Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Purdue University West Lafayette

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University combines engineering, science, and healthcare to prepare students to develop technologies that can improve people’s health and quality of life. It is well suited to students who enjoy solving real-world healthcare problems and want to explore areas such as biomechanics, biomaterials, bioinstrumentation, bioimaging, and computational biomedicine.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with a strong foundation in engineering, mathematics, chemistry, physics, programming, and communication through Purdue’s First-Year Engineering program. Courses such as ENGR 13100, ENGR 13200, CHM 11510/11520, MA 16500/16600, and PHYS 17200 help students develop the technical knowledge needed for Biomedical Engineering.

Year 2: Students begin applying engineering principles directly to biomedical applications through courses such as Fundamentals of Biomechanical Analysis (BME 21400) and Biomedical and Biomaterials Lab (BME 21401). They also study Fundamentals of Bioinstrumentation and Measurements (BME 23100) and Bioinstrumentation Lab (BME 23101), giving them practical experience with biomedical measurement and laboratory techniques.

Year 3: Students progress into more advanced biomedical topics, including Biomolecular Structure, Function & Engineering Applications (BME 22000), Physiological Modeling of Human Health (BME 25600), and Biomaterials (BME 32000). They also gain professional and design experience through Junior Professionalism (BME 38000) and Junior Design Lab (BME 38900), where they begin applying their knowledge to real biomedical challenges.

Year 4: In their final year, students develop deeper expertise in areas such as Bioimaging, Bioelectronics/Bioinstrumentation, Biomechanics, Computational Biomedicine, and Biomaterials. They bring their learning together through Senior Design (BME 48901) and advanced professional design courses, giving them experience in developing solutions to biomedical engineering problems.

Focus Areas

Bioimaging, Bioelectronics and Bioinstrumentation, Biomechanics, Biomaterials, Computational Biomedicine, Biomedical Design, Medical Technology, Healthcare Innovation

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to apply engineering and scientific principles to healthcare challenges, analyse biological and physiological systems, design biomedical technologies, conduct laboratory work, interpret data, and develop practical engineering solutions for medical and healthcare applications.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The program provides extensive preparation in engineering fundamentals, laboratory work, design, analysis, and professional practice, including a substantial senior design experience. Purdue’s official program information does not state a specific professional accreditation on the provided program page, so no separate accreditation is claimed here.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Purdue reports a 95% average placement rate in industry or graduate school for Biomedical Engineering graduates, with an average starting salary of $71,224 within six months of graduation. Graduates have also found opportunities with organisations such as Abbott, Boston Scientific, Epic Systems, Johnson & Johnson, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Zimmer Biomet, highlighting the program’s strong connection to the biomedical, healthcare, pharmaceutical, and medical-device sectors.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Purdue’s Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering gives students plenty of opportunities to turn engineering concepts into practical solutions for healthcare. Students gain hands-on experience through dedicated laboratory courses, biomedical design projects, research activities, and opportunities to work on real healthcare challenges. The program includes practical work in areas such as biomechanics, biomaterials, bioinstrumentation, biomedical imaging, and computational biomedicine, with students gradually developing their skills from laboratory experiments to advanced design projects.

Students can build this practical experience through:

Biomedical and Biomaterials Labs: Students complete dedicated laboratory courses such as BME 21401 Biomedical and Biomaterials Lab and BME 32001 Biomolecular and Cellular Systems Lab, giving them direct experience applying biomedical engineering concepts.
Bioinstrumentation Experience: BME 23101 Bioinstrumentation Lab allows students to gain practical experience with biomedical measurements and instrumentation.
Junior Design Lab: BME 38900 introduces students to biomedical engineering design and gives them an opportunity to apply their technical knowledge to practical design challenges.
Senior Design Projects: BME 48901 Senior Design provides an advanced project experience where students bring together engineering, biomedical science, design and problem-solving skills to develop solutions to biomedical challenges.
Team-Based Projects: Design-focused coursework gives students opportunities to work collaboratively while developing and evaluating biomedical engineering solutions.
CAD and Prototyping: Purdue provides opportunities for students to develop prototypes using computer-aided design, 3D scanning, 3D printing and other prototyping resources available through the biomedical engineering facilities.
Research Experience: Students can explore research in areas including engineered biomaterials and biomechanics, biomedical imaging, instrumentation and computational biomedicine.
Computational Skills: The curriculum includes computer science coursework and a dedicated Computational Biomedicine depth area, allowing students to develop skills that support computational approaches to biomedical problems.
Specialised Depth Areas: Students select primary and secondary areas of focus, including Bioelectronics/Bioinstrumentation, Biomechanics, Bioimaging, Computational Biomedicine and Biomaterials. This allows them to build practical expertise around their interests.
Professional Development and Design: Courses such as BME 39000 Professional Development & Design in BME and BME 49000 or BME 49101/49200 Professional Elements of Design help students connect their technical knowledge with professional engineering practice.
Biomedical Engineering Facilities: Students have access to Purdue’s biomedical engineering teaching and research facilities, supporting laboratory work, biomedical research, instrumentation, imaging, biomaterials and design activities.

Progression & Future Opportunities

A Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Purdue University can lead to careers across medical devices, biotechnology, healthcare, research, and engineering. Graduates can move directly into industry or continue their education through graduate, medical, dental, veterinary, business, or other professional programs. Purdue’s connections with leading healthcare and engineering organisations also give students valuable opportunities to gain industry experience and build professional networks.

Typical career options include Biomedical Engineer, Product Development Engineer, Research Engineer, Design Engineer.

Purdue supports students in turning their degree into a successful career through:

Career support: Purdue’s Center for Career Opportunities helps students explore careers, search for internships and jobs, prepare for interviews, improve resumes and CVs, write cover letters, build their LinkedIn profiles, practise through mock interviews, and prepare for graduate school.
Strong salary outcomes: Purdue’s Biomedical Engineering information reports an average graduate salary of $76,973, with reported salaries ranging from $65,000 to $98,300. The program also reports average co-op pay of $25 per hour.
Leading employers: Purdue BME graduates have been hired by organisations such as Abbott, AbbVie, Boston Scientific, Eli Lilly, GE Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson/Ethicon, Medtronic, Pfizer, Stryker, Zimmer Biomet, Epic Systems, and Roche.
Industry and clinical connections: Senior Design projects can involve clinical and industry professionals who contribute project ideas, mentoring, resources, and sponsorship. Purdue BME has worked with organisations including AutoDesk, AxoGen, DePuySynthes, Indiana University Health, Kaiser Permanente, Kimberly-Clark, Riley Children’s Health, and Walgreens.
Internships and co-ops: Purdue BME maintains industry relationships that can provide students with opportunities for internships and co-ops. These experiences allow students to apply their engineering knowledge in professional settings and gain experience that can strengthen their career prospects.
Employer engagement: Purdue BME hosts Weldon Days, giving companies an opportunity to connect with and interview graduating Biomedical Engineering students.
ABET accreditation: The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the criteria for Bioengineering, Biomedical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. The program has been ABET accredited since 2008, giving graduates an established professional quality benchmark that can be valuable when pursuing engineering careers.
Flexible career pathways: The degree prepares students for opportunities in medical devices, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, universities, government organisations, and other areas of the biomedical industry. It also provides a strong foundation for students who want to move into advanced study or professional healthcare careers.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, students can continue into a master’s or Ph.D. in biomedical engineering or a related engineering, biomedical, or life-science field. Purdue also highlights pathways into medical, dental, veterinary, business, and law school. Students interested in healthcare professions can also use Purdue’s Office of Health Professions Advising for guidance when preparing for professional-school applications.