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Biomedical/Medical Engineering at University of Illinois Chicago

Chicago, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
63 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
64
Optimistic
63
Base Case
61
Pessimistic
Earnings $55,011/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk High (50% exposed)
Job Market Medium (19,900 openings/yr)
ROI 14.1x earnings multiple (6.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #41 of 119 Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs Top 50%

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 $838K $808K $695K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.6x 14.1x 12.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.1x 6.9x 5.9x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 67% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 64 63 61

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$57,352
Out-of-state: $117,440 (6.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$49,252
14% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,250
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$86,517
57% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $55,011/yr, roughly in line with the $63,751 national median for Biomedical/Medical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 14.1x 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 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $55,011 far exceeding the $21,250 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #41 out of 119 programs, University of Illinois Chicago's Biomedical/Medical Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $55,011 to $86,517 over five years (57% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Illinois Chicago

University of Illinois Chicago accepts 78% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 21,814 students in Chicago, IL. With 50% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Illinois Chicago →

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/Medical Engineering →

Biomedical/Medical 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 University of Illinois Chicago

Computer Science ($78,040) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($75,045) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($72,926) Computer Engineering ($71,148) Mechanical Engineering ($69,871) Civil Engineering ($69,310) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($65,781) Accounting and Related Services ($65,680)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Biomedical/Medical Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Illinois Chicago's Biomedical/Medical Engineering program score?
This program scores 63/100, 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 →