Biomedical/Medical Engineering at University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
69 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
70
Optimistic
69
Base Case
67
Pessimistic
Earnings $65,045/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk High (50% exposed)
Job Market Medium (19,900 openings/yr)
ROI 18.0x earnings multiple (6.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #11 of 119 Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,157K $1,098K $902K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.9x 18.0x 14.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.3x 6.0x 4.9x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 67% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 70 69 67

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$61,060
Out-of-state: $184,168 (6.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$47,000
23% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,000
3.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$118,528
82% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $65,045 track close to the $63,751 national median for Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 18.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 22% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $20,000 in median debt against $65,045 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

A #11 ranking out of 119 Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs nationally puts University of California-San Diego in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

Earnings growth from $65,045 to $118,528 over five years (82% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-San Diego

University of California-San Diego admits 25% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, serving a student body of 33,787 in La Jolla, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-San Diego →

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/Medical Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of California-San Diego

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-San Diego's Biomedical/Medical Engineering program score?
This program scores 69/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Biomedical/Medical Engineering graduates.
How vulnerable is Biomedical/Medical Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Biomedical/Medical 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 →