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Engineering · Biomedical Engineering Rank #109 of 119

Biomedical Engineeringat Brown University

Graduates earn $74,180/yr in their first year — about 16.0% above the national Biomedical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $731K; scenarios range from $640K to $755K depending on AI disruption.

Providence, RI Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
45 AVERAGE
46
Optimistic
43
Pessimistic
Earnings
$74,180
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.7x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$731K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
55% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Brown University

Your Brown Biomedical Engineering degree signals a highly rigorous technical foundation, amplified by the university's esteemed reputation and expansive alumni network. Graduates are exceptionally well-positioned due to the program's location, directly tapping into the dense biotech and medical device ecosystem stretching from Providence to the Boston/Cambridge hub. This regional strength means robust recruiting pipelines for roles in R&D, product design, regulatory affairs, and clinical engineering at leading pharmaceutical companies, startups, and research institutions.

While AI is transforming many technical fields, the innovative problem-solving and human-centered design inherent in BME—developing life-saving devices or therapies—will always require your critical judgment and creativity. To maximize your unique value, actively seek internships and research opportunities; practical experience is your strongest asset for navigating a dynamic career landscape.

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
$640K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score43/100
Earnings Multiple2.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$731K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score45/100
Earnings Multiple2.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$755K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score46/100
Earnings Multiple2.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Brown 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 Brown 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 Brown University

Other top programs at Brown University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Brown 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 Brown University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biomedical Engineering at Brown University?

A score of 45/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Biomedical Engineering. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

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 $640,122 in decade earnings vs $754,650 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Brown University a hidden gem for Biomedical Engineering?

After financial aid, the average student pays $106,288 over four years — 61% below the $272,920 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.