UMD Bioengineering Undergraduate Program Continues Strong National Standing

Aerial view of A. James Clark Hall, home of the Fischell Department of Bioengineering and surrounding campus streets.

The Fischell Department of Bioengineering (BIOE) at the University of Maryland (UMD) continues to rank among the nation’s leading undergraduate bioengineering and biomedical engineering programs, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) Best Colleges rankings.

In the 2026–27 rankings, BIOE ranked 15th among public university programs and 30th overall nationwide. The recognition comes as the department expanded connections between engineering and medicine and continued its focus on hands-on learning that prepares students to address complex health challenges.

“The new programs that connect Bioengineering in College Park with Medicine in Baltimore will enable our students to learn how to translate fundamental discoveries into products that improve people’s lives,” said Alisa Morss Clyne, interim chair of the Fischell Department of Bioengineering. “Our strengths in engineering fundamentals, biocomputation, and translational research position our department as a leader in bioengineering education.”

New Leadership, Continued Growth

The 2026–27 academic year marks a new chapter for BIOE with Clyne serving as interim chair, effective Aug. 1, 2026.

A longtime BIOE faculty member and internationally recognized researcher in vascular mechanobiology and metabolism, Clyne brings experience in research, teaching, mentorship, and interdisciplinary leadership. As interim chair, she is focused on helping the department build on its strengths while preparing students to use artificial intelligence responsibly in bioengineering and expanding experiential learning opportunities.

“Challenging times bring opportunities for growth,” Clyne said. “We are well positioned to weather the storms that may lie ahead, and with effective strategic planning, come out stronger on the other side.”

Bridging Engineering and Medicine

BIOE continues to expand opportunities for students at the intersection of engineering and medicine.

In spring 2025, UMD and the University of Maryland School of Medicine celebrated the launch of the Edward & Jennifer St. John Center for Translational Engineering and Medicine (CTEM) in Baltimore. Supported by a $10 million philanthropic gift, the center provides shared laboratory and collaborative space for engineers and clinicians working on medical devices, diagnostics and treatments designed to address patient needs.

That collaboration is also reflected in the new B.S.-M.D. Program, which brings together the A. James Clark School of Engineering, the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences, and the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Supported by a five-year, $12.75 million MPowering the State grant, the program gives undergraduate students in engineering, computer science and mathematics a structured pathway toward medical school while combining technical training with early clinical and research experiences.

Five of the seven students in the first program cohort are bioengineering majors, giving BIOE students an opportunity to connect their engineering education with their interest in patient care.

“The new programs that connect Bioengineering in College Park with Medicine in Baltimore will enable our students to learn how to translate fundamental discoveries into products that improve people’s lives. Our strengths in engineering fundamentals, biocomputation, and translational research position our department as a leader in bioengineering education.”

-Alisa Morss Clyne

Curriculum Built for Human Health

BIOE’s undergraduate curriculum combines engineering with biology, medicine and health, preparing students for careers across medical devices, biotechnology, research, medicine and other health-related fields.

Students participate in research in bioengineering laboratories across campus while exploring how engineering can be used to address complex health challenges. The curriculum also examines how disparities in health care access and representation in bioengineering research can contribute to differences in disease and injury outcomes.

BIOCOMP alumnus Miguel Martinez stands in a laboratory holding an open laptop, surrounded by laboratory equipment and workstations.

The department is also home to the Biocomputational Engineering (BCE) program, the first biocomputational program in the nation to earn ABET accreditation. The program combines biology, mathematics, computation, and data science, giving students skills in programming, modeling, and machine learning for emerging areas such as biomedical imaging, precision medicine, and data-driven health care.

Capstone Turns Ideas Into Innovation

Hands-on design remains a central part of the BIOE undergraduate experience through the department’s two-semester Senior Capstone Design program.

BIOE students gather during the 2026 Capstone Design Expo, with one student holding up a prototype while explaining the team’s project.

Student teams work with clinical and industry mentors to identify health challenges, develop solutions, and move their ideas through design and prototyping. Mentors have included physicians, surgeons, bioengineers, and experts from organizations such as the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Children’s National, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health.

At the 2026 Clark School Capstone Design Expo, more than 760 engineering students from eight departments presented 143 projects to more than 1,000 visitors at the Xfinity Center. BIOE and BCE students showcased projects focused on improving health care technology, patient safety, and access to care.

BIOE Team 15 earned first place for its project, “Advancing Women’s Health Post-Surgical Care: Development of a Safe and Comfortable Vaginal Stent.” The team developed a teardrop-shaped vaginal stent designed to improve stability, comfort, and healing for pediatric and adolescent patients following vaginal reconstructive surgery.

Together, the projects demonstrate how BIOE students apply engineering principles to real-world health challenges while working with clinicians, researchers, and industry mentors to develop solutions with potential clinical impact.

Looking Ahead

As BIOE moves forward, the department continues to build on a strong foundation in engineering education while expanding opportunities for students to learn across disciplines, work with clinical partners, and develop technologies aimed at real-world health challenges.

Published September 25, 2026