Biomedical Engineering (BS)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Illinois Institute of Technology

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology combines engineering, biological sciences and quantitative methods to prepare students to develop technologies that address real healthcare challenges, including medical devices, biomaterials and neural prostheses. It is well suited to students interested in biomedical innovation, medical technology, research or clinical applications, with opportunities to specialize in cell and tissue engineering, neural engineering or medical imaging.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students establish their engineering and scientific foundation through courses such as BME 100 Introduction to the Profession, CS 104 Introduction to Computer Programming for Engineers, MATH 151 and CHEM 122 & CHEM 123. This combination introduces students to the biomedical engineering profession while building the mathematics, chemistry, physics and programming skills needed for advanced engineering work.

Second Year: The curriculum becomes more engineering-focused through subjects such as ECE 211 Circuit Analysis I, ECE 213 Circuit Analysis II and BME 315 Instrumentation and Measurement Laboratory. Students begin applying electrical and measurement concepts to biomedical problems while continuing their mathematics, physics and biological science preparation.

Third Year: Students move into core biomedical engineering concepts with courses including BME 310 Biomaterials, BME 405 Physiology Laboratory, BME 422 Mathematical Methods for Biomedical Engineers and BME 453 Quantitative Physiology. The year also introduces an IPRO Elective, giving students an opportunity to work collaboratively on interdisciplinary projects while developing their technical and problem-solving abilities.

Fourth Year: Students bring their engineering knowledge together through BME 419 Introduction to Design Concepts in Biomedical Engineering and BME 420 Design Concepts in Biomedical Engineering, supported by BME 433 Biomedical Engineering Applications of Statistics and advanced BME electives. The two-semester design sequence gives students the opportunity to develop biomedical engineering solutions from concept toward a completed design while strengthening teamwork, communication and professional engineering skills.

Focus areas

Cell and tissue engineering, neural engineering, medical imaging, biomaterials, biomedical instrumentation, quantitative physiology, biomedical design, biotechnology and healthcare technology.

Learning outcomes

Students develop the ability to apply mathematics, science and engineering principles, design and interpret experiments, solve biomedical engineering problems, work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, communicate professionally and use modern engineering tools while considering ethical, environmental, economic, health and safety constraints.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. This accreditation provides an important professional foundation for students entering biomedical engineering practice and supports the program's stated objective of preparing graduates to meet employer expectations and pursue further professional development.

Reputation (employability rankings)

Illinois Tech is ranked #86 among Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs in the United States by U.S. News & World Report 2026, while its graduate engineering specialties, including biomedical engineering, are ranked in the U.S. Top 100. At the university level, Illinois Tech is also ranked #22 in the U.S. for Best Salaries of Graduates by the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 and #1 in Illinois for highest eight-year median graduate earnings, with reported median earnings of $77,282.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Illinois Tech's Biomedical Engineering program gives students opportunities to apply engineering knowledge to real biomedical problems through laboratory courses, interdisciplinary projects and undergraduate research. The program includes hands-on experiences such as Instrumentation and Measurement Laboratory, Physiology Laboratory, the two-semester biomedical engineering design sequence and IPRO interdisciplinary projects, while the Armour R&D and Pritzker Institute programs allow students to participate in research with faculty laboratories.

Students can develop practical skills through:

BME 315 Instrumentation and Measurement Laboratory: Students gain practical experience with biomedical instrumentation and measurement as part of the core BME curriculum.
BME 405 Physiology Laboratory: Provides laboratory-based experience connected to physiological systems and biomedical engineering applications.
BME 419 and BME 420 Design Concepts in Biomedical Engineering: The two-semester design sequence takes students through biomedical engineering design and gives them experience solving real engineering problems.
IPRO Program: Students participate in interdisciplinary collaborative projects; recent BME projects have included consumer-space biodesign, neuromuscular and stroke rehabilitation, a computer-controlled wound therapy bed, and visualization of molecules moving through biological nanopore sensors.
Armour R&D Program: Undergraduate students can work directly with professors on research projects, allowing them to apply classroom knowledge to current engineering and biomedical research.
RES-MATCH: Undergraduate students can join biomedical science or biomedical engineering research projects in faculty laboratories, receive mentorship and hands-on semester-long research experience, and have completed projects featured by the Pritzker Institute for use in resumes and other showcases.
Pritzker Institute of Biomedical Science and Engineering: Students can engage with research areas spanning medical imaging, neuroscience and neuroengineering, diabetes research, biophysics, molecular studies and digital medical engineering.
Digital Medical Engineering and Technology: The IDMET Research and Education Center focuses on digital transformation in medical engineering and developing technologies for diagnosis, treatment and management of disease.
Industry-connected environment: Illinois Tech's Biomedical Engineering alumni have been hired by organizations including AbbVie, Cardinal Health, ClearPoint Neuro, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Mayo Clinic, Northwestern Medicine, STERIS AST, Terumo Cardiovascular, TRIMEDX and United Imaging Healthcare.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering is designed to prepare graduates for professional biomedical engineering careers while also providing a strong foundation for advanced study. Graduates can apply engineering, laboratory, design and quantitative skills to medical technology, healthcare engineering, research and product development, with Illinois Tech specifically stating that qualified graduates can pursue advanced study and professional leadership roles.

Typical career roles include Biomedical Engineer, Medical Device Engineer, Biomedical Research Engineer, Medical Imaging Engineer.

Students can strengthen their career progression through:

Career Services: Illinois Tech provides career counseling, workshops, CV clinics, networking events and access to career resources, while its Elevate initiative connects students with experiential opportunities such as internships, research, competitions and real-world projects.
Employment outcomes: For the 2025 graduating class, Illinois Tech's First Destination survey had a 91% response rate; university-wide undergraduate outcomes reported 67.7% employed full-time, 3.8% employed part-time and 10.4% continuing education within six months of graduation.
Salary information: Illinois Tech reports that its 2024 graduates' mean starting salary within six months was above the national average. For the biomedical engineering profession specifically, Illinois Tech's BME page cites a $106,950 median annual wage for biomedical engineers as of May 2024, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Industry connections: Illinois Tech's official BME employer list includes organizations such as AbbVie, Cardinal Health, ClearPoint Neuro, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Mayo Clinic, Northwestern Medicine, Terumo Cardiovascular, TRIMEDX and United Imaging Healthcare, demonstrating the range of organizations employing BME alumni.
Long-term accreditation value: The program's ABET accreditation provides a recognized engineering-quality framework and supports professional preparation for biomedical engineering practice. The program also explicitly prepares qualified graduates for advanced study and continued professional development.
Graduation outcomes: Illinois Tech's BME educational objectives state that graduates are expected to meet biomedical engineering employer expectations, pursue advanced study when appropriate and undertake leadership roles in their professions.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S., students can continue into graduate-level study in biomedical engineering and related engineering, biological science, medical technology or health-focused disciplines. Illinois Tech's BME department offers graduate pathways alongside the undergraduate program, while the university's research environment provides opportunities to transition from undergraduate research into advanced study and research careers.