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Biomedical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Biomedical/Medical Engineering

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $70,696/yr (11% vs median)

AI Risk High (50% exposed)

Job Market Medium (19,900 openings/yr)

ROI 3.9x earnings multiple

Ranked #69 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	$988K	$944K	$792K
Earnings Multiple	4.1x	3.9x	3.3x
Probability of Field Employment	73%	67%	48%
DegreeOutlook Score	59	58	55

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$240,624

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$79,252

67% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$13,000

2.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$106,402

51% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Biomedical Engineering graduates start at $70,696/yr — above the $63,751 national average, though not by a wide margin.

An earnings multiple of 3.9x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Biomedical Engineering's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 20% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $13,000 in median debt clears quickly against $70,696 in annual earnings.

Ranked #69 of 119 Biomedical Engineering programs, Massachusetts Institute of Technology falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $106,402 show a 51% jump from the $70,696 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Only 5% of applicants gain admission to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, reflecting elite selectivity, a smaller institution with 4,571 students in Cambridge, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $79,252 — 67% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Massachusetts Institute of Technology →

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

Biomedical Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biomedical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology?

This program scores 58/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Biomedical Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

Will AI replace Biomedical Engineering careers?

With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $792,201 in decade earnings vs $987,739 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Massachusetts Institute of Technology a hidden gem for Biomedical Engineering?

After financial aid, the average student pays $79,252 over four years — 67% below the $240,624 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →