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Engineering · Biomedical Engineering Rank #85 of 119

Biomedical Engineeringat Boston University

Graduates earn $69,209/yr in their first year — about 9.0% above the national Biomedical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $874K; scenarios range from $742K to $911K depending on AI disruption.

Boston, MA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
55 SOLID
56
Optimistic
53
Pessimistic
Earnings
$69,209
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.8x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$874K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
55% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Boston University

Boston University’s Biomedical Engineering program thrives in a unique ecosystem. Located in the heart of Boston, you're at the epicenter of the global biotech, pharma, and medical device industries. This unparalleled access to leading research hospitals, innovative startups, and established corporations like Sanofi or Boston Scientific directly shapes the robust career paths and positive outcomes you see. The program’s rigorous, often interdisciplinary, curriculum prepares you for complex challenges, whether designing next-generation medical devices or advancing drug delivery systems. While AI integration is rapidly transforming healthcare, your BU education emphasizes the critical thinking and adaptability needed to lead these changes, not just react to them. To truly leverage this advantage, actively seek out co-ops and research internships with local industry partners; building those connections early will be invaluable.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$742K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score53/100
Earnings Multiple2.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$874K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score55/100
Earnings Multiple3.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$911K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score56/100
Earnings Multiple3.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Boston University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Biomedical Engineering graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers
+5.2% 10-yr growth · 1,300 openings/yr
$106,950/yr
High
3
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Biomedical Engineering

How Boston University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of Pennsylvania
PA · Private nonprofit
62
DW Score
$93K
1-yr earn
3.6x
ROI
Rice University
TX · Private nonprofit
57
DW Score
$88K
1-yr earn
2.9x
ROI
Top score
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
74
DW Score
$81K
1-yr earn
24.1x
ROI
University of Southern California
CA · Private nonprofit
59
DW Score
$81K
1-yr earn
3.1x
ROI
Johns Hopkins University
MD · Private nonprofit
60
DW Score
$77K
1-yr earn
3.7x
ROI
Also at Boston University

Other top programs at Boston University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Boston University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Biomedical Engineering offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Biomedical Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Biomedical Engineering at Boston University

How does Boston University's Biomedical Engineering program score?

A score of 55/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Boston 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.

How affordable is Biomedical Engineering at Boston University after financial aid?

Sticker price is $260,672, but the average net cost is $107,984 — a 59% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.