The field of bioengineering is rapidly changing and expanding to include not only more traditional bioengineering applications (e.g. device-focused areas such as prosthetics, imaging) but also more recent sub-fields and technologies(e.g. more biologically-focused areas such as those enabled by tissue engineering and microfluidics). This rapid change, coupled with the intrinsically interdisciplinary nature of bioengineering, presents a unique challenge to the developers of academic programs, as they need to both select relevant content and strike a balance between depth and breadth. We, the architects of the bioengineering program at the undergraduate-only Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, which enrolled its first class in 2003, faced a significant additional challenge of our small size (~300 students, ~35 full time faculty, and ~1.5 dedicated bioengineering faculty). Our approach was to create a flexible program that aims to provide students with a strong grounding in both biology and engineering and which leverages Olin’s broad-based foundation in engineering fundamentals and emphasis on hands-on learning experiences. Feedback from alumni/ae, employers and graduate schools regarding our first six graduating classes indicates that an undergraduate education focusing on biology and engineering problem-solving has prepared them well for their current endeavors. The positive response to the program and its graduates confirms that our approach results in graduates who are well-prepared to create the future of bioengineering.