Biomedical/Medical Engineering at California State University-Long Beach

Cal State Long Beach's biomedical engineering program delivers something parents often overlook: solid outcomes without crushing debt. Graduates earn $66,090 their first year while carrying just $15,720 in student loans—a debt load that's exceptionally low compared to the national median of $23,246 for this field. That 0.24 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under three months of their first year's salary, though real-world considerations extend that timeline.

Here's the tradeoff to understand: while this program sits comfortably above the national median for earnings, it lags behind California's highly competitive biomedical engineering landscape, landing at the 40th percentile statewide. Top programs like Cal Poly SLO command $81,000+ starting salaries, but they also serve different student populations. With nearly half of Long Beach students receiving Pell grants, this program succeeds at making engineering accessible while keeping debt manageable.

For families evaluating cost-benefit, the math works. Your child graduates with less than $16,000 in debt while entering a field with decent earning potential right out of college. If prestige and maximum starting salary matter most, and higher debt isn't a concern, look at the state's elite programs. But if you want a legitimate engineering degree that won't require years of aggressive loan repayment, Long Beach represents smart financial planning.