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Engineering · Biomedical Engineering Rank #71 of 119

Biomedical Engineeringat Duke University

Graduates earn $69,873/yr in their first year — about 10.0% above the national Biomedical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,037K; scenarios range from $859K to $1,090K depending on AI disruption.

Durham, NC Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
58 SOLID
59
Optimistic
56
Pessimistic
Earnings
$69,873
1-year post-graduation
ROI
3.4x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$1,037K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
55% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Duke University

Your robust career prospects from Duke's Biomedical Engineering program stem directly from the university's elite academic standing and its unique location. The program benefits immensely from its proximity to the Research Triangle Park (RTP), a global hub for biotech, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. This means you’re not just getting a prestigious education; you're immersed in a vibrant ecosystem with direct pipelines to leading employers like Medtronic, Biogen, and numerous innovative startups.

Duke's interdisciplinary approach, often integrating with its world-class medical center, ensures your education is at the cutting edge of healthcare innovation. This strong foundation prepares you for high-impact roles in research and development, product management, or even academic leadership. To truly maximize your advantage, actively engage with the university's extensive research opportunities and leverage its strong alumni network for internships and mentorships, securing those top-tier positions early in your career.

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
$859K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score56/100
Earnings Multiple3.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$1,037K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score58/100
Earnings Multiple3.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$1,090K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score59/100
Earnings Multiple4.1x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Other top programs at Duke University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Duke 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 Duke University

How does Duke University's Biomedical Engineering program score?

A score of 58/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Duke 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.