The field of medicine is ever-evolving, requiring medical professionals to continually update their technical skills. Many medical professionals who have bachelor’s degrees and are looking to keep up with these advancements pursue an online Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering. Studying online allows them to hone their skills without disturbing their professional schedules. However, with the plethora of options for this two-year degree, it can be hard to determine which online biomedical engineering master’s degree is best.
To help in your search, we’ll outline the best online biomedical engineering master’s degrees in the US and detail all of the information you need to assess its suitability for your needs. Additionally, to provide you with an idea of what graduates of these programs achieve, we’ll also discuss the highest-paying biomedical engineering master’s degree jobs.
Where Can I Get a Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree Online?
You can get a biomedical engineering master’s degree online from a variety of schools, including Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, Purdue University, University of California, and University of Illinois. Other great options include studying at University of Maryland, University of North Dakota, University of Southern California, Case Western Reserve University, and Colorado State University.
What Schools Offer the Best Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degrees?
- Purdue University
- Columbia University,
- Johns Hopkins University
- University Of Southern California
- University of North Dakota
What Are the Admission Requirements for an Online Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree?
The minimum admission requirement for an online biomedical engineering master’s degree is the possession of a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. From there, the requirements differ between each institution. Many schools require prospective students to submit letters of recommendation from their professors or managers, as well as a written statement of interest in the program.
Some schools require applicants to have a minimum undergraduate GPA score, typically of 3.0 or higher. In addition, you may be required to provide GRE or GMAT scores. However, many institutions have chosen waive this requirement, at least until the 2023 academic year.
Online Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree Admission Requirements
- An accredited undergraduate degree in a relevant field
- Minimum GPA score (determined by each school)
- GRE/GMAT scores
- Academic transcripts
- Resume
- Letters of recommendation
- Statement of interest
How to Get a Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree Online
You can get a biomedical engineering master’s degree online by meeting the graduation requirements. You will need to complete the stated number of credits to be eligible. You should note that the graduation requirements vary from one program to another. Some institutions require learners to finish capstone projects, assignments, or essays to qualify for graduation.
Students are typically required to complete 30 credit hours while maintaining a 3.0 GPA across all courses. Some schools will have graduate students complete a thesis, but for biomedical engineering that is often replaced with capstone couses, projects, or internships.
Biomedical Engineering Degree Requirements
- Complete 30 credits
- Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA
- Complete a capstone project, internship, or thesis
Best Online Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree Programs and Schools: Overview
| School | Program | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|
| Case Western Reserve University | Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering | Higher Learning Commission |
| Colorado State University | Master of Engineering | Higher Learning Commission |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| Johns Hopkins University | Master of Science in Applied Biomedical Engineering | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| Purdue University | Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering | Higher Learning Commission |
| University of California, Riverside | Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering | Western Association of Schools and Colleges |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Master of Engineering in Bioengineering | Higher Learning Commission |
| University of Maryland | Master of Engineering in Bioengineering | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| University of North Dakota | Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering | Higher Learning Commission |
| University of Southern California | Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering | Western Association of Schools and Colleges |
Best Schools for Biomedical Engineering: Top Online Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree Programs
The best schools for biomedical engineering will help you build a successful career in the industry. Below, we’ll go over the top online biomedical engineering master’s degree programs to help you narrow down your options.
What Is an Online Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree?
An online biomedical engineering master’s degree is a graduate-level credential. It’s earned through a graduate program that teaches advanced skills to those with prior STEM bachelor’s degrees. If your bachelor’s degree wasn’t in bioengineering, specifically, you could also qualify for a biomedical engineering master’s degree program with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field.
Having gained baseline knowledge in sciences from your bachelor’s degree, you can choose a specialization in your graduate program. Popular concentrations include tissue translation, genetic engineering, biomechanics, imaging, and neuroengineering. Depending on the institution, some programs require students to write a thesis as a culmination of their studies or take part in an internship.
Online vs In-Person Biomedical Engineering Degrees
The difference between online vs in-person biomedical engineering degrees is not as stark as some people first think. As long as students study at accredited universities, the educational quality of the types of learning styles is equal, with schools offering the same professors and classes online as in-person. Many universities don’t even specify the learning format through which the degree was earned, making the difference between the two indistinguishable on paper.
