Biomedical/Medical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Georgia Tech's biomedical engineering program starts graduates at $74,562—nearly $10,000 above the national median for this major—and reaches the 95th percentile nationally for earnings. That's exceptional performance for a program with manageable debt of $22,750, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.31. The 20% earnings growth to $89,405 by year four shows strong career trajectory, and with Georgia Tech being the only school reporting this data in the state, you're looking at the state's benchmark program.

Here's the interesting wrinkle: despite those stellar national rankings, this program sits at the 60th percentile for Georgia biomedical engineering earnings. That's not a red flag—it reflects Georgia Tech's dominance in the state, where even its median performance would outpace most programs elsewhere. The debt level is unremarkable (54th percentile nationally) but paired with top-tier earnings, it becomes a strong value proposition.

The bottom line: if your child can handle Georgia Tech's academic rigor (16% admission rate, 1447 average SAT), this program delivers one of the country's best returns for biomedical engineering. The combination of manageable debt, high starting salaries, and strong earnings growth makes this a standout investment, particularly for a technical field where credential quality matters significantly in hiring.