increasing need for medical services and innovative devices, the demand for bioengineers should increase over the years.
How Do I Choose a Good Online Biomedical Engineering Degree Program?
Biomedical engineering is a complex yet important field. To be a part of this fascinating industry, you need the right education, but making the best choice can seem difficult. With the top resources, as well as a strategic plan, you can make the best choice for your future.
Start by looking for degrees that fit your interests and career goals. There are differences between a master of engineering and a master of science, so choose the type of degree that works for your needs. While many of these degrees are similar, you’ll also want to research the specializations for various master’s in biomedical engineering online programs.
Once you have identified a handful of options, research accreditation, especially institutional accreditation. Only enroll in degrees from accredited colleges and universities.
Now research the cost of these degrees to find a program that fits your budget. If you find a program that seems like the right fit, look up their admissions process and submit all necessary documents.
Before long, you’ll be studying in an online master’s degree biomedical engineering program. But if you need more information, the resources at GetEducated.com are waiting to help!