Best Online Master’s In Biomedical Engineering Of 2024
Are you ready to become a part of a life-saving and life-improving industry? If yes, then the field of biomedical engineering is waiting for you! With an online master’s in biomedical engineering, you can join the team that designs and develops innovative medical equipment and devices and even create artificial limbs and organs.
The demand for knowledgeable professionals in this field constantly grows as medical technology advances. So, if you want to be at the forefront of this exciting industry, consider one of the eight programs on our list.
We have thoroughly explored and ranked each online program to help students like you achieve their dreams of making a difference in biomedical engineering.
Top 8 Best Master’s in Biomedical Engineering Online Degree
1. Johns Hopkins University
- Graduate Tuition: $5,090/course
- Percentage of Grad Students Enrolled in Distance Education: 81%
- Overall Graduation Rate: 93%
- School Type: Private
- Application Fee: $75
- Degree Credit Requirements: 30 credits
- Program Enrollment Options: Part time
- Notable Major-Specific Courses: Orthopedic biomechanics, medical sensors and devices
- Concentrations Available: Biomechanics, imaging, medical devices, neuroengineering, translational tissue engineering
- In-Person Requirements: Yes
Why We Picked It:
The school was first established in 1876, located in Baltimore, Maryland; Johns Hopkins University(JHU) was the first nationwide research university. The institution spends more on development and research than the average American institution.
Students can choose between five specialisations for the online MS in biomedical engineering with applied applications. The courses are entirely on the Internet; this program offers the opportunity to take a two-week residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Learners may also take a postgraduate degree in biomedical engineering.
Students studying engineering at JHU automatically get the dean’s fellowship, which reduces the price of each engineering course.
2. Villanova University
- Graduate Tuition: $1,541/credit
- Percentage of Grad Students Enrolled in Distance Education: 46%
- Overall Graduation Rate: 89%
- School Type: Private
- Application Fee: $50
- Degree Credit Requirements: 30 credits
- Program Enrollment Options: Full time
- Notable Major-Specific Courses: Protein engineering, gene and cell therapy
- Concentrations Available: N/A
- In-Person Requirements: Yes
Why We Picked It:
They were established in 1842 located in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The Catholic Villanova University enrols more than 10,000 students in around 175 courses. In the online MS of biochemical engineering program, students can select either a thesis or non-thesis option.
Engineering graduate students can switch between on-campus and online courses according to their preferences. Villanova’s campus houses several leading laboratories and centres in this area, including the Biochemical Engineering and Bio Processing Laboratory, the Center for Cellular Engineering, and, in 2024, the Center for Engineering Education and Research.
3. University of Southern California
- Graduate Tuition: $2,424/credit
- Percentage of Grad Students Enrolled in Distance Education: 60%
- Overall Graduation Rate: 93%
- School Type: Private
- Application Fee: $90
- Degree Credit Requirements: 28 credits
- Program Enrollment Options: Part time, full time
- Notable Major-Specific Courses: Physiological control systems, signal and systems analysis
- Concentrations Available: medical imaging and imaging informatics, medical device and diagnostic engineering
- In-Person Requirements: No
Why We Picked It:
The University of Southern California(USC) has increased from just over 50 undergraduates in 1880 to almost fifty thousand. For this MS of the biomedical engineering program, you can enrol in classes online or on USC’s Los Angeles campus. As a student who is online, you can choose between two specializations and an individualized or thesis-based program.
The USC online model lets users use synchronous and asynchronous delivery modes to provide the desired experience. Students have the exact tuition costs as students on campus but can save on health insurance, health centres, and programming.
4. Columbia University in the City of New York
- Graduate Tuition: $2,362/credit
- Percentage of Grad Students Enrolled in Distance Education: 29%
- Overall Graduation Rate: 93%
- School Type: Private
- Application Fee: $85
- Degree Credit Requirements: 30 credits
- Program Enrollment Options: Part time
- Notable Major-Specific Courses: Computational modeling of physiological systems, solid biomechanics
- Concentrations Available: N/A
- In-Person Requirements: No
Why We Picked It:
Columbia University was founded in 1754. This makes it an institution that is the longest-running in New York and one of the oldest universities in the United States. If you choose to enrol in a university that offers an online MS in biomedical engineering, the focus of your studies is imaging and biomechanics, in addition to the engineering of tissues and cells.
