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Biomedical Engineering at Duke University

Durham, NC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Biomedical/Medical Engineering
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
59
Optimistic
58
Base Case
56
Pessimistic
Earnings $69,873/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk High (50% exposed)
Job Market Medium (19,900 openings/yr)
ROI 3.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #71 of 119 Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Biomedical Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,090K $1,037K $859K
Earnings Multiple 4.1x 3.9x 3.3x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 67% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 58 56

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$263,220
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$137,816
48% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,894
2.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$115,268
65% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Duke University's Biomedical Engineering graduates start at $69,873/yr — above the $63,751 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 3.9x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 21% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $13,894 in median debt clears quickly against $69,873 in annual earnings.

At #71 out of 119 programs, Duke University's financial outcomes for Biomedical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $69,873 to $115,268 over five years (65% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Duke University

Only 7% of applicants gain admission to Duke University, reflecting elite selectivity, enrolling 6,417 students in Durham, NC. After financial aid, the average student pays $137,816 over four years — 48% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Duke University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers $106,950/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 119 schools offering Biomedical Engineering →

Biomedical Engineering at Other Schools

University of Pennsylvania ($93,310) Rice University ($88,307) California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($81,186) University of Southern California ($80,508) Wentworth Institute of Technology ($80,401) Case Western Reserve University ($78,815) Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($78,283) University of the Pacific ($77,099)

Other Majors at Duke University

Computer Science ($133,356) Mathematics ($121,088) Computer Engineering ($111,145) Economics ($98,649) Statistics ($97,197) Mechanical Engineering ($89,938) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($77,288) History ($60,750)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Biomedical Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Duke University's Biomedical Engineering program score?
A score of 58/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Duke University trails the majority of Biomedical Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Biomedical Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Biomedical Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 50% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →