Biomedical Engineeringat Cornell University
Graduates earn $61,397/yr in their first year — about 4.0% below the national Biomedical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $634K; scenarios range from $570K to $647K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Cornell University
Cornell's Biomedical Engineering program, while benefiting from the university's elite reputation, operates within specific market dynamics that shape its financial outcomes. The program's location in Ithaca, rather than a major biotech hub, means graduates often seek opportunities elsewhere, and initial placements might reflect a broader range of roles, including research or academic tracks that don't always lead to the highest starting salaries.
The field itself is also incredibly diverse; while some pathways lead to high-level managerial roles later in your career, many entry-level positions in bioengineering involve extensive R&D or further specialization. The noted high AI risk for this field underscores the importance of developing skills that complement, rather than compete with, artificial intelligence. Focus on interdisciplinary learning, perhaps integrating data science or advanced computational modeling into your studies, to future-proof your career and maximize your long-term earning potential.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Cornell University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Biomedical Engineering
How Cornell University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Cornell University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Cornell 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 →Frequently asked about Biomedical Engineering at Cornell University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biomedical Engineering at Cornell University?
A score of 42/100 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 $570,105 in decade earnings vs $647,336 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Cornell University a hidden gem for Biomedical Engineering?
After financial aid, the average student pays $129,348 over four years — 51% below the $264,056 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.