Online courses are delivered through Columbia Video Network. Columbia Video Network has been used by the university for online learning since 1986. In addition to tuition costs, students not in the classroom must pay an online course cost of $395 per course.
5. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Graduate Tuition: $1,137/credit
- Percentage of Grad Students Enrolled in Distance Education: 72%
- Overall Graduation Rate: 86%
- Our Flexibility Rating: Learn on your schedule
- School Type: Public
- Application Fee: $70
- Degree Credit Requirements: 32 credits
- Program Enrollment Options: Accelerated, part time, full time
- Notable Major-Specific Courses: Biological measurement, managing business operations
- Concentrations Available: General bioengineering, bioinstrumentation
- In-Person Requirements: No
Why We Picked It:
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign–the flagship school of the University of Illinois system–was founded in 1867. Research leaders in U.S. institutions, U of I, receive yearly research funds that exceed $600 million.
In the M.Eng. in bioengineering program, students prepare for leadership and technical healthcare professions. The curriculum includes a lifecycle capstone project which students can work on independently, whether for their employer or as a consultant project.
At U of I, all online students are charged the same tuition regardless of where they live.
6. Case Western Reserve University
- Graduate Tuition: $39,000/program
- Percentage of Grad Students Enrolled in Distance Education: 27%
- Overall Graduation Rate: 84%
- Our Flexibility Rating: Learn around your 9-to-5
- School Type: Private
- Application Fee: $50
- Degree Credit Requirements: 30 credits
- Program Enrollment Options: Full time
- Notable Major-Specific Courses: Biomedical instrumentation and signal processing, applied engineering statistics
- Concentrations Available: N/A
- In-Person Requirements: No
Why We Picked It:
The university is located in Cleveland, Ohio; Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) is home to around 12,000 learners from more than 100 nations.
As one of the more than 162 graduate degrees, the online MS of biomedical engineering is an online version of one the earliest biomedical master’s degree programs nationwide.
In this program, participants work in teams and complete practice assignments with the help of Virtual Simulation software. They also have the option of tackling the optional research project.
All online students at CWRU are awarded a significant student scholarship upon acceptance.
7. Purdue University
- Graduate Tuition: $1,139/credit (in state)
- Percentage of Grad Students Enrolled in Distance Education: 42%
- Overall Graduation Rate: 75%
- Our Flexibility Rating: Learn around your 9-to-5
- School Type: Public
- Application Fee: $60
- Degree Credit Requirements: 30 credits
- Program Enrollment Options: Full time, part time
- Notable Major-Specific Courses: Biomedical signal processing, polymeric biomaterials
- Concentrations Available: N/A
- In-Person Requirements: No
Why We Picked It:
Purdue University opened in 1874 in West Lafayette, Indiana, with just 39 students in attendance. Fast forward to 150 years, and the university has educated over 50,000 students across many programs, including more than 200 degree programs online.
One of the nine engineering specializations offered on the internet, the MS Biomedical Engineering integrates engineering, biology, and medical research. Students have the option of choosing between non-thesis and thesis tracks. Students are also required to complete professional classes, which could include the management of projects or programs, systems engineering processes, and the design of clinical studies.
8. University of North Dakota
- Graduate Tuition: $798/credit
- Percentage of Grad Students Enrolled in Distance Education: 73%
- Overall Graduation Rate: 50%
- Our Flexibility Rating: Learn around your 9-to-5
- School Type: Public
- Application Fee: $35
- Degree Credit Requirements: 30 credits
- Program Enrollment Options: Full time
- Notable Major-Specific Courses: Digital image processing, intelligent decision systems
- Concentrations Available: N/A
- In-Person Requirements: No
Why We Picked It:
It is situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota; the University of North Dakota (UND) existed before the state’s existence. UND provides more than 250 programs with an online MS Biomedical Engineering option.
Students studying biomedical engineering in the master’s program at UND can choose either a thesis or non-thesis track. They also have the option of industrial, clinical, and UND laboratory research internships.
