Biomedical Engineering Bachelor of Science Degree

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Rochester Institute of Technology

Program Overview

RIT’s B.S. in Biomedical Engineering combines engineering, biology and medicine to prepare students to develop devices, systems, software and technologies that address healthcare challenges and improve human health. It is a strong choice for students who enjoy mathematics and science and want to apply engineering to areas such as biomechanics, biomaterials, medical devices, physiological systems and biomedical research.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their engineering and scientific foundation through courses such as Introduction to Biomedical Engineering (BIME-181), Introduction to Programming for BME (BIME-191), General Chemistry and Calculus I and II. Physics, biology-related study, writing and general education courses complement the technical foundation and prepare students for more advanced biomedical engineering work.

Year 2: Students begin applying engineering concepts directly to biological systems through Introduction to Musculoskeletal Biomechanics (BIME-200), Biosystems Process Analysis (BIME-250) and Introduction to Biomaterials Science (BIME-370). They also study Fluid Mechanics, Biomechanics and Biomaterials Laboratory, cell and molecular biology, differential equations and multivariable calculus, building the analytical skills needed for biomedical design.

Year 3: Students progress into more advanced biomedical analysis through Systems Physiology I (BIME-410), Biomedical Signals & Analysis (BIME-360) and Medical Device Design (BIME-470). A major feature of this stage is cooperative education, allowing students to spend extended periods applying their classroom knowledge in professional engineering environments.

Year 4: Students deepen their understanding of physiological systems through Systems Physiology II (BIME-411) and Numerical & Statistical Analysis of Complex Biosystems (BIME-450), supported by Quantitative Physiological Signal Analysis Lab (BIME-491) and Design of Experiments for Biomedical Engineers. Additional co-op experience continues to connect advanced academic work with professional practice.

Year 5: The final year focuses on integration, advanced systems and multidisciplinary design through Multidisciplinary Design I and II (BIME-497/498), Dynamics & Control of Biomedical Systems (BIME-460) and Systems Physiology Control & Dynamics Lab (BIME-492). Students also complete professional technical electives, allowing them to develop deeper expertise in areas such as biomedical instrumentation, medical imaging, tissue engineering, biomechanics or related fields.

Focus areas (in a string): Biomechanics, biomaterials, biomedical signals and instrumentation, tissue engineering, medical device design, physiological systems, medical imaging, biosystems analysis, biomedical research and systems dynamics.

Learning outcomes (in a string): Identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems, apply engineering design to biomedical needs, communicate effectively, make ethical and professional judgments, work effectively in teams, conduct experiments and interpret data, and acquire new knowledge for continued professional development.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The program's ABET framework covers engineering problem-solving, biomedical design, experimentation, teamwork, communication, ethics and professional responsibility.

Reputation (employability rankings): RIT's engineering undergraduate programs are ranked #57 among Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs nationally for 2026 by U.S. News & World Report. For the Biomedical Engineering B.S. specifically, RIT reports a 96.1% outcomes rate for the class of 2025, while the median first-year salary was $79,000.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

RIT's Biomedical Engineering B.S. is particularly hands-on because cooperative education is built into the degree: students complete four co-op blocks, approximately 48 weeks in total, gaining professional engineering experience before graduation. The program also combines laboratory-based learning, multidisciplinary design and access to biomedical engineering teaching and faculty research laboratories, allowing students to connect biomedical theory with measurement, analysis, prototyping and research.

Specific practical opportunities include:

Biomedical Engineering Teaching Labs: RIT has dedicated Biomedical Engineering Teaching Labs in Institute Hall that support teaching and research in biomedical engineering.
Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research Labs: Students are part of an environment with dedicated faculty research laboratories covering biomedical and healthcare engineering research.
Biomechanics and biomaterials laboratory work: BIME-391 Biomechanics & Biomaterials Lab gives students practical experience alongside their biomechanics and biomaterials coursework.
Physiological signal analysis: BIME-491 Quantitative Physiological Signal Analysis Lab provides hands-on experience connected to physiological data and signal analysis.
Systems physiology: BIME-492 Systems Physiology Control & Dynamics Lab connects physiological systems with dynamics and control concepts.
Multidisciplinary design: BIME-497 and BIME-498 Multidisciplinary Design I and II form a capstone experience in which students integrate engineering theory, principles and processes in a collaborative design environment.
Cooperative education: Students complete four full-time co-op blocks, normally arranged as two semesters and two summers, with a typical workload of 35–40 hours per week.
Industry co-ops: RIT identifies organizations such as Medtronic, Merck, Moderna, Bausch & Lomb, Bristol Myers Squibb, Corning, Hill-Rom, Johnson & Johnson, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics and Regeneron among companies hiring biomedical engineering students for co-ops.
Research: Biomedical engineering research at RIT includes biological fluid mechanics, biomechanical imaging, intelligent interaction research, biological microsystems and microscale bioseparations.
Specialized research: RIT's Biomechanical Imaging Laboratory works on medical ultrasound imaging, image processing, inverse problems in medicine and soft-tissue biomechanics.
Co-op wages: RIT reports an average Biomedical Engineering B.S. co-op wage of $21.80/hour, with a reported maximum of $30.00/hour, based on U.S. student wage reports from summer 2025 through spring 2026.
Software and technical tools: RIT's engineering facilities have included biomedical device engineering workstations using tools such as SolidWorks, MATLAB and COMSOL Multiphysics, alongside equipment for prototype assembly, measurement and testing.

Progression & Future Opportunities

RIT's Biomedical Engineering graduates enter engineering roles across biotechnology and life sciences, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, healthcare, scientific and technical consulting, and government. The latest RIT data shows a 96.1% outcomes rate for the Biomedical Engineering B.S. class of 2025, with 76.9% employed and 19.2% entering full-time graduate study; the median first-year salary was $79,000.

Typical career roles include Biomedical Engineer, Bioprocess Engineer, Process Development Engineer, Quality Engineer.

Students can build toward these opportunities through:

Career services: RIT Career Services provides program-specific career support, while the Biomedical Engineering program has a dedicated Career Services Coordinator.
Employment outcomes: For the class of 2025, RIT reports 76.9% employed, 19.2% in full-time graduate study, and a 96.1% overall outcomes rate.
Salary outcomes: The reported median first-year full-time salary for Biomedical Engineering B.S. graduates was $79,000, with an average of $76,800.
Industry partnerships: RIT lists hiring partners including Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, QuidelOrtho, Moderna, Insulet, Baxter, Medtronic, Zimmer Biomet, DEKA Research and Development, Abiomed, Bausch & Lomb, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Biogen and Johnson & Johnson.
Professional preparation: Four co-op blocks provide approximately 48 weeks of professional experience, helping students build workplace skills and industry connections before graduation.
Accreditation value: ABET accreditation provides an established quality framework for the engineering curriculum and validates preparation in engineering analysis, design, experimentation, teamwork, communication and professional ethics.
Graduate education: RIT reports that graduates have continued to leading graduate schools including Brown University, Cornell University, Duke University, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh and University of Rochester.
Professional pathways: The program also supports students considering health-professional education through RIT's pre-med/pre-health and pre-veterinary advising programs, including an Early Opportunity Program in Medicine partnership with the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine for eligible students.

Further Academic Progression: RIT's Biomedical Engineering B.S. offers an accelerated bachelor's/master's option, allowing eligible students to progress into graduate study in less time. The program's educational objectives also explicitly support continued education at the master's, Ph.D. or M.D. level, making the degree suitable for students planning advanced engineering research, doctoral study or medical education.