Home › University of South Carolina-Columbia › Biomedical/Medical Engineering

Biomedical/Medical Engineering at University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $57,311/yr (-10% vs median)

AI Risk High (50% exposed)

Job Market Medium (19,900 openings/yr)

ROI 13.3x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #55 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	$695K	$677K	$601K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.7x	13.3x	11.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.0x	4.8x	4.3x
Probability of Field Employment	73%	67%	48%
DegreeOutlook Score	62	61	59

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$50,752

Out-of-state: $139,736 (4.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$98,128

-93% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,000

4.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$73,342

28% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $57,311 track close to the $63,751 national median for Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Biomedical/Medical Engineering's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 13% gap from the optimistic case.

At $23,000 in median debt against $57,311 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #55 of 119 Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs, University of South Carolina-Columbia scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $57,311 to $73,342 over five years — a 28% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of South Carolina-Columbia

With a 61% acceptance rate, University of South Carolina-Columbia is moderately selective, with 28,113 students enrolled in Columbia, SC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of South Carolina-Columbia →

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 South Carolina-Columbia

Consider the Trade Route?

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biomedical/Medical Engineering at University of South Carolina-Columbia?

A score of 61/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Biomedical/Medical Engineering field.

Will AI replace Biomedical/Medical Engineering careers?

With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $600,900 in decade earnings vs $694,536 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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