B.S. in Bioengineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

Program Overview

The B.S. in Bioengineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign combines biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, computing, and engineering to help students develop solutions for challenges in healthcare, medicine, and the life sciences. It is a strong choice for students who enjoy both science and engineering and want to learn how technologies such as medical devices, imaging systems, biomaterials, and other healthcare solutions are designed and developed.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build a strong foundation in mathematics, chemistry, engineering, and bioengineering while getting introduced to the field. Courses such as BIOE 100 Bioengineering Seminar, BIOE 120 Introduction to Bioengineering, CHEM 102 General Chemistry I, and MATH 221 Calculus I help students understand the basics of bioengineering and develop the scientific and quantitative skills needed for later coursework.

Year 2: Students move into core bioengineering subjects and begin applying engineering principles to biological systems. Courses such as BIOE 201 Conservation Principles Bioeng, BIOE 206 Cellular Bioengineering, BIOE 202 Cell & Tissue Engineering Lab, and BIOE 205 Signals & Systems in Bioengrg combine theory with practical laboratory and engineering experience.

Year 3: Students develop more advanced skills in modelling, physiology, computation, and biomedical technologies while beginning to shape their studies around their interests. Courses such as BIOE 302 Modeling Human Physiology, BIOE 303 Quantitative Physiology Lab, BIOE 310 Computational Tools for Biological Data, and BIOE 414 Biomedical Instrumentation help students understand biological systems quantitatively and work with biomedical technologies.

Year 4: Students bring together their biological, computational, and engineering knowledge through advanced coursework and the BIOE 400 Bioengineering Senior Design experience. Technical electives can allow students to explore areas such as BIOE 430 Intro Synthetic Biology, BIOE 460 Gene Editing Lab, BIOE 483 Biomedical Computed Imaging Systems, BIOE 485 Computational Mathematics for Machine Learning and Imaging, and BIOE 486 Applied Deep Learning for Biomedical Imaging.

Focus Areas

Medical Imaging, Biomaterials, Synthetic Biology, Computational Bioengineering, Biomechanics, Tissue Engineering, Biomedical Instrumentation, Biomedical Data Science, Cellular Bioengineering, Biofabrication, Molecular Imaging, Immunoengineering, Quantitative Pharmacology, Gene Editing, Cancer Nanotechnology, Biomedical Imaging, Machine Learning, Bioinformatics, Neural Engineering, Drug Delivery

Learning Outcomes

Apply engineering principles to biological and medical problems, combine biology with mathematics physics chemistry and engineering, analyse biological systems using quantitative approaches, use computational and data-driven methods, design and evaluate bioengineering technologies, develop laboratory and experimental skills, model physiological systems, use biomedical instrumentation, apply engineering design to healthcare challenges, work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, communicate technical ideas clearly, consider ethics regulation quality and human factors in engineering design, develop prototypes and processes, conduct market research and customer discovery, prepare solutions for biotechnology medical technology and healthcare applications

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The B.S. in Bioengineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering. This provides external recognition that the program meets established standards for engineering education and prepares students for professional practice in bioengineering and related fields.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a strong reputation in engineering and bioengineering, with its undergraduate Bioengineering program ranked #14 nationally by U.S. News & World Report. The Grainger College of Engineering also reports that 80% of Bioengineering students had an internship or co-op, 99% secured their first-choice destination after graduation, and graduates reported an average starting salary of $74,927 with an average signing bonus of $9,000.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.S. in Bioengineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign gives students plenty of opportunities to turn classroom learning into practical experience. Students work with biological systems, physiological data, engineering tools, and medical technologies through laboratory courses, team-based projects, computational work, and a hands-on senior design project. The program’s Everitt Laboratory provides dedicated spaces for bioengineering teaching, research, experimentation, and design, giving students an environment where they can develop and test real solutions for healthcare and medicine.

Students build practical skills throughout the degree, with opportunities to work on real-world problems and collaborate with faculty, clinicians, and industry partners:

Hands-on laboratory courses: Students gain practical experience through courses such as Cell and Tissue Engineering Lab, Quantitative Physiology Lab, and Biomedical Instrumentation Lab.
Cell and tissue experimentation: In the Cell and Tissue Engineering Lab, students work with cells from different tissue types and carry out quantitative analyses while exploring how biological systems can be applied to tissue-engineering solutions.
Physiological experiments: The Quantitative Physiology Lab provides experience with the neural, cardiovascular, respiratory, and muscular systems. Students use sensors and software to collect and analyse physiological signals.
Biomedical instrumentation: Students gain practical experience with biomedical measurement and instrumentation through dedicated laboratory coursework, connecting engineering principles with healthcare applications.
Team-based projects: Students regularly work in groups, developing teamwork, technical communication, problem-solving, and engineering design skills.
Senior Design: In the final year, students work in teams on authentic bioengineering challenges provided by faculty, clinicians, and industry partners. Projects can involve developing medical devices, software, instruments, or other healthcare technologies.
Prototype development: Students take their projects from identifying a problem through research, engineering analysis, design, and testing to develop a working prototype or solution.
Clinical and industry collaboration: Students can work with clinicians and industry sponsors, giving them the opportunity to understand real healthcare needs and receive professional feedback on their designs.
Entrepreneurship and product development: Students are introduced to areas such as market research, customer discovery, intellectual property, quality, human factors, FDA regulations, ethics, and professional practice.
Computational experience: Coursework develops students’ abilities in computing, modelling, statistics, and biological data analysis, preparing them to work with increasingly data-driven bioengineering technologies.
Research environment: Students can benefit from the university’s wider research ecosystem, including the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology and the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology.
Everitt Laboratory: This 124,000-square-foot facility serves as a central hub for Bioengineering, bringing together laboratories, classrooms, community spaces, and medical-training facilities.
Career exposure: BIOE 200, Bioengineering Career Immersion, introduces students to career possibilities in medicine, industry, and research and helps them understand professional practices.
Internships and co-ops: The program reports that 80% of students complete an internship or co-op during their degree, giving students valuable experience before graduation.
Professional presentation: Senior design teams present their work to faculty, industry professionals, sponsors, and peers, helping students strengthen their ability to explain technical ideas and defend their engineering decisions.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Bioengineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign gives graduates a strong foundation for careers across biotechnology, life sciences, medical technology, healthcare, and engineering. Students can enter the workforce after graduation or use the degree as a stepping stone toward advanced study and professional careers in health sciences, business, or other related fields.

Typical career paths include Bioengineer, Biomedical Engineer, Medical Device Engineer, and Biotechnology Engineer. The program combines engineering, biology, laboratory work, computing, design, and real-world problem solving to prepare students for a wide range of opportunities:

Career and academic support: Bioengineering students have access to dedicated undergraduate academic advising, including virtual and in-person advising, to help them plan their coursework and prepare for their next steps.
Internships and co-ops: Around 80% of Bioengineering students report completing an internship or co-op during their degree, giving students valuable professional experience before graduation.
Graduate outcomes: 99% of students report securing their first-choice destination after graduation, reflecting strong outcomes across employment and further-study pathways.
Starting salary: Bioengineering graduates report an average starting salary of $74,927, with an average signing bonus of $9,000.
Industry connections: Senior capstone projects are based on real bioengineering challenges provided by faculty, clinicians, and industrial partners, allowing students to gain experience working on problems similar to those they may encounter professionally.
Healthcare and clinical connections: Students benefit from the university's close relationship with healthcare and medical education, including connections with the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, helping bring engineering and medicine together.
Professional preparation: The program develops skills in prototype development, market research, customer discovery, entrepreneurship, intellectual property, quality, human factors, FDA regulations, technical communication, ethics, and teamwork.
Program reputation: The undergraduate Bioengineering program is ranked #14 by U.S. News & World Report, adding to the value of an Illinois engineering education.
ABET accreditation: The B.S. in Bioengineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering. This provides graduates with the long-term benefit of completing an engineering degree that meets established professional quality standards.
Graduation opportunities: Graduates are prepared for positions across biotechnology, life sciences, medical technology, healthcare, and related engineering industries, while the program also provides a strong foundation for graduate and professional education.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Bioengineering, students can continue into advanced study in areas such as Bioengineering, Biomedical Image Computing, therapeutics, biomechanics, cell and tissue engineering, imaging and sensing, computational biology, and systems biology. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers graduate options including the M.S. in Bioengineering, Master of Engineering in Bioengineering, M.S. in Biomedical Image Computing, and Ph.D. in Bioengineering. The undergraduate degree can also provide a foundation for professional programs in health sciences, law, and business.