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Engineering · Biomedical Engineering Rank #3 of 119

Biomedical Engineeringat North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Graduates earn $74,016/yr in their first year — about 16.0% above the national Biomedical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $865K; scenarios range from $736K to $901K depending on AI disruption.

Raleigh, NC Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
72 STRONG
73
Optimistic
69
Pessimistic
Earnings
$74,016
1-year post-graduation
ROI
26.9x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$865K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
55% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at NC State

North Carolina State's strong showing in Biomedical Engineering stems directly from its location within the thriving Research Triangle Park. This region is a hotbed for medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and cutting-edge biotech firms, creating an incredibly robust local labor market that eagerly recruits graduates. Your education here benefits from top-tier faculty and extensive industry connections, translating into valuable internships and a direct pipeline to companies developing everything from advanced prosthetics to novel drug delivery systems.

While some analytical or data processing tasks within BME may face automation, your success will hinge on the complex problem-solving, design innovation, and collaborative skills the program instills. Focus on developing a strong interdisciplinary skillset and pursuing hands-on research or co-op experiences; these are invaluable for navigating an evolving field and securing those high-impact, leadership-track roles.

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
$736K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score69/100
Earnings Multiple20.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$865K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score72/100
Earnings Multiple24.3x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$901K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score73/100
Earnings Multiple25.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to NC State'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 NC State 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 NC State

Other top programs at NC State

Other highest-scoring programs offered at NC State, 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 NC State

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biomedical Engineering at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?

This program scores 72/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Biomedical Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

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 $735,847 in decade earnings vs $901,371 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes North Carolina State University at Raleigh's Biomedical Engineering program stand out?

Ranked #3 of 119 programs nationally, North Carolina State University at Raleigh lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.