Biomedical/Medical Engineering at Boston University

Boston University's biomedical engineering program charges what you'd expect from an elite private institution but delivers middle-of-the-pack results within Massachusetts. With first-year earnings of $69,209, graduates land right at the state median—yet they're paying considerably more to get there than students at public alternatives. The 40th percentile state ranking is particularly striking given BU's 11% admission rate and sky-high SAT scores; highly selective doesn't automatically translate to highly lucrative in this field.

The national picture looks better, with BU graduates earning above the 68th percentile compared to biomedical engineering programs nationwide. The debt load of $26,848 is reasonable and below both state and national medians, translating to a manageable 0.39 debt-to-earnings ratio. Earnings growth of 23% over four years suggests solid career progression, reaching nearly $85,000 by the mid-career mark.

The real question is opportunity cost: within Massachusetts, your child could attend UMass-Dartmouth at likely half the total cost, or aim for Wentworth or WPI where graduates start $9,000-11,000 higher. BU's biomedical engineering program is perfectly viable, but unless your family qualifies for substantial financial aid, you're paying premium tuition for middle-tier outcomes in a state with notably stronger options in this particular major.