Biomedical/Medical Engineering at University of Akron Main Campus

University of Akron's biomedical engineering graduates start at $61,226—roughly $3,000 below both the national and Ohio medians for this degree. Among Ohio's seven programs, Akron ranks fifth, trailing schools like Case Western ($78,815) and Cincinnati ($72,166) by significant margins. The program sits at the 40th percentile statewide, meaning most Ohio students in this major earn more right after graduation.

The debt load of $23,246 is reasonable, creating a manageable 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio that graduates can realistically pay down. Earnings do grow to $69,004 by year four—a solid 13% increase that narrows the gap with higher-starting programs. However, that still leaves Akron grads earning less than their peers at most competing Ohio programs, even after several years of career progression.

For families paying in-state tuition, this becomes a calculation about goals and alternatives. The affordable debt and access at a 71% admission rate make this a viable entry point into biomedical engineering. But if your student can gain admission to Cincinnati or Ohio State, those programs deliver better early-career returns that compound over time. Akron works if engineering is the priority and other options aren't available, but it won't position graduates at the front of Ohio's biomedical engineering job market.