Though they are both great options for getting a degree, one disadvantage to getting a biomedical engineering degree online is that labs are more challenging to complete. Since distanced students don’t have the required medical equipment themselves, they need to either complete virtual simulation labs or are paired with in-person students in the same program so that person can use the on-campus equipment for them. That’s not to say that in-person learning doesn’t have its disadvantages, as there are benefits to each type of program style. Below, we’ll discuss five pros of online vs in-person biomedical engineering degrees.
Top 5 Benefits of an Online Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering
- Flexible scheduling. Students in online programs are able to enmesh their learning hours into their already-established schedules. They can typically watch pre-recorded lectures in their free time, and even select if they want to study part-time or full-time.
- More affordable. Online students don’t need to worry about paying for on-campus amenities like gyms, in-person libraries, dormitories, or dining halls. Additionally, because students can learn from anywhere in the country, they can live in more affordable locations and not need to worry about commuting to and from expensive college towns.
- Learning options. Not everyone focuses best in typical classrooms, so a benefit of online programs is that they allow students to learn in their most productive environments. Learning remotely is also more accessible for people with disabilities who might have difficulty leaving the house or maneuvering around campuses lacking adequate accommodations.
- More school choices. If you like your current town, or like a school but not its campus area, by taking an online program you can attend your dream school uninhibited by location.
- Eclectic curriculum. Since you aren’t limited to the school nearest to you, you are able to choose a university-based on how interesting you find the curriculum. Additionally, with the extra time online students save working from home, they can take more productive or fun electives.
Top 5 Benefits of an In-Person Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering
- More interactive. Through in-person programs, you’ll be able to more easily interact with peers and professors, including tutoring, socializing, or other forms of interaction.
- Access to facilities. University campuses are like their own self-contained cities, with gyms, dining halls, health services, dormitories, restaurants, libraries, and more. In attending class in-person, you won’t need to leave your campus area often, with ample amenities just a few blocks away.
- Easier to focus. Being surrounded by students in a classroom makes focusing on lectures much easier. With fewer distractions, you’ll be able to more effectively learn and take notes.
- More participation. Taking classes in person facilitates conversation more easily, as professors interact with students face-to-face instead of looking at a grid of students with their cameras and mics off. Class discussions make lectures more enriching and engaging than simply watching a professor go through Powerpoint slides.
- Campus community. Going to campus with like-minded peers makes it easy to make new friends. Whether through your course, department, or campus, college is a unique and special place to form lifelong connections.
What Types of Online Master’s Degrees Can You Get in Biomedical Engineering?
The two types of online master’s degrees you can get in biomedical engineering are a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering or a Master of Science in Bioengineering. Bioengineering is an umbrella term involving the application of engineering to various fields of biology like medicine, natural resources, and farming. Biomedical engineering, by contrast, focuses solely on applying engineering to medicine and developing new technology to better the well-being of patients.
Is It Better to Get a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering or a Master of Science in Bioengineering?
It is better to get a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering if you want your curriculum to be strictly focused on the healthcare industry and medical technology. You can still study for a Master of Science in Bioengineering, but that degree will likely involve classes in other fields of engineering.
How Much Does a Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree Cost?
A biomedical engineering master’s degree costs $19,314 on average between private and public institutions, per the National Center for Education Statistics. The price of a degree depends upon the type of university chosen. If your dream school is not within your budget, you can look into a scholarship opportunity or file your FAFSA for financial assistance.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree Online?
It typically takes two years to get a biomedical engineering master’s degree online, with students taking about seven credits across four semesters, totaling 30 credits. One of the benefits of earning a Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering online is that you can learn at your own pace, whether that be taking more or fewer credits than in-person students.
Students who want to take more than seven credits per semester can earn their master’s degree in a shorter period of time. If they study full-time, they can usually earn their degree in between 12 and 18 months.
However, for those who can’t dedicate themselves to studying full-time or even take the typical seven credits per semester, they can learn at a slower pace. This would obviously mean that it would take more than two years to earn the degree, and prospective students should be wary of time constraints enforced by their institutions. Johns Hopkins University, for instance, requires its graduate students to complete their degrees within five years.
Are Online Biomedical Engineering Degrees Respected?
Yes, online biomedical engineering degrees are respected. As long as your school is accredited, earning your degree online should make no difference to employers. acquire your master’s in biomedical engineering degree from an accredited institution, you should have no problems with prospective employers or other institutions.
This is because quality universities have the same professors and curriculum online as they do in person, rendering the differences between the two degrees negligible. Moreover, most schools don’t even mark on their degrees whether they were obtained online or in person.
Is Biomedical Engineering Hard to Learn Online?
No, biomedical engineering is not hard to learn online if you have strong skills in biology, physics, chemistry, and engineering. The curriculum is the same whether learning online or in-person, meaning the difficulty of classes between the two will be identical.
However, one thing that makes learning biomedical engineering inconvenient is the lack of access to laboratories. This means that online students will either need to study through clunky simulation labs or be paired with in-person students who can perform the assignments.
Biomedical Engineering Bootcamp vs. Online Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree: Which Is Better?
An online biomedical engineering master’s degree is better than a biomedical engineering bootcamp. Online degree programs are accredited, and because they typically span two years, have a more thorough curriculum. Additionally, most biomedical engineering bootcamps are intended to dovetail into a baccalaureate or graduate studies and are not intended to replace a degree. That being said, there are pros and cons to each type of learning. Below, we’ll go over five benefits of each type of program.
Top 5 Benefits of an Online Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree
- Rigorous Education. Master’s degree programs are more rigorous and in-depth than bootcamps, as they’re a much higher level of education.
- Career opportunities. While you can get a job with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering, obtaining a graduate degree makes you an even more appealing candidate to prospective employers. The advanced skills gained under a graduate degree gives you a competitive edge in the job market.
- High pay. In addition to being able to land more jobs, a master’s degree will attract a higher pay than a four-year degree. Employers will often offer a higher median salary to those with a master’s degree as they know those applicants are more knowledgeable in the biomedical engineering field.
- Continuing studies. A Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering program is an excellent step towards getting a postgraduate education, as many schools allow students to transfer credits from one degree to the next.
- Networking opportunities. Online master’s degree students work directly with professors, who often have connections in the professional field outside of their university. This can open the door for potential research and internships while pursuing your degree, or help place you in a job upon graduation.
Top 5 Benefits of a Biomedical Engineering Bootcamp
- Determine educational future. Bootcamps are a great way to establish whether or not you want to eventually pursue further education. Many universities offer bootcamps to promote their baccalaureate, graduate, or doctorate programs, making bootcamps a great introduction both to biomedical engineering and prospective schools.
- Short immersive programs. Compared to two-year graduate degree programs, biomedical engineering bootcamps only take between a few weeks to a few months to complete. Being that bootcamps are highly specialized, you wouldn’t need to take irrelevant courses as you would to fulfill a typical degree’s requirements.
- Affordable courses. Since bootcamps are much shorter than master’s degrees, they are also much more affordable. This makes learning beyond a bachelor’s degree more accessible.
- Learn specific skills. If you already have your bachelor’s degree and want to learn about new developments in biotechnology, a bootcamp is a great way to get you caught up without necessarily getting an entirely new degree.
- In-demand curriculum. Bootcamps are constantly revising their curricula to ensure they are meeting the demands of the industry. Through a bootcamp and paired with your prior bachelor’s degree, you will acquire job-ready skills to navigate the biomedical engineering job market.
Why You Should Get a Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree Online
You should get a biomedical engineering master’s degree online because you will learn specialized skills from the comfort of your home. A master’s degree allows you to concentrate in a specific area of biomedical engineering, leading to a competitive edge in the job market, as well as a higher earning potential.
Studying online is a great educational option because it saves you a sizable amount of money through lower tuition fees, transpiration fees, and expensive living accommodations on or near campus. Since you are getting the same value education whether you study online or in-person, it makes sense to choose the learning style that costs less.
What Courses Do You Take in an Online Master’s Degree Program in Biomedical Engineering?
The courses you’ll take in an online master’s degree program in biomedical engineering will vary between institutions, but there are common online courses taught in most schools. Some of these include bioimaging, medical device development, biomechanics, neural engineering, and bioinformatics. Below, we’ll discuss typical classes you can expect to take while studying biomedical engineering.
Bioimaging Methods
In this class, you’ll learn the non-invasive techniques used to visualize biological processes through the creation of full-body, organ, or tissue images. You’ll learn how to use X-rays, ultrasounds, computed tomography (CT), photoacoustics, optical microscopy, and Positron Emission Tomography. These are essential in detecting, diagnosing, and characterizing diseases.
Medical Device Development
This course introduces you to the stages of making new biotechnology, which include initiation, formulation, design and development, final validation, and product launch. These specific stages must be followed to ensure the product or device is safe and effective for use by the general public.
Biomechanics
In this course, you will learn how mechanical engineering principles apply to the human body. This involves studying how the skeleton and muscles move through kinetics, heat, mass, and dynamics. If you plan to be a biomedical engineer, you should be able to identify the motion and properties of living systems in relation to chemical changes.
Neural Engineering
In this class, you’ll learn the function of the brain and nervous systems, delving into neural signal processing, neural tissue regeneration, neural circuits, and neuro-diagnostics. Through an understanding of these processes, students can understand how to develop their own technologies to aid in understanding and treating nervous system conditions.
Bioinformatics
The best online master’s in biomedical engineering degree programs will teach you computational biology and the analysis of biological data. In this course, you will master collecting, storing, and analyzing biological information to better understand and organize data.
Continuing Education Paths for Online Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree Graduates
Those wanting to continue along their educational path after their Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree often pursue a PhD. Though many bachelor’s degree recipients jump right into a PhD, earning your master’s degree first allows you to earn your PhD in steps and end up with three degrees instead of two.
Related Online Biomedical Engineering Degrees
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What to Look For in the Best Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree Programs
While it’s great that getting a master’s degree has become more accessible through online educational programs, it can be difficult to find the best quality programs. Important factors to consider in your school search include researching a school’s faculty credentials, reputation, specialization, career services, and graduation rate. Below, we’ll discuss these aspects in more detail.
Reputation of School
Ensure that a school you are looking into is accredited, meaning that it passed a third-party examination of the quality of the education it provides. Getting an online degree from an accredited university not only gives you a better education but employers or higher educational institutions might not recognize a degree from a school of questionable standing, rendering your degree worthless.
Faculty Credentials
Similar to a school’s accreditation, looking into the credentials of specific faculty members will let you know the quality of their program. You should check whether the leading instructor is an expert in the field. You might even see a professor that specializes in a concentration you’re interested in, which could lead to internship or research opportunities.
Specialization
The field of biomedical engineering is vast, covering technology designed for all biological processes. As such, you might want to narrow your focus for your graduate studies and find a school that has a concentration in the specific subfield you want.
Tuition
Cost is an important factor to consider when looking into schools, so make sure you are aware of the different university options—public, non-profit private, and for-profit private—that vary in the price range. Also, look into any scholarships or fellowships the school might be offering to aid in financial strain.
Graduation Rate
Through the graduation rate, you will determine the program’s effectiveness and prestige. Schools with high-quality, exclusive programs have a high graduation rate.
What Is the Most Affordable Online Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree?
The most affordable online biomedical engineering master’s degree is offered through University of North Dakota. The tuition is $496 per credit for in-state students and $498 per credit for out-of-state students. The entire program comes out to about $14,880.
Can I Get a Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree Online for Free?
No, you cannot get a biomedical engineering master’s degree online for free. However, there are financial aid options like loans, scholarships, fellowships, and federal grants available to students. To find out if you qualify, you can check the eligibility requirements on the official website or contact the admissions office.
Salary and Job Outlook for Online Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree Graduates
Those graduating with a Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering have great job prospects. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that bioengineers and biomedical engineers earn an average of $97,410 per year. The BLS also predicts a six percent job growth from 2020 to 2030. Below, we’ll discuss some of the other highest-paying jobs those with one of the best biomedical engineering master’s degrees can expect to land upon graduation.