Regardless of where they live, students who live at a distance pay the same tuition at UND. However, the school charges an additional $72 per credit for technology.
Should You Enroll in an Online Master’s in Biomedical Engineering Program?
In the past, the thought of getting a master’s degree in biomedical engineering online seemed impossible. Today, many institutions nationwide offer degrees through distance education, with flexible schedules and little or no travel requirements. However, before enrolling in the online Biomedical Engineering degree, it is essential to determine whether you’d like distance learning.
Online programs typically employ either synchronous or asynchronous delivery. Synchronous delivery can be scheduled for classes, usually evenings or weekends, to accommodate busy students. Asynchronous delivery gives students complete flexibility in scheduling, but it may also require more motivation than synchronous learning.
When you’re deciding on an online program, take into consideration the way your style of learning aligns with the method of delivery.
For instance, if you are looking for an interactive classroom, then think about consider hybrid or online courses. If you’ve got the organization and time management abilities to be successful on your schedule, asynchronous programs should be a good fit.
Accreditation for Online Master’s Degrees in Biomedical Engineering
Accreditation can be found in two types, and each could affect your educational experience and your postgraduate career. Institutional accreditation covers all schools that have met rigorous third-party standards of academic excellence, student success and conformity.
If you are enrolled in an unaccredited university or college and you are not eligible to receive federal aid for students or transfer credits to another school. It is possible to determine an institution’s accreditation status by looking through the Council for Higher Accreditation of Education’s directory.
Program accreditation is given to specific departments and degrees from more prominent universities. For degrees in biomedical engineering, ABET accredits departments and programs that comply with its standards for quality.
As of August 2023, the only master’s program at the University of Louisville holds ABET recognition for the fields of bioengineering and biomedical engineering.
How To Find the Right Online Master’s in Biomedical Engineering for You
Consider Your Future Goals
Imagine your future and the direction you’d like to pursue when you graduate, which will help you choose a course. The biomedical field has plenty of specialist areas that could be more accessible by following a relevant study area or work in your studies. Additionally, picking a college with a unique industry partnership or faculty members who are experts in the site you are interested in can give you an edge in pursuing a specific area or job.
It is also worth considering how your particular program will affect your course of study. For instance, a thesis-oriented academic program would be ideal for preparing you to pursue the doctorate. In contrast, a practice-oriented or project-based program may allow you to pursue a postgraduate laboratory career.
Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options
Prices for tuition for the biomedical engineering master’s online programs listed on this page differ significantly. The University of North Dakota charges $798 per credit on the lower end of the spectrum. This amounts to $23,940 for tuition for the entire master’s degree. On the higher side, Columbia University charges $2,362 per credit, totalling $70,860.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the annual graduate tuition was $19,749 on average for the 2020-21 school year. The public schools cost an average of $12,394 annually, or around $24,800 for two years of study. Private schools charged $26,621, approximately $53,200 for a 2-year master’s degree. A typical two-year degree in an out-of-state graduate school costs around $35,900 for the 2020-21 academic year.
Whichever university or program you pick, ensure you know all the financing options available. It starts by completing the FAFSA and allowing you to qualify for federal assistance, grants, and scholarships. There is also the possibility of loans or work-study programs to pay for your expenses.
FAQs About Online Master’s in Biomedical Engineering Programs
How long does an MS in biomedical engineering take?
An average MS in biomedical engineering will take about two years of continuous studies to finish. According to your specific program, reducing the timeframe by taking on a higher program or slowing down by taking the option of a part-time schedule is possible.
How hard is a biomedical engineering master’s?
Like other STEM graduate degrees, the biomedical master’s degree isn’t easy. They are usually challenging, requiring an in-depth understanding of complex plex science, medicine, engine and engineering, but they can also prove enthralling and rewarding, based on your preferences.
Is a master’s in biomedical engineering worth it?
Yes. A master’s degree in biomedical engineering will allow you to enter a promising study area. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a 10% increase in bioengineers biomedical engineering between 2021-2031, which is more than twice the growth rate projected for all jobs. The median salary for these professionals was $99,550.
