Biomedical/Medical Engineering: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 131 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff
+$224,483 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.
5.4 yrsModeled economic break-even
+84%Modeled 10-year ROI
$94,136Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$94,136Median reported earnings · year 4
$94,880Average reported earnings · year 5
$23,248Median federal debt
90thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
131Reporting programs
118With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- Not available
- Federal debt
- $21,409
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $94,136
- Federal debt
- $23,248
- Reporting programs
- 131
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $109,394
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 40
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $158,761
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $135,248
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$88,272National median$94,13675th percentile$99,842
118 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Pennsylvania$126,4192Rice University$121,0993Vanderbilt University$116,6624University of California, Los Angeles$116,5255Johns Hopkins University$114,6736Santa Clara University$114,4267Tulane University of Louisiana$112,9148Massachusetts Institute of Technology$111,7389University of California, Berkeley$110,59710Carnegie Mellon University$109,648Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Architectural and Engineering ManagersSOC 11-9041 · 1 crosswalk linksBioengineers and Biomedical EngineersSOC 17-2031 · 1 crosswalk linksEngineering Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1032 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $126,419 | $15,593 | +176% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Rice UniversityBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $121,099 | Not available | +226% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Vanderbilt UniversityBachelor's Degree | Nashville, TN | $116,662 | $19,500 | +194% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | University of California, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $116,525 | $15,000 | +211% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | Johns Hopkins UniversityBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $114,673 | $11,207 | +173% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | Santa Clara UniversityBachelor's Degree | Santa Clara, CA | $114,426 | $21,390 | +83% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Tulane University of LouisianaBachelor's Degree | New Orleans, LA | $112,914 | $23,760 | +100% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Cambridge, MA | $111,738 | $13,000 | +156% | Strong payoff |
| 9 | University of California, BerkeleyBachelor's Degree | Berkeley, CA | $110,597 | $14,896 | +180% | Strong payoff |
| 10 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $109,648 | Not available | +110% | Strong payoff |
| 11 | University of Virginia-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Charlottesville, VA | $109,551 | $18,400 | +142% | Strong payoff |
| 12 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoBachelor's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | $109,232 | $20,500 | +160% | Strong payoff |
| 13 | California State University, Long BeachBachelor's Degree | Long Beach, CA | $106,540 | $15,720 | +178% | Strong payoff |
| 14 | Lehigh UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bethlehem, PA | $106,260 | $26,000 | +87% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | Wayne State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Detroit, MI | $106,048 | $19,395 | +164% | Strong payoff |
| 16 | Duke UniversityBachelor's Degree | Durham, NC | $105,921 | $13,894 | +104% | Strong payoff |
| 17 | University of Southern CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $105,415 | $14,500 | +94% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteBachelor's Degree | Troy, NY | $103,306 | $26,000 | +79% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | Northwestern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Evanston, IL | $102,994 | $17,063 | +95% | Positive payoff |
| 20 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $102,755 | $22,750 | +153% | Strong payoff |
| 21 | The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $102,544 | $21,071 | +122% | Strong payoff |
| 22 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $102,342 | $20,000 | +147% | Strong payoff |
| 23 | Drexel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $101,362 | $30,697 | +69% | Positive payoff |
| 24 | University of DelawareBachelor's Degree | Newark, DE | $101,175 | $25,990 | +124% | Strong payoff |
| 25 | Temple UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $101,101 | $27,000 | +92% | Positive payoff |
| 26 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $100,930 | $14,000 | +137% | Strong payoff |
| 27 | George Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $100,601 | $23,000 | +70% | Positive payoff |
| 28 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $100,416 | $24,164 | +78% | Positive payoff |
| 29 | Oregon State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Corvallis, OR | $100,182 | $23,657 | +114% | Strong payoff |
| 30 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBachelor's Degree | Bend, OR | $100,182 | $23,657 | +119% | Strong payoff |
| 31 | Stevens Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Hoboken, NJ | $99,842 | $27,000 | +59% | Positive payoff |
| 32 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonBachelor's Degree | Madison, WI | $99,762 | $20,492 | +120% | Strong payoff |
| 33 | Wentworth Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $99,617 | $27,000 | +72% | Positive payoff |
| 34 | Syracuse UniversityBachelor's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $99,521 | $27,000 | +63% | Positive payoff |
| 35 | Boston UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $99,024 | $26,848 | +95% | Positive payoff |
| 36 | University of MiamiBachelor's Degree | Coral Gables, FL | $98,997 | $18,425 | +64% | Positive payoff |
| 37 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $98,687 | $20,000 | +134% | Strong payoff |
| 38 | University of California, Santa CruzBachelor's Degree | Santa Cruz, CA | $98,567 | $22,500 | +113% | Strong payoff |
| 39 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $98,504 | $15,977 | +124% | Strong payoff |
| 40 | North Carolina State University at RaleighBachelor's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $98,129 | $18,638 | +113% | Strong payoff |
| 41 | University of North Carolina at Chapel HillBachelor's Degree | Chapel Hill, NC | $97,992 | $15,000 | +134% | Strong payoff |
| 42 | University of South Carolina-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, SC | $97,927 | $26,000 | +95% | Positive payoff |
| 43 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $97,926 | $16,850 | +123% | Strong payoff |
| 44 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $97,611 | $21,500 | +113% | Strong payoff |
| 45 | University of California, IrvineBachelor's Degree | Irvine, CA | $96,874 | $17,390 | +119% | Strong payoff |
| 46 | University of Rhode IslandBachelor's Degree | Kingston, RI | $96,532 | $26,367 | +94% | Positive payoff |
| 47 | University of UtahBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $96,353 | $19,476 | +110% | Strong payoff |
| 48 | University of RochesterBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $95,957 | $20,500 | +72% | Positive payoff |
| 49 | Marquette UniversityBachelor's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $95,728 | $27,000 | +66% | Positive payoff |
| 50 | CUNY City CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $95,685 | Not available | +160% | Strong payoff |
| 51 | University of ConnecticutBachelor's Degree | Storrs, CT | $95,682 | $26,974 | +81% | Positive payoff |
| 52 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusBachelor's Degree | Waterbury, CT | $95,682 | $26,974 | +127% | Strong payoff |
| 53 | University of Connecticut-Avery PointBachelor's Degree | Groton, CT | $95,682 | $26,974 | +115% | Strong payoff |
| 54 | University of Connecticut-StamfordBachelor's Degree | Stamford, CT | $95,682 | $26,974 | +105% | Strong payoff |
| 55 | University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusBachelor's Degree | Hartford, CT | $95,682 | $26,974 | +106% | Strong payoff |
| 56 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $95,625 | $23,000 | +105% | Strong payoff |
| 57 | Colorado School of MinesBachelor's Degree | Golden, CO | $95,142 | $25,000 | +70% | Positive payoff |
| 58 | Binghamton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Vestal, NY | $94,859 | $19,000 | +87% | Positive payoff |
| 59 | Case Western Reserve UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cleveland, OH | $94,168 | $23,250 | +43% | Positive payoff |
| 60 | Rochester Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $94,103 | $29,183 | +54% | Positive payoff |
| 61 | Clemson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Clemson, SC | $93,705 | $22,500 | +81% | Positive payoff |