How Hard Is It to Get a Job With a Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree?
It is not hard to get a job with a biomedical engineering master’s degree as there are plenty of opportunities in medicine and biology waiting for professionals with advanced degrees. According to the BLS, acquiring an advanced degree in the medical field will result in an average $164,302 per year. While some starting work in medicine will have lower salaries initially, those will only increase over time as they gain more experience.
What’s the Average Online Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree Salary?
The average salary of an online Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree is $80,000 per year according to PayScale. The average annual salary of bioengineering and biomedical engineers is $97,410. Either average is an excellent price point for an annual salary, making biomedical engineering master’s degree jobs very promising.
What Jobs Can You Get With an Online Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree?
The jobs you can get with an online biomedical engineering master’s degree are incredibly varied, with graduates able to work in government, private practice, health institutions, and more. Employers seek professionals such as sales engineers, bioinformatics scientists, health sciences managers, nanosystems engineers, and biomedical engineers to help develop medical devices to better the lives of patients.
Biomedical Engineering Degree Jobs
- Chemical Engineer
- Sales Engineers
- Bioinformatics Scientist
- Nanosystems Engineer
- Biomedical Engineer
Potential Careers With an Online Biomedical Engineering Degree
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How Much Money Can You Make With an Online Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree?
You can make roughly $100,000 with an online biomedical engineering master’s degree. On our list of the top highest paying jobs, the lowest salary was $97,410 for biomedical engineers and $105,550 for chemical engineers.
There are variables that influence how much money you make as an annual salary. These include the location of your job, the company you work for, your prior professional experience, and any expertise you might have. Below, we’ll go over some biomedical engineering master’s degree jobs.
Highest-Paying Online Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree Jobs and Salaries: Overview
| Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Chemical Engineer | $105,550 |
| Sales Engineers | $103,710 |
| Bioinformatics Scientist | $101,530 |
| Nanosystems Engineer | $100,640 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $97,410 |
Best Jobs for Online Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree Grads
Some of the best jobs for online biomedical engineering master’s degree grads include being a chemical engineer, sales engineer, bioinformatics scientist, nanosystems engineer, and biomedical engineer. If you have recently completed your bachelor’s degree, while you might meet the qualifications for the jobs listed above, having a master’s degree will give you a competitive edge that will help you land a job and earn a higher annual salary.
Best Jobs According to Your Major
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Is an Online Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree Worth It?
Yes, an online biomedical engineering master’s degree is very much worth it. While some engineering jobs only require a bachelor’s degree from their applicants, having a master’s degree allows you to stand out among the crowd, increasing the likelihood of getting hired and earning a higher annual salary. With a master’s degree, you’ll likely have completed research projects that look amazing in a portfolio, impressing prospective employers.
An online degree is a smart option for pursuing graduate education because you’ll get the same quality education from an accredited university at home as you would get in-person, but for thousands of dollars less in tuition costs. That doesn’t even include the other expensesyou would have attending school on campus, such as paying for amenities, student housing, or expensive nearby apartments and transportation.
With an online biomedical engineering master’s degree, you can expect to earn roughly six figures, an amazing starting salary for entry-level positions. Not to mention the fact that because biomedical engineering is an interdisciplinary field of study, you would have the freedom to choose from a wide range of appealing careers to achieve your career goals.
Additional Reading About Biomedical Engineering
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Online Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree FAQ
No, it is not hard to get biomedical engineering master’s degree jobs. Many of the highest-paying careers are going to see job opportunities increase between six to eight percent between 2020 and 2030, with eight percent being close to the national average for all jobs.
Yes, biomedical engineers can work remotely from anywhere in the country. Not every biomedical engineer is conducting research in a laboratory. Rather, many of them synthesize data and design technology on the computer, which can be done from the comfort of your home.
Bioengineering involves the application of engineering to natural sciences beyond medicine, such as the environment and agriculture, whereas biomedical engineering is focused exclusively on advancements in medical technology.
You can work in a wide variety of fields with a Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering. Two popular options include academia and research, perhaps pursuing a Phd program along the way. Others choose to work in hospitals, government agencies, or pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
