The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering climbed to No. 2 overall and repeated as the nation’s top BME undergraduate program involving a public university, according to the U.S. News and World Report 2023 Best Colleges rankings released Sept. 12.

Launched 25 years ago, the joint department of Emory University and Georgia Tech returns to second place behind Johns Hopkins University, after finishing third last year. A rare partnership between private and public institutions, Coulter BME has spent 16 straight years in the magazine’s top four.

“This is a testament to the strength of our commitment to educating the best biomedical engineers,” said Alyssa Panitch, who began as the Wallace H. Coulter Department Chair in August. 

“Our faculty and staff are dedicated to student success and continually focus their energy to refine the overall student experience, providing each undergrad with the best possible learning environment,” Panitch added. “Kudos to our team. It’s a real honor to be recognized by our peer institutions like this.”

The magazine’s rankings are based on feedback from academic leaders around the country, so the Coulter BME undergraduate program’s record of lasting sustained excellence reflects how the Department is viewed by other institutions. 

The Department has become known for creative teaching approaches — such as the problem- and story-driven learning — as well as undergraduate research opportunities, and an ongoing commitment to promoting equity. 

All 10 undergraduate programs in Georgia Tech’s College of Engineering finished in the top five again in the 2023 rankings. The College was ranked No. 4 for the seventh consecutive year.