| 62 | George Mason UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fairfax, VA | $93,533 | $23,625 | +93% | Positive payoff |
| 63 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $93,434 | $19,500 | +103% | Strong payoff |
| 64 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $93,305 | $19,500 | +82% | Positive payoff |
| 65 | Milwaukee School of EngineeringBachelor's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $93,229 | $27,000 | +79% | Positive payoff |
| 66 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Durham, NH | $92,984 | $26,490 | +74% | Positive payoff |
| 67 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $92,974 | $21,429 | +100% | Strong payoff |
| 68 | Worcester Polytechnic InstituteBachelor's Degree | Worcester, MA | $92,806 | $27,000 | +36% | Positive payoff |
| 69 | University of Massachusetts-DartmouthBachelor's Degree | North Dartmouth, MA | $91,805 | $27,000 | +77% | Positive payoff |
| 70 | Florida Gulf Coast UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fort Myers, FL | $91,676 | $23,000 | +103% | Strong payoff |
| 71 | Brown UniversityBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $91,674 | Not available | +66% | Positive payoff |
| 72 | North Carolina A&T State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Greensboro, NC | $91,235 | $30,743 | +107% | Strong payoff |
| 73 | University of Cincinnati-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Cincinnati, OH | $90,897 | $23,250 | +62% | Positive payoff |
| 74 | Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Terre Haute, IN | $90,484 | $26,441 | +30% | Positive payoff |
| 75 | University of Alabama at BirminghamBachelor's Degree | Birmingham, AL | $90,415 | $22,676 | +78% | Positive payoff |
| 76 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $90,065 | $23,125 | +81% | Positive payoff |
| 77 | University of California, RiversideBachelor's Degree | Riverside, CA | $90,041 | $19,877 | +90% | Positive payoff |
| 78 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $89,850 | $25,989 | +62% | Positive payoff |
| 79 | Widener UniversityBachelor's Degree | Chester, PA | $89,794 | $27,000 | +58% | Positive payoff |
| 80 | Stony Brook UniversityBachelor's Degree | Stony Brook, NY | $89,560 | $24,581 | +75% | Positive payoff |
| 81 | Miami University-OxfordBachelor's Degree | Oxford, OH | $89,052 | $27,000 | +50% | Positive payoff |
| 82 | University of California, MercedBachelor's Degree | Merced, CA | $88,795 | $21,234 | +92% | Positive payoff |
| 83 | Florida International UniversityBachelor's Degree | Miami, FL | $88,656 | $22,801 | +101% | Strong payoff |
| 84 | University of North TexasBachelor's Degree | Denton, TX | $88,484 | $23,298 | +79% | Positive payoff |
| 85 | Indiana University-IndianapolisBachelor's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | $88,435 | $20,729 | +92% | Positive payoff |
| 86 | New Jersey Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Newark, NJ | $88,396 | $22,125 | +76% | Positive payoff |
| 87 | Illinois Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $88,378 | $27,000 | +71% | Positive payoff |
| 88 | University of MemphisBachelor's Degree | Memphis, TN | $88,279 | $26,500 | +89% | Positive payoff |
| 89 | Duquesne UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $88,272 | $27,000 | +31% | Positive payoff |
| 90 | Florida Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Melbourne, FL | $88,120 | $27,000 | +34% | Positive payoff |
| 91 | University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $88,078 | $20,253 | +109% | Strong payoff |
| 92 | Western New England UniversityBachelor's Degree | Springfield, MA | $87,838 | $27,000 | +48% | Positive payoff |
| 93 | The University of Texas at DallasBachelor's Degree | Richardson, TX | $87,420 | $18,750 | +68% | Positive payoff |
| 94 | University of Illinois ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $87,393 | $22,500 | +89% | Positive payoff |
| 95 | University of IowaBachelor's Degree | Iowa City, IA | $86,894 | $27,000 | +55% | Positive payoff |
| 96 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $86,893 | $27,000 | +39% | Positive payoff |
| 97 | Saint Louis UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $86,844 | $27,000 | +51% | Positive payoff |
| 98 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityBachelor's Degree | Richmond, VA | $86,295 | $24,000 | +51% | Positive payoff |
| 99 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $86,190 | $29,625 | +81% | Positive payoff |
| 100 | Union CollegeBachelor's Degree | Schenectady, NY | $86,182 | $27,000 | +29% | Positive payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.